Hi,

A black preview screen in CapCut, especially when the playback controls aren't working, usually points to a few common issues. Even though you updated, sometimes updates can introduce new problems or expose underlying conflicts.

Here is a breakdown of things to try, starting with the simplest:

1. Restart CapCut: Close the application completely (make sure it's not just minimized) and reopen it. Sometimes a simple restart clears temporary glitches.

2. Restart Your Computer: If restarting CapCut doesn't work, restart your entire computer. This clears out system memory and can resolve conflicts between applications.

3. Clear CapCut Cache: Corrupted cache files are a frequent cause of preview problems.

   • Go to CapCut's Settings (usually via a gear icon or menu).
   • Look for an option related to Cache or Performance.
   • There should be a button to Clear Cache. Click it and confirm.
   • Restart CapCut after clearing the cache.

4. Check Hardware Acceleration (Performance Settings): Sometimes, issues arise with how CapCut uses your graphics card (GPU).

   • Go back into CapCut's Settings > Performance.
   • Look for options like GPU Hardware Acceleration for rendering or decoding.
   • Try disabling these options one by one. Restart CapCut after each change to see if the preview works. If disabling helps, it might point to a graphics driver issue. If it was already disabled, try enabling it.

5. Test with a New, Simple Project:

   • Create a completely new project.
   • Import a different video file (one you know works fine in other players).
   • See if the preview works in this new, simple project.
     • If yes: The problem likely lies within your original project file or the specific media files used in it. Try re-importing the media into your original project, or check if any specific clips cause the blackout when the playhead reaches them. The project file itself might be corrupted.
     • If no: The issue is more likely with CapCut itself or your system configuration (drivers, etc.).

6. Update Graphics Drivers: Since the preview involves graphics processing, outdated or incompatible graphics drivers are a common suspect, especially after updating CapCut or your operating system.

   • Identify your graphics card (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel integrated).
   • Go to the manufacturer's official website (NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, or Intel Driver & Support Assistant).
   • Check for and install the latest drivers specifically for your card and operating system.
   • Restart your computer after installing drivers.

7. Check Media Files: Can you play the video files you are using in your project outside of CapCut (e.g., in VLC Media Player or your system's default video player)? If they don't play there either, the files themselves might be corrupted or in a format CapCut is struggling with after the update.

8. Switch Preview Quality
   In the preview screen, try lowering the quality (like from Full to 1/2 or 1/4). This can reduce GPU load and get the screen to respond again.
9. Reimport the Media
   If this happened after you imported a new video or photo, remove and re-import that file—it might be corrupted or in an unsupported format.
10. Check if Any Effects Are Causing It
    If you recently added an effect, filter, or overlay, try hiding/removing it to see if the preview returns.
11. Timeline Scrub Test
    Try scrubbing the timeline manually. Even if the playhead doesn’t move when you press play, can you drag it and see frames? If not, it might be a codec or project corruption issue.

12. Reinstall CapCut: If none of the above work, the CapCut installation itself might be damaged.

    • Uninstall CapCut completely from your system.
    • Restart your computer.
    • Download the latest version directly from the official CapCut website.
    • Install it again.

13. Check for Conflicts: Are you running any other demanding software, screen recording tools, or applications with overlays simultaneously? Try closing unnecessary background applications to see if that frees up resources or removes a conflict.

14. CapCut Repair Mode – CapCut Pro has a "Repair" option. On Windows:

    1. Press Windows Key + R, type appwiz.cpl, hit Enter.

    2. Find CapCut in the list, right-click > Repair (if available). This keeps your data but repairs corrupted files.

Start with steps 1-4 as they are the quickest and often resolve the issue. If those fail, move on to testing with a new project and checking drivers.

Let us know:

• Are you using Windows or Mac?

• Did this start happening after a specific update?

• Does this happen with all projects or just this one?

We’ll get this sorted.