Black screen after windows login (Win 10)

Posted by forc3_sim@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 197 comments

Hi all,

I am desperate for help with this issue, its been happening every day for over a week now and I really dont want to have to reinstall windows.

Whats happens is when i turn my PC on it comes up with my login user screen, I input my PIN and it loads for 10-15 seconds then then just goes to 2 black screens i can move curser around i can access task manager and open chrome etc from within task manager run command.

I have tried all the guides on how to fix this online, and so far the only thing I can do is normally restart my PC about 3-5 times then it will log on and work as normal.

My PC is very fast, normally boots in a few seconds, input pin and its ready to go, but when this has been happening, ive noticed my RGB lighting and my stream deck are both still displaying info from last use, which is very weird, normally my keyboard when i boot pc is red LED until i load into windows and iCue loads up my custom profile.

My temporary fixes:

I restart 3-5 times till it works (sometimes)
When the above doesnt work I have to USB boot and do a system restore - the startup repair option doesnt work.

Anyone have any idea?

Thanks in advance!

[-]

f16v1per@reddit

I know this is an old post, but I'm copy pasting this here in case anyone else ends up here looking for a solution. I just used this method which fixed it for me.

Whenever you end up with 'Windows 10 blank screen with cursor after login' follow below solution.

Step 1: on the blank screen with cursor, Click 'Ctrl+Alt+Del' it will bring you the option for "Task Manager" along with other options



(You can also use the key combination CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open the Task Manager directly.)



Step 2: Click on Task manager 'File '-->New Task (run)

Step 3: Type at Run 'services.msc' (without quotes), it will open windows services.

Step 4: Under the services, look for the service name 'AppReadiness' and double click on the 'AppReadiness" service.

Step 5: It will open 'AppReadiness' properties. Click on startup type and select 'Disabled", Click Apply and click ok.

Restart the PC:

Step 6: Click on Task Manager 'File' --> New Task (run)

Step 7: type at Run 'CMD' (without quotes) -->It will open command prompt

Step 8: At the command prompt type 'shutdown /s /f', this will shutdown the system.

[-]

Thalanator@reddit

Note: If this fixed the issue but it returns some time later (as it did for me 1 week later):

taskmanger "startup" tab, disable everything you dont absolutely need
do the step with AppReadiness but this time switch it back to "Manual"

This fixed the second occurence of the problem for me (after top comments solution fixed it the first time). Its maybe some autostart program that causes this which might explain why its related to AppReadiness (I have no real idea).

[-]

rufucker96_2@reddit

I tried that but I have nothing on that tab and it has happened to me twice now

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Asta-Frauthivelgr@reddit

This worked :)

[-]

Thalanator@reddit

This thread is the sole beacon out there extending a helping hand to everyone encountering this scary problem. Glad it worked!

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Rekwiiem@reddit

What if you cant bring up task manager?

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Thalanator@reddit

Oof, that must be either an additional or a different issue. The issue in this post is more about UI rendering failure I think

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Rekwiiem@reddit

shit.

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Thalanator@reddit

Do yyou have only monitor connected? just to avoid that any window is hidden somewhere on another screen

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Bc187@reddit

Will try the above. Started getting this error it's very annoying.

[-]

damnitbrian7@reddit

Thank you from the future you just saved my ass!

[-]

Thalanator@reddit

Good start into a sunday, glad the timeline got fixed, fellow traveller!

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Extra-Anteater536@reddit

I opened up task manager and my screen just got stuck there

[-]

TheManWhoHangs@reddit

Thank you friend, you saved my life today

[-]

PatternTricky2961@reddit

This worked when my pc had issues the first time, but as soon as I turned off my pc and tried to run it again the issue is back!! Also, the shutdown command just puts my pc into an infinite shutdown blue screen that goes on for 30 mins at least. I have projects due and my pc keeps fucking with me and I’m at my wits end.

[-]

ArkKabaw@reddit

STATE OF THE ART! Worked like a charm.

