Screen keeps going black and DWM crashes after upgrading to win 11

Troubleshooting Screen Blackouts and DWM Crashes After Upgrading to Windows 11

Upgrading to a new operating system often brings exciting features and improvements; however, it can also introduce unforeseen issues. One common problem reported by recent Windows 11 users involves the display intermittently going black, coupled with Desktop Window Manager (DWM) crashes that may force users to log out unexpectedly. If you’ve recently upgraded from Windows 10 and are experiencing similar symptoms, this guide aims to help you understand the issue and explore potential solutions.

Understanding the Issue

After upgrading to Windows 11, some users encounter errors such as:

• The display suddenly turns black intermittently.
• A notification stating that “Your session was logged off because DWM has crashed.”
• Occasional automatic logouts.
• Error messages in the event log indicating DWM has encountered a problem.

This problem, while frustrating, is often related to the graphics system or driver compatibility issues with the new OS version.

Possible Causes

1. Graphics Driver Compatibility: Windows 11’s introduction may cause conflicts with outdated or incompatible graphics drivers.
2. Corrupt System Files: System file corruption can interfere with Windows components like DWM.
3. Hardware Limitations or Malfunctions: Some hardware can have compatibility issues or require firmware updates.
4. Software Conflicts: Background applications or third-party utilities might conflict with system processes after the upgrade.

Troubleshooting Steps

Here are effective steps you can take to resolve the DWM crash and display issues:

1. Update Graphics Drivers
2. Visit the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest compatible driver for Windows 11.
3. Use Device Manager to check for driver updates:
   • Press Win + X and select “Device Manager.”
   • Expand “Display adapters.”
   • Right-click your graphics card and select “Update driver.”

4. Consider performing a clean installation if available.

5. Run System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) Scans

6. Open Command Prompt as an administrator:
   • Press Win + X and select “Windows Terminal (Admin).”
7. Execute the following commands one after the other:
   sfc /scannow
   and
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
8. These scans can repair corrupted system files