Fix: PAYDAY 3 Black Screen After Startup

Starbreeze Studios and Deep Silver released their latest game, PAYDAY 3, as the money heist kind of action FPS multiplayer title, a much-anticipated sequel to PAYDAY 2. The thrill in crime planning and execution of heists present in the Payday lineup makes it a high-octane co-op shooter. Payday 3 Black Screen issue and Game not exiting problem are among them. Most players report this issue, and if you’re also one of them, check this troubleshooting guide to fix it.

According to multiple reports online, the affected players mention that it is just stuck on the black screen whenever they try launching the game. Another major issue is that during the black screen, there is no sound coming out as well. After waiting some time, players must press the Alt+F4 keys to get out of the screen and nothing else. So, this issue or bug is frustrating.

Detailed Guide on How to Fix the Payday 3 Black Screen Issue

Facing the Payday 3 Black Screen issue can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to dive into the world of Payday 3. This article will take you through a comprehensive list of potential solutions that can resolve this problem. With each step, we will ensure that we specifically address the “Payday 3 Black Screen” issue, and by the end, you should be able to enjoy smooth gameplay.

Disabling Full-Screen Optimizations for Payday 3 Black Screen Issue

- Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Payday 3\Binaries\Win64. Adjust the path if you’ve installed Steam or the game elsewhere.
- Right-click Payday 3.exe, select Properties.
- Under the Compatibility tab, uncheck Enable Fullscreen Optimizations to alleviate the Payday 3 Black Screen problem. Apply the changes.

Running Payday 3 as an Administrator to Bypass the Black Screen

- Locate the Payday 3 exe file on your PC.
- Right-click, choose Properties > Compatibility.
- Checkmark Run this program as an administrator. Apply the changes. Also, consider running the Steam client as an administrator to prevent any privilege issues that might trigger the Payday 3 Black Screen issue.

Graphics Driver Update to Fix Payday 3 Black Screen

- A dated GPU driver might be behind the Payday 3 Black Screen issue. Ensure it’s up to date by opening the Quick Link Menu using Windows + X.
- Go to Device Manager > Display adapters.
- Right-click on your graphics card, select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.

Update Payday 3 to the Latest Version

- On Steam:
  - Open Steam, head to Library.
  - Click on Payday 3, letting Steam check for updates. If one exists, select Update.
- On Epic Games Launcher:
  - Navigate to Library, click the three dots icon next to Payday 3.
  - Ensure Auto Update is enabled.

Monitor System Resources During Payday 3 Black Screen Instances

- If Payday 3 takes excessive time to load, potentially leading to the Black Screen issue, assess system resources.
- Use Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, end tasks consuming high resources.

Disable Overlay Applications to Prevent Payday 3 Black Screen

- Background overlay apps might cause the Payday 3 Black Screen problem.
- On Steam, navigate to Library, right-click Payday 3 > Properties. In the General section, uncheck Enable Steam Overlay.

Stay Updated with Windows to Avoid Payday 3 Black Screen

An outdated Windows OS might be causing the Payday 3 Black Screen. Regularly check for updates on the Windows Settings menu > Update & Security.

Press Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
Next, click on Update & Security > Select Check for updates under the Windows Update section.

Windows Update Windows 11

If there is an update available, select Download and install.
Wait for some time until the update gets completed.
Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes immediately.

Modify In-game Graphics Settings

- Reducing in-game settings can sometimes help mitigate the Payday 3 Black Screen issue. Consider lowering resolution by disabling V-Sync, Shadow Effects, and Anti-Aliasing.

Update DirectX

An older DirectX version can lead to the Payday 3 Black Screen. Update it from Microsoft’s official site.

Head to this Microsoft link to download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer on your PC.
Next, install or update the DirectX version manually.
Once done, restart your computer to apply changes.

Use ALT+TAB Key Combo

- Pressing ALT + TAB switches between open applications, changing the game’s display mode, potentially resolving the Payday 3 Black Screen.

Disable Other Overlay Apps

Other apps, like Discord, Xbox Game Bar, or Nvidia GeForce Experience, might have overlays that cause the Payday 3 Black Screen problem. Ensure these are disabled when running the game.

Disable Discord Overlay:

Launch the Discord app > Click on the gear icon at the bottom.
Click on Overlay under App Settings > Turn on the Enable in-game overlay.
Click on the Games tab > Select Payday 3.
Finally, turn off the Enable in-game overlay toggle.
Make sure to reboot your PC to apply changes.

Disable Xbox Game Bar:

Press Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
Click on Gaming > Go to Game Bar > Turn off Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game bar option.

If, in case, you’re unable to find the Game Bar option, then just search for it from the Windows Settings menu.

Disable Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience app > Head over to Settings.
Click on the General tab > Disable the In-Game Overlay option.
Finally, restart the PC to apply changes and launch the game again.

Also, remember that you should always disable some other overlay apps like MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB software, or any other third-party overlay apps that run in the background.

Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

This runtime can influence games. If corrupted or outdated, it might cause the Payday 3 Black Screen issue. Reinstall it from Microsoft’s official site.

Press the Windows key from the keyboard to open up the Start Menu.

Type Apps & Features and click on it from the search result.
Now, locate the Microsoft Visual C++ program(s) in the list.

Select each program and click on Uninstall.
Visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
Once done, install it on your computer and restart the system to change the effects.

Verify and Repair Game Files

Game clients offer the option to verify and repair game files, which can fix potential issues causing the Payday 3 Black Screen.

For Steam:

Open up Steam > Go to Library.
Right-click on the Payday 3 game.
Click on Properties > Go to the Local Files tab.
Select Verify Integrity of Game Files…
This process will start by verifying and checking all the installed game files to determine whether a missing/corrupted file is located.
Let the process be completed. Once done, close the Steam client and restart your computer to apply changes.
Finally, re-open Steam and try rerunning the Payday 3 game.

For Epic Games Launcher:

Open Epic Games Launcher on the PC.
Click on the Game Library > Click on Payday 3.
Select Settings > Click on Verify.
Close the launcher, then restart the PC to apply the changes.

Conclusion:

Encountering the Payday 3 Black Screen issue can be a frustrating experience for passionate gamers. However, with the detailed solutions provided above, you have a comprehensive toolkit to overcome this problem. It’s important to approach each solution systematically and patiently, keeping in mind that not all systems will respond in the same way. The key here is persistence. By staying informed, updated, and proactive, you can ensure that the Payday 3 Black Screen issue becomes a thing of the past, allowing you to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Payday 3 fully. Enjoy your gaming!