[-]

TheUnknownFactor97@reddit

This just saved me all these years later - may both sides of your pillow remain cold

[-]

FlowOfTime@reddit

What happens if task manager won't open?

[-]

Gasparinh0@reddit

You are amazing. Thank you so much <3

[-]

Eighlian@reddit

Does nothing happen for anyone else when you double click AppRediness ?

[-]

SK00GS@reddit

4 years later and you’re still helping people. Thank you sir. Got scared it was my GPU for a sec.

[-]

JohnDoe473638@reddit

Thanks broski

[-]

PsychologicalKnee873@reddit

I FUCKING LOVE YOU THIS IS INCREDIBLE

[-]

_Norfolk_Ingway_@reddit

this just saved me at work today

[-]

tht_stn23_kid@reddit

IT WORKED. MARCH 2026 AND IT STILL WORKS. any idea why this happens tho? like im paranoid rn

[-]

kouroshfatehi@reddit

Thank you so much!

[-]

Inner-Specialist6399@reddit

it worked for me i wish i could send you some gift.. you saved my day, Thank you

[-]

senwut@reddit

still works THANKUYUUU

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bobriskyoshaybaddest@reddit

God bless fr

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Due_Culture_454@reddit

2026 and this solution still works! Thank you so much! It happened to my mom last morning out of nowhere, she was in another city. We got on a video call, gave her the instructions, and problem solved! You saved the day! She was very nervous about the issue since she's not a tech person at all, but she followed the instructions one by one and problem solved. Thank you again!

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Designer_Weight8781@reddit

How are you suppose to do all this if you can't see

[-]

RelativeAd1078@reddit

So I did all of that and when I turned it back on after the step 8, nothing changed and it's still just black with cursor after logging in. Any idea what's going on?

[-]

DEADPOOL___@reddit

Fixed it for me just now. Thanks hombre

[-]

zxHellboyxz@reddit

Don’t seem to be able to open up task manager even with the key combination.

[-]

ZealousidealLeader74@reddit

How did you fix it ? I can’t open up task manager the screen is just still black

[-]

simracerdumbracer@reddit

Same

[-]

VanitasDarkOne@reddit

My taskmanager doesnt show up this is so frustrating.

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ZealousidealLeader74@reddit

How did you fix it ? I can’t open up task manager the screen is just still black

[-]

VanitasDarkOne@reddit

There was no fix I could do in windows. Unfortunately only thing I could do was reinstall windows

[-]

Sirius-mdcwll@reddit

I love you, I love you, I love you

[-]

Independent_Talk7396@reddit

Still works 🙏

[-]

Thin_Conversation585@reddit

Bro I know you posted this 3 years ago but thank you so much this fix still works

[-]

Patient_Procedure846@reddit

Funcionou aqui. Estava passando um sufoco para tentar resolver isso!!

[-]

kidnamedbro@reddit

I love you

[-]

peytoncooper@reddit

3 years later and this worked for me. you’re an angel, thank you 💜

[-]

desugunn@reddit

3 years and still useful. worked perfectly 💪

[-]

Dense-Case342@reddit

Saved my skin 3 years later

[-]

Pink_Sky_8102@reddit

Omg thank you 😭 my laptop is already not working so I was so stressed when my pc had a black screen. You're a life saver!!!!

[-]

Embarrassed_Cry_4321@reddit

Bro what the fuck you from 4 years ago and THIS SHIT WORKED WHATTT

[-]

roommatethrowaway8@reddit

Same here, what the fuck?

I mean I'm glad it's fixed, but, how

[-]

Aggressive-Gas6640@reddit

Worked here too on my son's PC. He shutdown normally an hour ago and then just booted up to a black screen. Found this thread - so thank you!

[-]

jcrowls44@reddit

Still working its charm

[-]

Unhappy-Amount8882@reddit

Thanks you!! It worked on a PC that I hadn't touched in 3+years

[-]

AtlasIsMyBabe@reddit

AppReadiness doesn't open for me no matter how much I double click it.

[-]

YerLocalVagabond@reddit

i just right clicked instead of double left click

[-]

samijean17@reddit

Truthfully thank you so much for this. Just saved me today

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FM151515@reddit

Thank you very much, it works!!!

