Regular laptop users might face an annoying phenomenon called the pink screen, and just like it is called, it is a complete pink screen or sometimes only pink pixels on the screen. If you have not seen it before, consider yourself one of the lucky ones!
This phenomenon is quite annoying and frustrating for all users. However, it can be fixed with a few simple steps. Keep reading to find out why it happens and how to fix it.
What Is the Pink Screen?
Needless to say, pink screens are very annoying and it is not normal for them to occur. This happens because our laptops’ displays use an RGB color mixer. This only includes the color Red, Blue, and Green.
Those colors are used to bring out all the other colors that we perceive. By stimulating the cell cones at the same time, it allows users to see different colors on the display.
A pink screen happens when the Red color in the RGB mixer is at the highest levels, while the color blue is almost at its highest level but not completely there yet, and the green color is at medium level.
When this happens, the discoloration happens to result in a pink screen. A pink screen is not only limited to having the entire screen covered in pink, it can also be in pixels or in lines running through the screen.
Why Do Pink Screens Occur on Laptops?
As all computer and laptop users know, issues on our computers are always caused by one of the two; hardware or software. But when it comes to pink screens, it could fall in both categories. Software problems are:
- Outdated graphic drivers
- A virus attacking the laptop
- Untrusted software installed on the laptop
- Tampered apps and software
While problems regarding the hardware are:
- The GPU temperature
- Drive malfunction
- Bad wiring connections
- Defective monitor
- Loosen cables.
To find out where the problem started, we need to use the process of elimination. First of all, try connecting your laptop to an external monitor using an HDMI cable. If the screen works fine and shows normal colors, then it is a problem with the hardware.
And in the case of the external monitor showing the same pink color as your laptop screen, then this is a software problem. But do not be alarmed, keep reading to find the steps you need to fix the pink screen on your laptop.
How to Fix a Pink Screen on a Laptop
There are multiple ways to fix a pink screen, let’s take a look at the following solutions:
Restart the Laptop
Restarting the laptop is the first step you will want to try because with coordination issues and all the programs running in the background, the pink screen might occur. Therefore, restarting your laptop is the easiest troubleshooting step as it clears your laptop from all the fuzz.
Check GPU Temperature
The annoying occurrence of pink screens might be a result of overheating. This happens when too much dust is accumulated over time and not cleaned regularly as the fan responsible for cooling down the GPU is not working properly.
Before deciding if it is an overheating problem, we need to do a simple check using software called EVGA’s Precision X1. Unfortunately, Windows does not offer a feature to check the GPU temperature, therefore, we need to use this tool.
If the GPU temperature is high for its capacity, then you only need to dust and clean your laptop’s internal parts so that the fan works properly. This is the fix for an overheated GPU.
Reset Display Settings
Resetting the display in its original settings might do the trick. You only need to follow the factor resetting steps and see if it solves the issue.
Delete Temporary Files
Some software leaves auto-created files behind them after they have been uninstalled, these files could be the reason behind the pink screen. Those temporary files can be deleted but sometimes they are hidden.
In case you have leftover hidden files on your laptop, you can use third-party software to detect and erase those files. Once those files are deleted, the original screen color should reappear on the screen.
Update Graphics Card
If your problem has to do with an outdated graphics card, then you can easily fix the problem by updating it. Follow the next steps to update your graphics card:
- Press and hold Windows + X at the same time, once a list appears, choose “Device manager”
- You will now be able to see the option “Display adapters”. Right below that option, you can see your graphics card.
- Right-click on the graphics card and choose “Update Driver”
- Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software”
After you have installed the updated driver, you will need to restart your laptop. If the problem had to do with the graphics card, then it will be fixed. It will also improve the picture quality. If the issue still persists, then try a different troubleshooting method.
Detach the Peripherals
With the number of peripherals we have connected to our laptop, pink screens might occur. To fix this problem, turn off the laptop, keep the monitor and mouse cables connected, and detach the other peripherals. This could be a quick fix in case you had many peripherals connected.
Reinstall Your Apps
When you download an app from an untrusted source, the app files might be tampered with, meaning that it cannot run normally due to the corrupted files. This is the main cause of the pink screen and reinstalling those apps might fix the problem.
Change Connector Cable
Your pink screen issue might occur due to a faulty connector cable. To determine if it is, try using a different cable and see if it fixes the problem. If not, move on to the next troubleshooting step.
Finally, Buy a New Display
In case you have tried all the troubleshooting above and nothing seemed to work. Then it might be time to buy a new display. If your laptop is still under warranty, then the manufacturer’s company can help fix the problem for you.
Pink screens are signs of bad hardware or bad software, and it also affects the efficiency of your laptop. If you face this problem, try the troubleshooting steps at first as they might easily fix the problem, if not, then it is time for a new display.
