Batocera Steam Deck black screen issue: How to fix it?

Batocera Steam Deck black screen issue: How to fix it?

If you’re encountering a black screen issue with Batocera on your Steam Deck, rest assured that you’re not alone in facing this challenge. The Steam Deck, being a versatile handheld gaming device, may encounter compatibility issues with certain modifications, and Batocera is no exception. Fortunately, addressing the black screen problem is possible through a series of troubleshooting steps. That being said, in this guide, we’ll walk you through some practical solutions to resolve the black screen issue and get your Batocera emulation running smoothly on the Steam Deck.


Suppose you’re experiencing difficulties booting Batocera from a USB or Micro SD card and are encountering a black screen after the “Now Booting Batocera” message. In that case, you aren’t alone in facing this issue. It’s possible that there could be a temporary glitch, compatibility problem, or a recent update that has affected the booting process for some users. Whatever the reasons may be behind the error, it is the fix that is all that matters.


Batocera Steam Deck black screen issue: How to fix it?


Batocera Steam Deck black screen issue How to fix it


As of now, there isn’t a singular, definitive workaround for the issue of Batocera displaying a black screen. But that is not the end, as there is a collection of potential workarounds that might fix the issue. Still, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of these workarounds can vary, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, try and explore these options based on their specific system configurations and requirements


Restart the Deck


To implement this workaround, simply power off the Steam Deck, wait for a few seconds, and then power it back on. After the restart, observe if Batocera successfully boots without encountering the black screen problem. If the issue persists, try the other workarounds listed below.


Formats and Partition


Another workaround suggested by a player on Reddit involves making sure that a properly formatted partition exists on the internal drive of your Deck. Booting from the SD card and initiating the Batocera installation during the boot process onto this correctly formatted partition can serve as an effective solution.


Boot Partition Swap


A successful workaround for the Batocera black screen issue involved copying the files from a pristine Batocera install to the boot partition of the card image, leaving the second partition with roms/assets untouched. By overwriting the boot partition files with those from a working installation, the user managed to successfully boot the entire image, enabling seamless gameplay without encountering the black screen problem. This solution offers an effective method for resolving startup issues on the Batocera system. Best of luck to others facing a similar challenge!


Check Batocera for updates


Another effective workaround is to regularly check the official Batocera website for updates. Keeping your Batocera installation up-to-date ensures that you have the latest improvements, bug fixes, and compatibility enhancements. By visiting the official website, users can download and install the most recent versions, potentially addressing issues like the black screen problem.


And those were some workarounds that you could try to fix the black screen issues in Batocera. We hope this was helpful. Now, for more guides and news on all things gaming, make sure to visit DigiStatement daily! Read more: Streets of Rage 4 Steam Deck black screen issue: Is there any fix yet