Monster Hunter Wilds Black Screen on Startup Fix – Complete PC Troubleshooting Guide

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Sarfaraz Ahamed

Experiencing a black screen immediately after launching Monster Hunter Wilds can be one of the most frustrating issues for PC gamers. This problem often occurs due to graphics rendering conflicts, system resource limitations, corrupted game files, or mod interference.

This guide provides a step-by-step, in-depth solution to fix the black screen on startup and get your game running smoothly.

Understanding the Causes of Black Screen

A black screen occurs when the game process starts but fails to render graphics properly. Common causes include:

  • Outdated or Corrupted Graphics Drivers: Your GPU drivers need to be up-to-date for proper rendering.
  • Software Conflicts: Overlays, performance monitoring tools (like MSI Afterburner or RivaTuner), Discord, GeForce Experience, or antivirus software can block the game from launching.
  • Corrupted Game Files: Interrupted downloads, failed updates, or disk errors may damage essential files.
  • Display/Resolution Issues: Launching the game in fullscreen, borderless, or unsupported resolutions can trigger a black screen, especially on multi-monitor setups or high refresh rate monitors.
  • Upscaling or Frame Generation Conflicts: Features such as NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, or Frame Generation may occasionally cause startup failures.
  • Insufficient System Resources: Low RAM or VRAM, particularly during shader compilation on first launch, can prevent proper initialization.
  • Mod Conflicts: Mods, including REFramework or ReShade, often cause black screens after game updates.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Black Screen

Phase 1: Basic & Quick Fixes

Restart Steam and Your PC

  • Exit Steam completely, then restart your computer. This clears temporary files and resets system states.

Run as Administrator & Check Compatibility

  1. Navigate to the game installation folder (steamapps/common/Monster Hunter Wilds).
  2. Right-click MonsterHunterWilds.exe → Properties → Compatibility.
  3. Enable Run this program as an administrator.
  4. Optionally, set compatibility mode to Windows 8 or Windows 7 if the issue persists.

Verify Game Files

  1. Open Steam Library → Right-click Monster Hunter Wilds → Properties → Installed Files.
  2. Click Verify integrity of game files…. Steam will repair any corrupted or missing files.

Phase 2: Graphics and Driver Solutions

Update or Rollback Graphics Drivers

  • Download the latest stable drivers for NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel GPUs.
  • If the issue started after a driver update, roll back to a previous stable version.

Force DirectX Version

  • Right-click the game in Steam → Properties → Launch Options.
  • Use the following commands:
    • DirectX 11: -dx11
    • DirectX 12: -dx12

Ensure Dedicated GPU Usage (Laptop Users)

  • Configure your GPU software (NVIDIA Control Panel / AMD Radeon Software) to run the game on the dedicated GPU.

Phase 3: Software and Configuration Conflicts

Disable Overlays and Background Apps

  • Steam Overlay: Disable in-game overlay via Steam Properties → General.
  • Close third-party programs like Discord Overlay, MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner, and GeForce Experience Overlay.

Disable Antivirus/Firewall

  • Temporarily disable security software to test. If successful, add the game to exceptions.

Disconnect Non-Essential Devices

  • Unplug extra USB peripherals (controllers, HOTAS, Razer devices) and test the game with a mouse and keyboard only.

Remove or Update Mods

  • Delete or update files related to mods, especially dinput8.dll, ReShade.ini, or version.dll.
  • Clear Shader Cache in %AppData%\Local\CAPCOM\Monster Hunter Wilds or your game directory and re-verify files in Steam.

Phase 4: Advanced Solutions

Clear Steam Download Cache

  • Go to Steam Settings → Downloads → Clear Download Cache. Log back into Steam.

Force Windowed Mode

  • Edit the configuration file in \AppData\Roaming\CAPCOM\Monster Hunter Wilds\ and set display mode to Windowed or Fullscreen instead of Borderless.

Clean Reinstallation

  • Uninstall the game via Steam, delete remaining folders from Steam’s common directory and AppData, then reinstall.
  • Consider installing on a different drive or SSD to avoid disk-related issues.

Post-Launch Black Screen Workarounds

Disable Upscaling / Frame Generation

  • Turn off DLSS, FSR, or Frame Generation if you experience black screen with audio.

Switch Display Mode with Shortcut

  • Press Alt + Enter immediately after the black screen. This toggles between Fullscreen and Windowed mode and may restore visuals.

Final Thoughts

A black screen on startup in Monster Hunter Wilds is rarely caused by a single factor. By systematically updating drivers, disabling conflicting software, verifying game files, and carefully managing mods, most players can restore full functionality.

For players using mods like REFramework, ensure compatibility with the latest game updates and always follow official installation instructions to prevent conflicts.

For official downloads and detailed documentation, visit the REFramework Download Page and the Comprehensive Guide & Documentation.

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