An ASUS laptop or handheld that turns on with a black screen may be recovering from an interrupted BIOS update, and ASUS has an article for exactly that. For notebooks and all-in-ones, ASUS says to long-press the power button for 40 seconds to reset the embedded controller (EC reset), which often restores the display, and its BIOS article adds that a device that boots straight into BIOS,
Aptio Setup Utility or MyASUS in UEFI may have had a failed BIOS update (for example a forced shutdown) or a reset of the EC or real-time clock. On a failed BIOS update, ASUS says to wait 60 seconds or choose Yes to start an automatic BIOS update while connected to power, or to download the model's BIOS file to the root of a FAT32 USB stick. Also test an external monitor, which shows whether the machine is running.
Differential
Likely causes of “ASUS laptops screen is black, blank or flickering”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An interrupted BIOS update
What separates it The screen is black after a BIOS update or a forced shutdown
How to confirm ASUS says long-press the power button for 40 seconds to reset the embedded controller, or follow the failed-BIOS-update steps
- 2
A device that boots straight into BIOS
What separates it The screen shows Aptio Setup Utility or MyASUS in UEFI
How to confirm ASUS says this can follow a failed BIOS update or an EC or RTC reset; use the automatic update or a FAT32 USB BIOS file
- 3
A power or hardware state
What separates it The machine looks off but the power light is on
How to confirm Perform the EC, RTC or hard reset described in ASUS's article
- 4
An external device in the way
What separates it The screen is black at startup with a dock or monitor attached
How to confirm Disconnect accessories and restart, then check the screen
- 5
A panel or cable fault
What separates it An external monitor works and the built-in screen stays black
How to confirm Use the external monitor test; if it works the panel or cable needs service
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which ASUS machine you have and whether a BIOS update was in progress
- Whether the power light, fan or keyboard backlight responds and whether an external monitor shows a picture
- What the screen shows (nothing, BIOS, Aptio Setup Utility, MyASUS in UEFI)
- Whether the fault began after a drop or a dock connection
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedConnect power
ReversibleConnect power, by plugging in the original ASUS charger, since ASUS says a BIOS update needs power throughout.
EC reset
ReversibleLong-press the power button for 40 seconds, then release and start the machine, as ASUS's article says.
Disconnect accessories
ReversibleDisconnect accessories, by removing docks, drives and displays and retrying the start, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Wait for automatic update
ReversibleIf a failed BIOS update screen appears, wait 60 seconds or choose Yes to start the automatic update.
Recover the BIOS by USB
ReversibleDownload the model's BIOS file to the root of a FAT32 USB stick, as ASUS's article describes.
Try an external monitor
ReversibleTry an external monitor, with HDMI or USB-C, and a picture there means that the machine is running.
Book service
ReversibleIf nothing works after all of this, contact an ASUS service center with the model and serial number to hand.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Displays by model
- Zenbook S14 UX5406: 14-inch 3K OLED touch. ProArt P16 H7606: 16-inch 4K OLED. Zephyrus G14 GA403 and Vivobook S15 S5507: OLED options. ROG Ally X: 7-inch touchscreen. Per ASUS's specifications as recorded in the catalog.
- BIOS key
- Hold F2 and press power on laptops; on the handheld hold Volume down and press power.
- Repair cost
- A black screen is sometimes a display cable, a driver or a drained battery. A panel replacement at an independent shop is $159 to $399, per BadgerLayer's 2026 laptop repair guide, and the diagnostic is free.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the ProArt P16 H7606, ROG Zephyrus G14 GA403, ROG Ally X handheld.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the EC reset and BIOS recovery steps do not restore the display, contact an ASUS service center
- !If an external monitor works and the built-in screen stays black, book display service
- !If the machine was dropped or pressed before the fault, stop using it and have it inspected
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
40-second power button EC reset for a black screen after an interrupted BIOS update.
Failed BIOS updates, EC and RTC resets, automatic BIOS update and FAT32 USB recovery.
Testing with an external monitor and cable checks.
The Zenbook premium ultrabook line.
The Vivobook mainstream laptop line.
The ROG Ally handheld gaming PC line.
Exact questions
Common questions
Is a black screen always a BIOS problem?+
No. ASUS has a dedicated article for a black screen after an interrupted BIOS update; other causes include power, accessories and the panel.
What is an EC reset?+
ASUS describes a long press of the power button for 40 seconds to reset the embedded controller, restoring hardware to its default state.
Why must the charger be connected during BIOS updates?+
ASUS says to keep the device connected to power and avoid forcing it to shut down to prevent abnormal issues.
What if the machine boots into Aptio Setup?+
ASUS says it can follow a failed BIOS update or an EC or RTC reset; wait for the automatic update or restore the BIOS with a FAT32 USB stick.
Does the ROG Ally X have a different process?+
ASUS's boot articles apply to notebooks and all-in-ones. The Ally X uses Volume down plus power to reach BIOS, as ASUS's charging article notes for handhelds.
Can an external monitor help?+
Yes. A picture on the monitor shows the machine is running, so the built-in panel or cable is the suspect.