Many Hollow Knight: Silksong players are reporting a frustrating issue — the game launches but only shows a black screen, or it gets stuck on the loading screen indefinitely.
You might hear audio in the background, see the cursor change, or notice your GPU fans ramp up, but the screen stays black. Don’t worry — this issue is usually related to graphics driver conflicts, missing DirectX files, fullscreen mode bugs, or overlay interference.
This guide will show you step-by-step fixes to get Silksong running smoothly and eliminate black screen or loading issues.
⚙️ Common Causes
Before applying the fixes, let’s understand what usually triggers the black screen or stuck loading bug:
- Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers
- Game running in incompatible fullscreen mode
- Missing or broken DirectX / Visual C++ redistributables
- Background overlays or recording tools interfering
- Corrupted game files
- Incorrect display resolution or refresh rate
🛠️ Fix 1: Run the Game as Administrator
Sometimes, the game needs elevated permissions to access system files or GPU resources.
Steps:
- Right-click on the Hollow Knight: Silksong shortcut or
.exefile. - Select Properties → Compatibility.
- Check Run this program as an administrator.
- Click Apply → OK, then relaunch the game.
✅ Result: Prevents permission-related issues that may cause a black screen during startup.
🛠️ Fix 2: Verify Integrity of Game Files
Corrupted or missing files can easily lead to a black screen or infinite loading loop.
Steam:
- Open Steam Library.
- Right-click Hollow Knight: Silksong → Properties → Installed Files.
- Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
Epic Games:
- Open Library → Hollow Knight: Silksong.
- Click the three dots (…) → Manage → Verify Files.
✅ Result: Automatically replaces broken or missing files.
🛠️ Fix 3: Update Your Graphics Drivers
An outdated GPU driver is a leading cause of black screen issues at startup.
Steps:
- Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
- Expand Display Adapters.
- Right-click your GPU → Update Driver → Search automatically for drivers.
Or manually install the latest drivers from:
✅ Result: Ensures the latest optimizations and bug fixes are applied for Silksong.
🛠️ Fix 4: Launch the Game in Windowed Mode
Fullscreen conflicts or unsupported resolutions can cause a black screen.
Steps:
- Right-click the game in Steam Library → Properties.
- In the Launch Options box, type:
-windowed -noborder - Close the window and relaunch the game.
✅ Result: Forces the game to start in windowed mode, bypassing resolution or display issues.
🛠️ Fix 5: Disable Overlays (Discord, Steam, GeForce, etc.)
Overlay features often cause conflicts during startup or rendering.
Steps:
- Steam Overlay:
- Go to Steam → Settings → In-Game → Uncheck “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.”
- Discord:
- Open Discord → Settings → Game Overlay → Disable in-game overlay.
- GeForce Experience:
- Open GeForce Experience → Settings → In-Game Overlay → Toggle Off.
✅ Result: Prevents overlay hooks from interrupting the game’s display initialization.
🛠️ Fix 6: Reinstall or Repair DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables
Corrupted or missing runtime libraries can lead to black screens or launch failures.
Steps:
- Download and install the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer.
- Download the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (2015–2022) for both x64 and x86.
- Restart your PC once installation is complete.
✅ Result: Restores essential runtime files required by Silksong.
🛠️ Fix 7: Delete the Game’s Config or Save Cache
Sometimes, corrupted configuration files prevent the game from rendering properly.
Steps:
- Press Windows + R, type:
%appdata% - Open the Hollow Knight: Silksong or Team Cherry folder.
- Delete or rename configuration or cache files.
- Relaunch the game (new config files will be auto-created).
✅ Result: Fixes misconfigured settings that cause display or loading problems.
🛠️ Fix 8: Reinstall the Game (Last Resort)
If nothing works, a clean reinstall often resolves persistent black screen bugs.
Steps:
- Uninstall Silksong from Steam or Epic Games.
- Restart your PC.
- Reinstall it on a different drive — preferably an SSD.
✅ Result: Removes all corrupted data or install-related conflicts.
💡 Additional Tips
- Disconnect extra monitors before launching.
- Disable HDR or G-Sync if enabled.
- Make sure your DirectX version is 12 or higher (
dxdiagcommand). - Turn off Windows Game Bar and background recording.
- Update Windows to the latest version.
❓ FAQs
Q1: Why do I get a black screen when launching Silksong?
A: It’s usually caused by outdated GPU drivers, fullscreen resolution mismatches, or missing DirectX components.
Q2: My game loads infinitely but never starts — what should I do?
A: Verify the game files, update drivers, and try launching in windowed mode.
Q3: Can overlays really cause the black screen issue?
A: Yes — overlays like Discord or Steam can conflict with the rendering process and prevent the game from displaying properly.
Q4: Should I reinstall the game?
A: Only after trying the other fixes — it’s a reliable last resort for corrupted installations.
🎯 Conclusion
If Hollow Knight: Silksong shows a black screen or gets stuck on loading, the issue typically stems from graphics driver conflicts, corrupted files, or overlay interference.
Start by running the game as admin, verifying files, and updating GPU drivers. Then try launching in windowed mode or disabling overlays.
Following these proven solutions should help you fix the black screen issue and get back to exploring the hauntingly beautiful world of Silksong without interruption. 🌙