En español, el servicio AppReadiness se conoce como Preparación de Aplicaciones. En la pestaña General, la opción Startup Type es equivalente a Tipo de Inicio.

[-]

Mundane_Break_3966@reddit

Bro your a fucking life saver

[-]

DeplayW@reddit

DAMN BROOO!!! That really helped! Thanks you!

[-]

mesatrap@reddit

Just fixed my girlfriend's laptop doing this, thank you!!

[-]

BigNorthCan@reddit

This worker, thank you!

[-]

EasternCustomer1332@reddit

Thanks

[-]

WHill7@reddit

Worked for me! Didnt even need to go past step 5. After disabling app readiness and restarting, all my widgets reappeared on my windows Lock Screen, upon entering my password and signing in everything was already back to normal.

[-]

Netherithe_turtle@reddit

I don't have the AppReadiness ?

[-]

ShadowFrostP@reddit

Mine won't let me bring up task manager still

[-]

chocobobeech@reddit

You just helped yet another person with this fix. Thank you!

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SupermarketUsed5299@reddit

Mine dint actually work oo Tried is 2 different times guess mine own black screen wasn't caused by an app malfunction? Just thinking out loud.. don't know what else to do

I tied resetting but still telling me wrong password when I know I am correct and know my password!! I just tired mehn

Will keep trying different options doe..

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Yer_Nan_M8@reddit

Sorry to bother you after such a long time, but what do I do if it doesn’t open task manager after clicking it, do you know?

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ckouf96@reddit

You are a hero. How did this work?!

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Person_in_life@reddit

You're a hero man I wanna bake you the sweetest cake ever

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MajesticMud5654@reddit

Thank you so much, may you find solutions for all you problems like you helped me and others 🙏🙏

[-]

Argurotoxus@reddit

Just here to commend that yet another person, 3 years later, was saved by this comment.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post it to reddit!

One more strike to convince me I should just bite the bullet and swap it over to linux...

[-]

I621@reddit

It works !!1! Thank you soo much 😻

[-]

kukkiexe@reddit

You’re literally a life saver

[-]

bigpalmdaddy@reddit

My hero.

[-]

alrefai27@reddit

It didnt work for me, im still getting a black screen 😭

[-]

cristiannumer01@reddit

Same here I have the asios or w.e drive error

[-]

Run4c0v3r@reddit

Thanks man, saved me a few hours of worrying

[-]

MrKTE@reddit

This worked for about a week before it started to do it again randomly. The fix won’t work now. Any suggestions if you are still around?

[-]

f16v1per@reddit

Honestly I have no idea. This was a rabbit hole I had to go down years ago and I think there could be multiple issues that result in the same problem. Sorry I can't help you any more than that but I wish you the best in finding a solution!

[-]

RelationshipUsed3453@reddit

Now this is da sheit. Just facetimed with my son and help him with this thanks to your post!

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Training_Oil259@reddit

Thanks for the help all these years later

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f16v1per@reddit

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PersephoneHazard@reddit

Just worked beautifully for me in June 2025, thank you very much!

[-]

Good_Demand_2720@reddit

Your a demon i thought my PC was fucked but your a save saver tbh I can't explain how much this help 😅

[-]

Agile_Psychology2572@reddit

Awesome! That worked, thanks a lot!

The only thing i had to do i to manually stop that service, bc after the reboot it was still running somehow. After that it did not start anymore and problem solved.

[-]

deviemelody@reddit

What a legend! THANK YOU 🙏

[-]

Moist_Candle_2403@reddit

Shout-out to bro thanks a lot for the help

[-]

lokster86@reddit

Still working after 4 years. fixed my wifes laptop on windows 10. Thank you sir

[-]

Medium_Heat7120@reddit

This worked for all of a few seconds, and then the screen went black again with only the cursor. Suggestions?

