How to Fix Black Screen Issue on Prime Video

Usually, people may be frustrated when any error occurs on their streaming devices or services, especially while watching their favorite shows. As for Prime Video, the black screen issue has been frequently reported by subscribers in recent days. When this issue occurs, you can’t stream or access any content rather than watching a black empty screen with or without sound. Are you experiencing the same issue? For your convenience, we’ve curated the reason and remedy behind Prime Video’s black screen issue.

Basically, the black screen error appears when your streaming device is unable to fetch stable internet connectivity from the router. In other words, you can say no internet connection. Also, there are numerous reasons behind it. This specific error mostly occurs on the web version of Prime Video. Occasionally, it also appears on smartphone applications, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Apple TV, Firestick, Xbox, and Roku.

Common Reasons for Prime Video Black Screen

The most common reasons for Prime Video to display a black screen are listed as follows:

• Using the outdated app
• The downfall of Prime Video servers
• No internet connection
• Corrupted cookie and cache
• Trying to stream geo-restricted content

How to Resolve Prime Video Black Screen

Regardless of the issue, you should follow the following solutions to fix the black screen on Prime Video.

1. Check the Amazon Prime server
2. Check your internet connection
3. Lower the video resolution
4. Restart your device
5. Sign out and log in again
6. Update the app and device
7. Clear browser cache and cookies
8. Disable VPN
9. Disable Hardware Acceleration
10. Update graphic drivers
11. Contact Amazon Prime support

Check Amazon Prime Server

When there is a problem with Amazon Prime, you should check the platform servers initially. You can use tools like DownDetector to identify whether the problem is on your side or with the Amazon servers. If there is a problem on the Amazon end, wait for them to fix it.

If the issue is not with Amazon servers, you can move to the next troubleshooting solution.

Check your Internet Connection

Slow or poor internet connection is the main reason behind many streaming errors and problems. So, check your internet connection. You can also restart your router or modem by unplugging them from the power socket and re-plugging it after a few minutes.

If there is no issue with the internet connection, fix the black screen issue on Prime Video by restarting your device.

Minimize the Video Resolution

The black screen may also occur when you try to play 4K UHD content on devices that are not compatible with 4K. For that, you can lower the screen resolution to 1080p or below to fix the issue. Moreover, this specific issue often occurs on Android and iPhone smartphones.

Restart Your Device

When a system error or glitches occur on your device, a black screen may appear with sound in the background while streaming Prime Video. So, you can proceed with a restart on Apple TV, Firestick, Roku, and other streaming devices to fix the black screen issue on Prime Video.

Sign Out and Sign in Again

This is the easiest and most effective way that works like magic in fixing the Prime Video black screen error. Simply log out from your account and log in again. This will reboot the Prime Video app and clear all the temporary bugs on the app. If you’re streaming Prime Video on multiple devices, log out from all devices and try again. If the error appears again, move to the next solution.

Update the App and Device

While using the outdated Prime Video app, you will get a lot of errors and problems. So make sure to update the app to the latest version. You can update it from your respective app store. If you’re using the web version, update the browser that you’re using for streaming. On the other hand, ensure to update your Samsung TV, Apple TV, or Firestick’s firmware to fix the black screen issue on Prime Video. If the error appears after updating the app and firmware, delete and re-install the Amazon Prime Video app.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Corrupted browser cache files and cookies are one f the reason behind the black screen error. So, clearing them will help in fixing the error.

Clear Cache on Google Chrome

[1] Launch Google Chrome on your PC.

[2] Press Ctrl + Shift + Del keys simultaneously on your keyboard.

[3] Go to the Advanced Tab and tap the required checkboxes, such as Cookies and Cached data. Select the Time range to clear the data.

[4] Finally, click on Clear data.

Clear Cache on Firefox

[1]  Launch the Firefox browser on your PC.

[2] Click on Menu and select Settings.

[3] Select the Privacy & Security panel

[4] Under the Cookies and Site Data section, click the Clear Data option. 

[5] Click the Cookies and Cached Web Data checkboxes.

[6] Tap the Clear button at the bottom.

Try the different browsers if the error appears again after clearing the browser cache files. If you find the same error on a new browser, move to the next solution.

Disable VPN

Enabling VPN (Virtual Private Network) services on devices will secure your IP address from third-party users. Also, premium VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN help users with a fast and stable internet connection. Besides its advantages, enabling VPNs while streaming Prime Video will also lead to black screen issues. So, if you have enabled a VPN service, disable it to fix the Prime Video Black screen error. It is due to geo-restriction available in Prime Video for certain content.

Disable Hardware Acceleration

Users can also face the black screen issue when the hardware acceleration feature is not working properly on web browsers. So, you can turn off the feature to fix the issue.

[1] Navigate the address bar and enter chrome://settings/system.

[2] Hit Enter.

[3] After that, navigate the Use hardware acceleration when available and turn off the feature.

[4] Similarly, you can enter edge://settings/system for Microsoft Edge to disable the feature.

Update Graphic Drivers

If the Prime Video black screen appears on Windows browsers, using the outdated graphic driver may be one of the reasons behind it. You need to update the graphics drivers with the latest version to fix the issue.

[1] Go to Settings and select the Windows Update section. Download the latest graphic driver via Optional Updates.

[2] Then, go to the device manufacturer’s official website and get the latest drivers.

[3] Now, access the Device Manager and update the graphic drivers.

Contact Amazon Prime Support

Contact Amazon Prime support if the above troubleshooting methods haven’t fixed the issue. Through chat, you can explain the issue and the device you’re using for streaming. They will provide the necessary solution to fix the issue.

FAQ