Windows 10 Black Screen With Cursor After Login – 2025 Fix

Many Windows 10 users report seeing a "black screen with cursor after login"—a frustrating issue that blocks access to the desktop. In this guide, I’ll show you how to fix this error step-by-step using proven solutions. Whether you're getting "Windows 10 boots to black screen with cursor only" or experiencing a "black screen after update with cursor", this guide will help.

🔍 What Causes the Black Screen With Cursor in Windows 10?

• Corrupted system files or profiles
• Faulty or outdated display drivers
• Recent Windows updates causing conflicts
• explorer.exe not starting automatically

This error is common across HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Asus laptops, especially after updates.

🛠️ Method 1: Restart Explorer.exe From Task Manager

This is the easiest fix for "cursor but no desktop Windows 10".

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click File > Run new task.
3. Type explorer.exe and press Enter.

Your desktop should appear. If not, move to the next step.

🛠️ Method 2: Boot Into Safe Mode

To fix "Windows 10 black screen after password", booting into Safe Mode can help isolate the issue.

1. Hold Shift and click Restart from the login screen.
2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
3. Press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode.

Once inside Safe Mode, uninstall any recent updates or driver changes.

🛠️ Method 3: Uninstall Recent Updates

Sometimes "Windows 10 black screen after update with cursor" happens due to bad Windows patches.

1. In Safe Mode, open Control Panel > Programs > View Installed Updates.
2. Find the most recent “Quality Update” and click Uninstall.

💡 Tip: Avoid optional updates unless necessary. Many times these trigger issues on older PCs.

🛠️ Method 4: Update or Rollback Display Drivers

1. Open Device Manager (Right-click Start > Device Manager).
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click your graphics driver and select Update driver.
4. If that fails, try Roll Back Driver or uninstall and reboot.

🛠️ Method 5: Use System Restore

If none of the above helps, use System Restore to return your PC to a previous working state.

1. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
2. Select a restore point before the issue started.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

💬 My Experience

In my case, the "Windows 10 black screen with cursor after login" happened after a power failure during a Windows update. My desktop wouldn't load even though I could see the cursor.

What worked for me was:

• Booting into Safe Mode
• Uninstalling the most recent Windows Update
• And finally restarting explorer.exe manually

After doing this, the issue disappeared. Since then, I’ve disabled automatic updates and only install security patches manually.

🧠 FAQ

Q: What causes a black screen after login in Windows 10?

A: It could be due to corrupt user profiles, bad Windows updates, or display driver errors.

Q: Is Safe Mode useful for black screen issues?

A: Yes! It lets you access and uninstall faulty updates or drivers causing the issue.

Q: Why do I only see a mouse pointer and nothing else?

A: This indicates Windows Explorer has failed to load. Restarting it using Task Manager often fixes it.

📌 Conclusion

The "Windows 10 black screen with cursor after login" issue is more common than you think — especially after recent updates or GPU driver problems. Follow the methods above step-by-step and you should be able to fix it.

If you’ve solved this issue using another method, or still need help, leave a comment below — I’d love to hear from you!