How To Fix the Crunchyroll Black Screen Once And for All

Crunchyroll is a fantastic service offering popular Anime titles, and appreciated by many anime lovers.

However, it can sometimes become glitchy and one of the most common problems is seeing a black screen when watching content, adding this huge line of stress at the moment you finally have time to enjoy your favorite anime show.

If this scenario has happened to you, I’ve found a couple useful tips that will put this issue in the past.

Crunchyroll’s black screen can be fixed by clearing cache and data, disabling ad blocker extensions and hardware acceleration, or changing the browser. For the app version, try reinstalling the app or check for recent updates.

In this article, I will explain why you experience Crunchyroll black screen and offer quick and easy fixes to resolve the issue once and for all.

1. Check if You Have a Stable Connection

A poor Internet connection is one of the most common reasons for Crunchyroll’s black screen.

Before trying other fixes, make sure to check whether there are any issues with your home WiFi or router. Here are some things to try first:

• Try streaming Crunchyroll on another device. You can check if other websites or apps that require an internet connection work properly. If not, your Internet is likely causing the problem.
• Restart your router. Turn it off, unplug it, and wait for a few seconds before turning it back on. Try streaming Crunchyroll again and see if there’s any improvement.
• Move your router closer. The signal from your router might get weaker if obstacles are in the way, such as large furniture and walls. Moving the router closer can often solve the problem.

2. Clear Cache and Data

Another reason you could be seeing Crunchyroll’s black screen is that too much data has been accumulated that now interferes with your streaming.

Clearing your cache is an easy method that often fixes glitches both in the app and browser.

Here’s how to clear the cache on a Google Chrome browser:

1. Open the Crunchyroll website.
2. On the upper bar with the website link, locate the lock symbol and click it.
3. Go to Site Settings.
4. Under the Usage category, click Clear Data.

And here’s how to clear the Crunchyroll app on an iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to General.
3. Select iPhone Storage.
4. Locate the Crunchyroll app.
5. Choose Delete App.
6. Open AppStore and search for Crunchyroll.
7. Download the app back to your phone and log in.

3. Disable Ad blocker

If you’re using an extension to block ads in your browser, you might not realize that some websites can detect this and refuse to work unless the ad blocker is disabled.

As the free version of Crunchyroll features ads, the streaming won’t work correctly unless you disable ad blocker.

To disable your ad blocker in Google Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Open the Crunchyroll website.
2. Click on the puzzle icon at the top right corner.
3. Locate your adblocker extension.
4. Click on the three dots right to the icon of the extension.
5. Select Pause on this site.

4. Try unconventional Browsers

Sometimes the issue lies in your browser, but the cause might not be immediately obvious.

If clearing data and disabling ad blocker didn’t help, you could try and stream Crunchyroll in another browser to see if it works better.

It is also important to use the latest browser version in order to ensure it’s compatible with the website and everything works correctly.

Typically, your browser will automatically offer to upgrade each time a new version is released.

You can google if there are any recent updates you’ve missed and download the latest one if needed.

Remember that keeping all your devices regularly up to date is essential to avoid bugs and keep your information secure.

5. Try Another Device

Another method of fixing the black screen when it’s unclear what causes it is switching to another device.

If you’re trying to stream on your computer and changing the browser doesn’t help, you can try and download the Crunchyroll app to your phone or tablet and see if it works better.

Similarly, if you’re experiencing a glitch in your app, try and switch to the website version.

If you see an improvement, you can tell that the problem is either with the device or the version of Crunchyroll you’ve been using.

You can use Chromecast to stream from one device to another for your convenience.

If you happen to have issues with Chromecast, troubleshoot them with helpful tips from this article.

6. Try a Different Show or Episode

It could also be that there’s a problem on Crunchyroll’s end.

You might be seeing Crunchyroll’s black screen while trying to load a specific episode or show that’s experiencing a glitch.

Similarly, if you suspect the app or website is down, you can use Down Detector to see if the problem is coming from the Crunchyroll internal servers.

To see if that’s the case, simply try to stream another episode or a different anime.

If no issues arise, report the malfunctioning episode and wait until Crunchyroll fixes it, which typically doesn’t take too long.

7. Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration is a setting that can greatly improve the viewer’s experience but can also be the cause of lags and glitches.

It requires more data and can cause streaming to malfunction due to all the traffic that has to be processed.

Disabling hardware acceleration will make it easier for the website to load and display content, which can solve the problem of Crunchyroll’s black screen.

Here’s how you can disable the setting in Google Chrome:

1. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of your browser.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Select System.
4. Disable Use Hardware Acceleration.

8. Update or Reinstall the App

If you’re experiencing Crunchyroll’s black screen in the app, it is essential to check whether you’re using the app’s most recent version.

To figure out whether you’ve missed any updates, go to App Store or GooglePlay and see if it offers you any upgrades.

If there aren’t any new updates, or the update didn’t fix your issue, it’s best to reinstall the app and give it a fresh start.

To do this, refer to number 2 in this article.

9. Tech Support might be your friend

Finally, if none of the fixes have worked for you, it is best to contact Crunchyroll support.

They don’t have a customer service phone number, but you can reach out to them online here.

Make sure to include all the information about your problem and explain it in detail to get a quick and informative answer from the team.

How To Fix the Crunchyroll Black Screen: Final Thoughts

Crunchyroll black screens can occur for a number of reasons. If you’re using a website version, try clearing data, disabling the extensions and hardware acceleration, or changing your browser. 

If you’re experiencing an issue with the Crunchyroll app, clear the cache, install the recent updates, or try reinstalling the app.