Errors are not a new thing on Netflix, and you can encounter various types of them. The black screen error seems to have become quite a common issue on Netflix recently.
Like most other errors on the platform, this one has many possible causes as well. Moreover, the solution might often depend on whether you use a mobile or desktop device.
Fixing the black screen error is quite simple on the Netflix mobile version. You must first check whether the server is down before applying any fixes.
Try out the fixes listed here if required to resolve the Netflix black screen issue on your phone.
Why Does the Black Screen Occur on Netflix Mobile and How to Fix it?
As mentioned before, you must check the server status before proceeding with a solution. You can simply visit the dedicated server status page of Netflix on the web for that. Various third-party sites can also show you the server status of Netflix, among other platforms.
Do you find the server to be down? If yes, then you must wait for it to go online again before continuing to use Netflix.
Otherwise, you must take the following steps until you get an effective solution:
Fix Your Internet Connection
Internet connection issues are among the common reasons for the Netflix black screen problem. So, you must check your internet connection and refresh it if required for a solution. Reconnecting your Wi-Fi or restarting your router might fix the issue immediately on your phone.
Are you using mobile internet to run Netflix on your device? If yes, then you must try re-enabling the connection or enabling flight mode for a minute. You might not face the black screen issue on Netflix after you connect to the internet again.
Are you unable to fix your Wi-Fi internet connection? Then, you might need to call your service provider for a solution. Also, ensure your internet service plan has not expired before doing that.
Use Netflix On Another Device
You must simply try running Netflix on another mobile device or on a desktop to get an immediate solution. After all, that can effectively fix the Netflix black screen problem in many cases.
All you need to do is install the app on another device if you have not already. Then, log into your Netflix account to check whether you get the black screen again.
If the other device does not face any problem, there might be an issue with the previous one. So, you must look for any troublesome apps or files on the phone that you were using earlier. Such apps and files are often responsible for Netflix issues on mobile and desktop devices, after all.
Disable Your VPN
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are a popular choice for people to access content restricted in their regions. You might regularly use one while running Netflix on your phone.
However, you should know that a VPN does not always necessarily add to your viewing experience. It can often cause a black screen on Netflix on our mobile devices after all.
Are you using Netflix with VPN enabled on your phone? If yes, then you must consider disabling it for a while and check whether that fixes the problem. So, open the VPN app and turn it off before relaunching Netflix on your phone.
Do you get the black screen again after taking this step? If yes, then you must check for any issues related to your account or with the login.
Renew Your Netflix Login
Login issues mainly occur when your user data gets corrupted under various circumstances. You might have to renew your Netflix account login in such situations for an effective solution. So, you must try that out if none of the previous fixes worked in your case.
Go to the Profile section in the app and tap on the Sign Out option to log out of your account. Then, follow the regular procedure to log into your account once again and check on the problem.
Do not sign into your account right after signing out. It is better to wait for a few minutes before doing that in most cases. Check whether the problem persists once you are done and try the next step if required.
Clear Your Browser Cookies and Cache
Are you using your browser to view Netflix on your smartphone? In that case, the black screen issue might indicate corrupt cookies and cache files in your browser.
So, you might want to try deleting all the cookies and cache for a solution. It is not possible to know which ones among them have corrupted after all.
You must apply this fix, especially if you can get the audio but not the visuals. Go to the Settings section in your browser and open the Privacy and Security tab there. Use the option to clear your browser data and select the cookies and cache files for deletion as well.
Your browser would probably ask you to select a time range for deleting the browsing data. In that case, you must select the All Time option and proceed with the deletion.
This will remove all the cookies and cache files that your browser had and might solve the Netflix black screen issue.
Use a Different Browser
Many users might fail to fix the Netflix black screen on the browser they are using. If you face the same problem, you must simply switch to another browser.
You probably have multiple browsers on your phone and must choose the most suitable one among them. If required, you must also consider downloading a good web browser for your mobile device.
Open the other browser and access your Netflix account using it to check on the problem. Do you get a black screen again? If yes, then you might have to update your phone or try some other fixes given here.
Switch to the App
Are you yet to try out the Netflix app on your mobile device? In that case, you might want to do that right now and check whether that resolves the issue.
The app can offer you a better experience in many ways, after all. However, the Netflix app is not immune to the black screen issue either, as you know by now.
Update Your Phone
An outdated phone can encounter various issues requiring you to update the device. So, you must consider updating your device’s system immediately if you have not done that for a long time.
You can simply enable automatic updates on your device so that it can install updates whenever they are available. However, many people might prefer manual updates over that due for various reasons.
Regardless of the platform of your device, performing a manual update is quite simple and takes a reasonable amount of time. You can usually do that through the Settings section on most smartphones. Launch the Netflix app or visit the platform on your browser once you are done.
Update Netflix
The latest version of Netflix might become available on your phone only after you update your device. So, you might have to apply the previous step first before proceeding with this solution.
Open the app store on your device and check for any updates for Netflix. Install the update right away or as soon as possible if there is one available.
Launch the app after the update to check whether the black screen issue persists. The developers usually release fixes for existing app issues with their latest updates.
So, updating the app should fix the Netflix mobile black screen issue over the long term in many cases.
Reinstall Netflix or Clear the App Data
You might have to reinstall the Netflix app if nothing else works in your case. However, you can also try erasing the app data before reinstalling the app. Now, that might help you avoid the need to install and set up the app all over again.
So, open your settings and navigate to the section containing the information about app data. Then, view the entails of the Netflix app and opt for clearing its app data from your phone.
Clearing the app data will remove any corrupted app cache from your device and might fix the black screen problem. If that is ineffective, you must finally proceed with reinstalling the app.
Report the Issue to Netflix
The aforementioned methods are all that you can apply by yourself to fix the Netflix black screen on mobile. So, you must contact the customer support team if none of these fixes offers you an effective solution. You can call them and speak with them directly or visit the Netflix Help Center on your browser.
