---
title: "Black Screen with Multiplicity KVM"
canonical: "https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1848606762/Black%20Screen%20with%20Multiplicity%20KVM"
format: markdown
---
A few fixes are known to resolve a black screen when connecting to a secondary machine with Multiplicity KVM mode. Try the following troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue:

### Check for Windows Updates 

- Ensure that your system is not affected by a recent Windows update that could have altered Multiplicity’s functionality. If a recent update was installed, consider rolling back to a previous version to see if that resolves the issue.

### Update Video Drivers 

- Outdated or corrupted video drivers can cause display issues.  Update your video drivers from your manufacturer’s website:
  - Intel: [Intel Support](http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect?iid=dc_iduu)
  - Nvidia: [Nvidia Support](http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us)
  - ATI/AMD: [AMD Support](http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx)

### Adjust Power Settings 

- A simple yet effective fix can be changing the power settings to prevent the monitor from turning off.  Setting the monitor to “Never” turn off through Power Options/Power & Sleep Settings has resolved the issue for some users.

### Use Dummy Plugs 

- For headless setups (no monitor attached), using an HDMI dummy plug can trick the system into recognizing a display, and thus resolving the black screen. Ensure that Windows recognizes the connection as active.
  - Available examples: [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hdmi+dummy+plug&crid=3QZHUT8OXK0UM&sprefix=hdmi+du%2Caps%2C123&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_7](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hdmi+dummy+plug&crid=3QZHUT8OXK0UM&sprefix=hdmi+du%2Caps%2C123&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_7)

### Force Specific GPU Usage 

- In some cases, forcing your PC to use a specific video card for Multiplicity can solve the display issue. This is particularly relevant for systems with dual graphics chips.