[-]

PaulyBoyDonuts@reddit

You’re the man! Love you

[-]

tamais@reddit

Legend, I had no clue what to do. Just saved my ass

[-]

FrenchGhost07@reddit

THANK YOU

[-]

Silverdevin@reddit

Saved my night, thanks.

[-]

Fantastic_Slice3286@reddit

Still work. 6/14/2025. Windows 11

[-]

DanteCorwyn@reddit

Trying the fix just now, for some reason it takes ages for my PC to start up, and then I've got 100% disk on my Task Manager, which seems odd for an SSD. Will see if this works, as right now my PC is pretty much unusable.
Does anyone know why it happens in the first place?

[-]

Weary_Engine6565@reddit

Looking good. Thanks. Imagine this is becoming more prevalent to force me to 11.

[-]

f16v1per@reddit

I've been on Windows 11 for about a year now. I miss Windows 10.

Why the developers feel compelled to make commonly used functions and extra two clicks to get to I will never understand. It's like all the UI designers never took a human factors course.

[-]

Weary_Engine6565@reddit

Yup, corporate device has been W11 from the drop. If you ask me professionally, it's great! But personally, their obsession with going backwards OS after OS and adding more features to brick devices disguised as security options is baffling.

You're absolutely right though like, why make right click shortcuts extra clicks away?? Might as well not be shortcuts, and the amount of users who have no idea about keyboard shortcuts, definitely haven't thought about them in the UI. But it's ok, slowly the Copilot+ button will get bigger and bigger until there are no other keys. #microsoft

[-]

NotLittlepip@reddit

You just saved me a long night thank you!

[-]

bob9009zx@reddit

THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS HELPED

[-]

Jolly_Shine_2758@reddit

I love you!

[-]

nibolin@reddit

This is one of the first results when you Google this issue. You are a legend.

[-]

f16v1per@reddit

Thank you! I never thought nor expected to ever be this helpful to so many internet strangers. The number of people that have replied to this comment has grown substantially over the last few weeks.

[-]

1baby2cats@reddit

Just happened to me and you saved me! Take my Reddit award and thank you!

[-]

EmbarrassedEscape757@reddit

Just wanna say, spent two hours trying to fix this, and this approach saved me lol. Thx bro

[-]

adibadi06@reddit

You are my ode to joy!

[-]

Glittering_Dust9371@reddit

Out here saving lives man 🫡

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f16v1per@reddit

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MaddyElizabethr@reddit

I just did this and it worked, you’re the best legit

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ThnkGdImNotAReditMod@reddit

Thank you

[-]

Huntingchef@reddit

Woah, was able to fix my pc this way after messing around for 24h ! Thank you!

[-]

noctley@reddit

I want to also chime in and say this saved my PC and I'm forever in your debit

[-]

gr0tty@reddit

Thank you so much. This just worked for me

[-]

PeRmWaZe@reddit

Thank youuu. What a load of crock this issue was

[-]

Remarkable_Trip_6265@reddit

Thank you. I did my latest NVIDIA driver update and was having a plethora of stability issues that ended up in the black screen. Somehow, the stability issues I had faced before fixing the black screen seemingly vanished. Don’t know why this happens, but I’m glad you had the solution.

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Pogo-Deathray@reddit

Dude this happened after an Nvidia driver update for me too. That's wild.

[-]

OpenYourMindWithLucy@reddit

Same!! I had to roll back yesterday because it was just doing the blue loading cursor so I had to boot it up in safe mode and delete my GPU from my computer and then restart and download an older driver update. Today it let me log in and do what the guy mentioned and fixed it. So it’s definitely something on NVIDIA’s side.

[-]

Tobi-of-the-Akatsuki@reddit

Literally same, rolled back to 576.40 yesterday, then this just happened now that I woke up. Something fucky is going in with nvidia and man is it so damn frustrating.

[-]

linkstinks@reddit

same!! not even the first time i’ve had issues with an nvidia update too. really frustrating and disappointing stuff from them.

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linkstinks@reddit

thank you. thank you so much. ooh my god. i was shitting my pants thinking my pc was cooked

[-]

FrostByteTech@reddit

Thank you bro!!

