Unity: Screen around Game View goes Black when Entering Play Mode (Happens on Every Project)? Here’s the Fix!

Are you tired of experiencing that frustrating issue in Unity where the screen around the Game View turns black when entering Play Mode? You’re not alone! This pesky problem has been plaguing Unity developers for years, and it’s not specific to any particular project or setup. But fear not, dear reader, for we’ve got the solution for you!

What’s Causing the Black Screen around Game View?

Before we dive into the fix, let’s quickly discuss what might be causing this issue in the first place. There are a few possible culprits:

• Graphics Driver Issues: Outdated or faulty graphics drivers can cause display problems in Unity.
• Resolution and Aspect Ratio Mismatch: When the Game View resolution or aspect ratio doesn’t match your monitor’s settings, it can lead to a black screen.
• Editor Layout and Window Management: The way you’ve arranged your Unity editor windows and layout can contribute to the black screen issue.
• Unity Settings and Preferences: Certain Unity settings, such as the Graphics Emulation mode, can cause display problems.

Step-by-Step Solution to Fix the Black Screen around Game View

Now that we’ve identified the potential causes, let’s move on to the solution! Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

1. Update Your Graphics Drivers

   Ensuring your graphics drivers are up-to-date can resolve a host of display-related issues, including the black screen problem. Follow these steps:

   1. Open your graphics driver control panel (e.g., NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings).
   2. Check for updates and download the latest drivers.
   3. Install the updated drivers and restart your system.

2. Reset Game View Resolution and Aspect Ratio

   Make sure the Game View resolution and aspect ratio match your monitor’s settings:

   1. In Unity, go to Edit > Project Settings > Editor.
   2. In the Editor settings, set the Default Scale to 1.
   3. In the Game View window, click the three-dot menu and select Aspect Ratio > Match with > Main Display.

3. Adjust Editor Layout and Window Management

   Rearrange your Unity editor windows to ensure the Game View is properly positioned:

   1. Press Ctrl + Shift + R (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) to reset the Unity layout.
   2. Drag the Game View window to a desired position and resize it to fit your screen.

4. Disable Graphics Emulation Mode

   Try disabling Graphics Emulation mode to see if it resolves the issue:

   1. In Unity, go to Edit > Project Settings > Graphics.
   2. In the Graphics settings, set Graphics Emulation to Disabled.

5. Reset Unity Preferences

   If all else fails, try resetting Unity preferences to their default values:

   1. Close Unity and navigate to the Unity preferences folder (usually located at %appdata%\Unity\Editor on Windows or ~/Library/Preferences/Unity/Editor on Mac).
   2. Delete the prefs file.
   3. Restart Unity and see if the issue is resolved.

Troubleshooting Tips and Variations

If the above steps don’t work, try these additional troubleshooting tips:

• Check for Flickering or Screen Tearing: If you notice flickering or screen tearing in the Game View, try enabling Vertical Sync in the Graphics settings.
• Inspect Unity Logs: Check the Unity Editor logs for any error messages related to graphics or display issues.
• Disable any Recently Installed Plugins: If you’ve recently installed new plugins, try disabling them to see if they’re causing the issue.
• Try a Different Graphics Card or Device: If you’re using a laptop with a dedicated graphics card, try switching to the integrated graphics or vice versa to see if the issue persists.

Conclusion

There you have it! By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you should be able to resolve the black screen issue around the Game View in Unity. Remember to stay calm, be patient, and methodically work through the solutions. If you’re still experiencing issues, feel free to reach out to the Unity community or seek help from a professional developer. Happy coding!

Unity Version	Fix Applies
2018.4 and above
2017.4 and below

// Code snippet to demonstrate a potential solution

using UnityEngine;

public class GameViewFix : MonoBehaviour
{
    private void Awake()
    {
        // Try to reset the Game View resolution and aspect ratio
        EditorApplication.ExecuteMenuItem("Edit/Game View/Aspect Ratio/Match with/Main Display");
    }
}

Note: This article focuses on the most common causes and solutions for the black screen issue around the Game View in Unity. If you’re experiencing a unique variation of this issue, please provide more details in the comments below, and we’ll do our best to help you troubleshoot the problem.

Frequently Asked Question

Get ready to dive into the world of Unity and solve the mystery of the black screen!