Linux NVIDIA drivers 'Black Screen', Why and howto FIX?

This is very common question what I usually get, when everything goes south. OMG, my Linux installation is ruined, I see only black screen. Here’s a some theory, what it could be and how it could be fixed.

This is basically same for Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint etc. users.

Most common reasons to see black screen after NVIDIA drivers install on Linux:
- Solution 1. Disable NVIDIA Optimus from BIOS / UEFI
- Solution 2. Configure your desktop to run using Integrated graphics card, Intel or AMD

2. Error(s) on NVIDIA drivers installation, kernel modules are not build / updated correctly. DKMS fails to build kernel modules. etc.

3. Xorg, Display manager, graphical environment bug or error.

This video will show you a real life example of one case.

If you want support me, you can buy me a coffee. Thank you!

⭐️ Table of contents ⭐️
00:00 Reasons why you might see black screen after NVIDIA drivers install
01:05 From working NVIDIA installation to broken NVIDIA installation
02:08 Black Screen
02:21 Change Virtual Console
03:00 Check last boot log
03:30 NVRM: API mismatch error
03:44 Generate new initramfs
04:12 Back to working system

[infarni]

your channel as a tool that always works

[ignoreme]

When running the long command, I get error message

Zsh: parse error near '--force'


What can i do?

[stonezsprivateacc]

Back with that same error again after generating new initramfs...
Update: rebooted on older kernel and my desktop appeared

[cinageransayeh]

you know how many times I deleted the Fedora for Just that Problem 13 times, with slow internet

[jestersb-]

I wish you are the next einstein. YOU SAVED MY LIFE!

[aniksen]

i have same problem on opensuse tumbleweed please help me

[BrunoVasco]

after installing I got a black screen and could only see my mouse pointer and no key commands were working.
Now I'm stuck. How can I boot back to runlevel 3?

[kyledupont]

Still a problem today. So anoying for me it is my external monitor that screws everything up. Im tired of it i always update my drivers when they come out hoping it will be fixed but its always worse!

[blixerblacking]

Bro what do you mean by boot to run level 3 can you clarify that please ?

[jinguhingi]

Hey, when executing the dracut command it tells to install dracut first, but dracut is not getting installed properly

[mameabera]

What if this happens without Nvidia. Mine is just intel and 'repair broken packages' is not working too.

[TECHNO]

How to install Nvidia without any problem boot 🥲

[kiranpallayil]

I tried rebuilding my initramfs file and I still have the same problem. Funnily enough when I try to log on with X11 my external monitor works fine and loads KDE Plasma correctly but my laptop screen goes black. And the opposite happens when i try to load with KDE Plasma Wayland. Please tell me if you have a fix for this.

[seherilyas]

i have installed nvidia driver and whenever i installed the driver then after reboot my ubuntu 20.04 hange at block line did not boot properly so what should i do my system RTX 4050 lenevo

[jesjames]

Ah ok, read down in comments that newer drivers don't work, I'll try version 470 hoping it will work

[joeljohnjl]

anyway i have problem of blackscreen after waking pc from suspend, atleast now i understand y is that happends . thanks pep🙂

[handsomemehdi]

Dracut is not found :( any other feasible solution? Also my NVRM seemed ok during the boot.

[bobjunior]

Bro please help me! I have the same problem here however this message not show here, how can I solve this problem?

[A_figment_of_your_imagination]

Hello, could you help me? I installed the nvidia drivers and the nvidia cuda toolkit via the apt command and blacklisted the nouveau driver but it will just show a screen with a blinking curser and sgx disabled by bios (after a while the blinking stops) unless i repeatedly press ctrl alt and a bunch of fkeys really fast or boot into recovery mode, then it works, thanks.
Distro:kali linux

[hoant]

I am new to arch linux, got everything working but having this issue after installing nvidia drivers.I have a Rtx 3070, r9 5900x, and 32gb ddr4 ram. I am stuck at 3:56 since it just gives an error saying that it cannot write to boot. (I did install dracut)