[-]

Tiktaalik414@reddit

I love you random reddit user

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Tiktaalik414@reddit

It happened again :/

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Zendega@reddit

Oh my god dude, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! 3 years later and this post is still helping people, I was freaking out because I didn't know what happened, I though something in my pc went bad, and i just built it a couple months ago. Wherever you are, I hope your life is giving you the best!

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Pogo-Deathray@reddit

This is 4 years old but saved my life TONIGHT! does keeping that disabled harm anything? When do I need to re-enable it?

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f16v1per@reddit

Don't think so. I only ever had this issue once and never had any apparent side effects

[-]

Spectre_Loudy@reddit

Literally just saved my ass. I'm DJing tonight and went to open up my laptop to test sound and ran into this issue. And I was perfectly fine editing playlists at home earlier. Completely saved me from having to pack it up and go home or have someone come lend me gear.

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Spiritual_Horror7815@reddit

Saved my life!

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Jeso__@reddit

Worked for me, saved my day off thanks!

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lilchino223@reddit

Genius.

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yabudsure@reddit

Dude thank you!!!! 3 years later this happened to me this morning !! Omg 🎉

[-]

Enteramine@reddit

3 years later, thank you man. Very clear instructions :)

[-]

turboman637@reddit

Just saved my life. :( Thank you dude! Do you know if this will happen again after this fix?

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f16v1per@reddit

It shouldn't*

*It never happened again for me, but depending on what the root cause is, which I'm guessing there are multiple, it may.

[-]

GC022@reddit

Virtual high five

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Dry_Gold_5521@reddit

LEGEND

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deekaydubya@reddit

Thanks a ton, dude. Randomly encountered this while trying to reset the windows audio service in the services screen. One note, to restart the PC you can ctrl alt del into the menu and restart from there. This worked for me

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Cikguseven@reddit

Works for me. Shouldn’t the final command be /r instead of /s to restart?

[-]

TheAlmightyDuke@reddit

You are a saint

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CanIshowitinpublic@reddit

Checking in to say this worked for me thanks love you

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Spoonmice@reddit

You are a saint and amazing instructions, couldnt boot into my PC at all and in under 15 min; I find this post and Im back in.

[-]

Justizenutz@reddit

Oh my you are so massive tysm

[-]

ActiveGamer65@reddit

You're awesome thank you!

[-]

MisterSnippy@reddit

Thank you, this fixed my problem.

[-]

cgars42@reddit

Legend

[-]

BluebirdInformal6288@reddit

your an absolute legend

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bugabumka@reddit

Awesoem, works like a charm, thank you Bro!

[-]

surgicalpizza@reddit

It worked, phew! Thank you!

[-]

darkhalonyc@reddit

Thanks, you saved me SO much frustration!! gif

[-]

multioptional@reddit

JFC! This worked! Why does that even exist! THANK YOU!

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ravinglt0@reddit

Thanks a lot man! This solution helped me from resetting

[-]

Thalanator@reddit

THANK YOU

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choooos@reddit

Years later this saved my ass — thank you friend

[-]

f16v1per@reddit

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zoroluffy27@reddit

Saved my ass!

[-]

dekuuna229@reddit

thank you, legend

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PlusAdeptness4587@reddit

Worked thanks

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JMan5104@reddit

This didn’t work!

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Serenelemon@reddit

Thank you!

[-]

Schmecklboy@reddit

It’s been three years, but today this saved my Sunday <3

[-]

f16v1per@reddit

Glad I could help!

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htgis@reddit

Still works years later and with Windows 11. Thanks

[-]

shrgekticles@reddit

i love you

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f16v1per@reddit

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Patient_Baby4036@reddit

Thank You!!!!!

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PaperRadiator@reddit

Legend.

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bitchesBbonkers@reddit

fixed the issue, THANK U SOOO MUCH, youre a G

[-]

EquivalentWorker4176@reddit

Bro, insane save, tysm

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JSWest11@reddit

This worked great - Thanks. WHY is it happening?

