Dell Laptops Experience a Black Screen When Switching Display from External to Internal

Summary: Learn how to resolve a black screen issue occurs on a Dell laptop when connecting an external monitor.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

The internal monitor may fail to display and remains black in the BIOS setup menu when an external monitor is connected to the laptop. Pressing Fn + F8 keys or closing the lid of the laptop switches the display from internal to external, but pressing Fn + F8 keys again or opening the lid does not switch back to the internal display.

Affected Platforms:

  • Dell 15 DC15255
  • Dell Pro 15 Essential PV15255
  • Inspiron 15 3535
  • Vostro 15 3535

Cause

This is due to the compatibility issue occurs with the panel and the driver.

Resolution

Note: Before starting the update, perform the following:
  • Back up all personal data. For more information, refer to Back Up and Recovery.
  • Connect the AC adapter.

Updating the following versions of BIOS resolves the issue:

  • Dell 15 DC15255 - BIOS 1.9.0 or later
  • Dell Pro 15 Essential PV15255 - BIOS 1.8.0 or later
  • Vostro 15 3535 & Inspiron 15 3535 - BIOS 1.29.0 or later  

To download and install the BIOS, refer to the BIOS Update Guide.

Affected Products

Dell 15 DC15255, Dell Pro 15 Essential PV15255, Inspiron 15 3535, Vostro 15 3535
Article Properties
Article Number: 000417785
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 29 Jun 2026
Version:  3
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