PikaShow Black Screen and PikaShow Not Opening After an Update

A black screen, and an app that will not open after an update, are two faults that feel alike, because both leave you staring at nothing, with no error message to explain what went wrong. A black screen can happen when you open the app, when you start playback, or in the middle of a title. An app that will not open after an update can stay on its logo, close at once, or show a blank screen. This guide covers both faults together, because they share many causes, and the same order of checks will help you find whether the fault is with the update, the device, the player, or the title.

Start by noting when the fault happens. Does the app open, but playback is black? Does the app close as soon as you tap it? Did the fault start right after an update, or after a device restart, or after a change in settings? Note whether sound plays while the screen is black, because sound with a black screen points to a player or display fault, while no sound and no picture points to the app or the device. Check the version on the PikaShow download page, where the site states that v94 is its latest version. Do not reinstall at once, because a reinstall can lose settings and watchlist data, and it may not fix a device or player fault.

Restart, force stop and device checks

Force stop the app, clear its cache, and restart the device. A force stop clears a stuck state, a cache clear removes a damaged temporary file, and a restart clears the device memory. Do not clear data at this stage, because that removes settings and saved data. After the restart, open the app, wait a few seconds, and try a familiar title. If the app opens but playback is black, the fault is with playback, not with opening the app, and the player checks below will help.

Check storage and memory. A device that is almost full, or that has very little free memory, can fail to open an app after an update, or can show a black screen during playback. Free storage by deleting files you do not need, close other apps, and restart. Check for a device system update, because a system update can fix a fault that appears after an app update. If the device is very old, or has very little memory, an update that needs more resources can cause the app to close, and using a lower playback quality or a different device may be the practical answer.

After an update: what changed

After an update, the app can behave differently, because the update may have changed the player, the settings, or the way it handles links. Check settings that may have been reset, such as player choice, playback quality, and subtitle settings. Try the default player if you were using an external player, and try a middle playback quality, because a setting that worked before an update may not work after it. If the app worked before the update but not after, and a restart and cache clear do not help, the update itself may be at fault, and waiting for a further update, or reinstalling a fresh copy from this site, are the honest next steps.

Check that the update downloaded completely. An update that was interrupted by a poor connection, a low battery, or a restart can leave the app in a broken state, where it will not open, or it opens to a black screen. Delete the app, restart the device, and install a fresh copy from the download page, on stable Wi-Fi, with the device charged. Wait until the download and install are fully complete, and open the app only after the install has finished. Do not install an update from a site you do not trust, because a damaged or altered file can cause the same fault, or a worse one.

Black screen during playback

If the app opens, but playback is black, try another title, another source, and another quality. A black screen for one title, with sound, can be a faulty source, a player that cannot handle that video format, or a title that has no video track. Try a familiar title that worked before, as a known good test. If that title works, the fault is with the first title or source. If every title is black, the fault is with the player, the device display, or the connection.

Try an external player, lower the quality, and check display settings. A different player can handle a video format that the built-in player cannot, and a lower quality needs less bandwidth and less processing. Check the device display settings, including screen resolution and refresh rate, because a setting that is too high for the device can cause a black screen during video. On a television, check the HDMI input, the cable, and the television picture settings, because a faulty cable or a wrong input can cause a black screen that looks like an app fault.

Television, casting and emulator faults

On Android TV and Fire Stick, a black screen can be caused by the television, not the app. Restart the television and the stick, check the HDMI cable, and try a different HDMI port. Check that the television is on the right input, and that the picture settings are not set to a mode that hides video. If the app menu shows but video is black, the fault is with playback, while if nothing shows at all, the fault may be with the television or the connection. Test another app on the same television, to see whether the fault is with PikaShow or with the television.

If you are casting, a black screen can be caused by the cast connection, the receiving device, or a title that does not cast well. Restart the cast, restart both devices, and try a different title. Keep the phone awake and charged, and keep it close to the router. In an emulator on a computer, a black screen can be caused by the emulator display setting, the graphics setting, or a lack of memory. Check the emulator settings, allocate more memory if you can, and restart the emulator. A black screen that follows the device is a device fault, while a black screen that follows the title is a title fault.

Reinstall as a last resort, done cleanly

If a restart, a cache clear, a player change and a fresh update do not fix the fault, a clean reinstall is a sensible last resort. Note your settings first, including player choice, quality and subtitle preferences, because a reinstall will remove them. Uninstall the app, restart the device, and install a fresh copy from the download page, on stable Wi-Fi, with the device charged. Open the app, wait for it to settle, and test with a familiar title before you change settings. If the fresh install still will not open, or still shows a black screen, the fault is likely with the device, the system version, or the display, and a different device is the practical test.

Keep a record of what you tried, and what happened, so you do not repeat steps that did not work. Note the device, the Android or system version, the PikaShow version, the message or behaviour, and the time. A fault that happens on one device but not on another points to that device. A fault that happens on every device points to the app or the title. A fault that started right after an update points to that update. A clear record helps you see the pattern, and it helps you explain the fault if you need help from someone else.

For device setup, see PikaShow for Android, PikaShow for PC and PikaShow for iOS. The iOS page sets out the honest position, which is that there is no official PikaShow app for iPhone, so a black screen on an iPhone is not a fault in an official app.

Black screen or app will not open? Force stop, clear cache, restart, try another player and quality, and get a fresh copy from the Download PikaShow page.

Frequently asked questions