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Th3G4m3rPro@reddit

Bro you are a legend

[-]

trn-X@reddit

Thank you very much, this advice helped!

After I disabled the service, I was able to login without any black screen. So the issue had to relate with some Appx (Store) app (at least in my scenario). So I reinstalled all apps by powershell command:

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

After that, I enabled the AppReadiness back to "Manual" (default state) and restart. After restart, everything seems to work well.

[-]

Arctic_x22@reddit

Fuck Microsoft

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dallasvfx3d@reddit

this is a super old post but if anyone is having this problem in 2024. this is how i fixed it. this will allow you to login and use your PC but it still just a temporary fix. basically all you do is go to CTRL+ALT+DEL to open up sign in options. then while holding shift go to the bottom right corner and click the power icon and click restart. keep holding shift until it restarts it should boot up into a advanced repair options screen. from there click startup up settings to and go to boot from safe mode with networking.

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Fishingbrain@reddit

Whyyyy

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slipspaceninja@reddit

Just had this issue, the most upvoted reply wasn’t working for me but restarting how you said actually put it through an update for me so I just let it do that first and that seemed to fix it.

[-]

Odd_Azast@reddit

I was having this issue just now and tried other methods, but this one was the one to fix it out! Thank you.

[-]

forc3_sim@reddit (OP)

I appreciate the input!

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No-Advisor-1424@reddit

Amazing! TYSM! This worked!

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Christianity111@reddit

Why does this occur in the first place

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kaylasharree@reddit

yeah really annoying i’d love to know

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forc3_sim@reddit (OP)

No idea but thankfully not happened to me now for over a year

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Trent1230@reddit

Thank you for this solution,now all works well!

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boelthorn@reddit

As someone who is a "native", grew up in Brandenburg and now lives in Spain: This is completely accurate. As long as you are a white foreigner everyone will be super nice and still vote for AfD and tell you that "you are ok". The hate goes towards brown+Muslim people. I think the relevant part is mostly brown, because Christian people from the middle east are equally hated or people just pretend they don't exist. There is also lots of hate for Turkish people.

The absolutely bonkers part is that some Turkish people in Germany are also super racist. I heard something along the lines of "Berlin was fine, bit then the Syrians/Arabs arrived and now it's a dirty hell hole" from a Turkish kebap vendor.

Other european countries have similar problems. I guess if I learn enough Romanian to talk to romanians they would invite me to their bbq and tell me that they vote for AUR (local fascist party).

Wild times...

[-]

Ok-Entry9490@reddit

Didnt work whatsoever

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vvzimmer@reddit

Things to consider: check your power button operation within settings. Often “power” is set to sleep instead of a proper shutdown. These computers need comas, not beauty naps.

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Dependent_Return8327@reddit

this is amazing

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Technical_Owl_1618@reddit

Успела да решим проблем, захваљујући овоме. Хвала!

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BAMF_47295@reddit

You’re a lifesaver! 🙌 it worked!

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forc3_sim@reddit (OP)

Good to know this is still helping people years down the line. Which solution worked for you ?

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cristiannumer01@reddit

This didn’t work

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Momentum7-7@reddit

My task manager is not even coming up even after clicking Ctrl + Alt + Delete 😤

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forc3_sim@reddit (OP)

In this instance I would recommend trying to boot from USB and do the startup repair option.

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Momentum7-7@reddit

Hi, thank you. I finally found a way to boot into safe mode safe mode but on login, I’m faced with an empty black flickering screen. Now I’m stuck again🥲

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olddogsleeper@reddit

I can't believe this worked. I'm having hardware issues I think where at times games are force restarting my pc, as if a component is losing power. Cleaned and reseated everything then got this issue - black screen after a slow login.

Pinned reply nailed it. Amazing

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_slim420reaper_@reddit

Thanks so much. I worry on such old posts if they still work but you saved my Tuesday and my life. Do we by chance need to re-enable the app readiness? Jsut curious on it. Wish I could thank you more, I LOVE Reddit!

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Th3G4m3rPro@reddit

Bro you are a legend