Alex Ruben
How To Fix The Last of Us PC Black Screen and Launch Issues in 2025
If you’re trying to launch The Last of Us Part I (FitGirl Repack) and all you get is a black screen or nothing happens at all, you’re not the only one. It’s a common headache, especially with that game. Sometimes it’s just a weird conflict, driver issues, or the game not properly initializing. The good news is, there are a few tricks that can often get the game running smoothly without reinstalling or messing around endlessly. This guide is kind of a compilation of tried-and-true steps from experience—and yeah, sometimes they feel a little hasty, but hey, they work. So, let’s get into it and hopefully get you playing without all the frustration.
How to Fix the Black Screen in The Last of Us Part I
Method 1: Update Your Graphics Drivers and Check Compatibility
This one’s usually the first thing that pops up, because outdated or broken drivers are pretty much the leading cause of graphical issues. Nailing your GPU driver version can fix a lot of the weird black screens or crashes.
- Go to your GPU manufacturer’s website: NVIDIA GeForce Drivers, AMD Drivers, or Intel Driver Support.
- Download and install the latest stable driver, making sure it’s compatible with your Windows version.
- After updating, restart your PC—sometimes, that’s all it takes.
Why does this help? Because if your GPU is acting up or using outdated drivers, the game might not render properly—leading to a black screen. Not sure why it works, but on some setups, a fresh driver install sorts out graphical glitches like this.
Method 2: Run the Game as Administrator & Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
This one catches a lot of people off guard but can be a quick fix, especially if Windows or antivirus software blocks some game functions secretly.
- Find the game’s executable file or shortcut. Right-click, then choose Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check the box that says Run this program as an administrator.
- Also, if available, check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
- Hit Apply and then OK.
This can help the game latch onto your graphics properly or bypass some Windows quirks. Worked on some patched setups, but on others, it didn’t help much. Still, it’s a quick thing to try.
Method 3: Disable Overlay and Background Apps
Sometimes, overlays from Discord, GeForce Experience, or Steam can cause conflicts and lead to black screens when launching games.
- Close all unnecessary background programs, especially overlay apps.
- For example, right-click the Discord icon and choose Turn Off Overlay.
- Similarly, disable the overlay in GeForce Experience or Radeon Software.
- Once done, try launching the game again to see if it’s any better.
This can be kind of a pain because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary, but removing overlays sometimes makes a noticeable difference.
Method 4: Verify Game Files & Adjust Launch Options
Since this is a repacked game, sometimes the files aren’t perfectly aligned. Verifying the files or tweaking the launch parameters can help.
- If you’re using a launcher or shortcut, right-click it and select Properties.
- Add these parameters to the Target field (after the existing path):
-windowed -noborder. This can force the game into a window mode, which many say helps with black screens. - If you’re using a cracked or repacked game, check the folder for any ini or config files—sometimes toggling a few settings like Fullscreen=false or UseVSync=false helps.
Also, verify the game files if you’re running through a launcher that supports it—like Steam. Usually, that’s about right-clicking the game > Properties > Verify Integrity of Game Files. But since this is a repack, you might need to manually check if files are missing or corrupted.
Method 5: Tweak Config Files or Launch in Compatibility Mode
If nothing else works, fiddling with config files sometimes does the trick. Load up the game’s config folder—often under C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\TLOU or wherever the game stores configs—and see if you can change some display settings. Setting resolution to something lower or switching between fullscreen and windowed mode might help.
Also, try running the game in compatibility mode—right-click the desktop shortcut, pick Properties, head to Compatibility tab, and set it for an earlier Windows version like Windows 8.
Sometimes, these tweaks are a hit-and-miss, but on some rigs, they are everything.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
- Update your graphics drivers (seriously, that fixes a ton).
- Run the game as an administrator — Windows tends to throw a fit otherwise.
- Temporarily disable your antivirus and see if that helps. Sometimes, antiviruses flag parts of the game or emulator.
- If you’re stuck, check the game’s logs or crash reports. They might give clues about what’s going wrong.
- On some setups, rebooting after applying changes isn’t optional—just do it, gives things a fresh start.
Wrap-up
Getting past the black screen can be a real pain—been there, done that. But these methods cover common causes and fixes based on multiple setups. Usually, one or a combo of these fixes does the trick. No promises, but fingers crossed that this gets things moving for someone.
Summary
- Update GPU drivers
- Run game as admin & disable overlays
- Try different display settings or launch options
- Check configs and compatibility mode
- Reboot after major changes
Conclusion
Fixing black screens on The Last of Us Part I isn’t always quick, but with a bit of patience, most issues can be sorted out. Sometimes it’s just driver updates, other times it’s messing with configs or disabling background apps. If all else fails, forums and community threads are full of strange but effective solutions. Hope this helps someone save hours of frustration and get back to gaming.