Godot Black Screen After Export - How to Fix Scene Loading

The Problem

You've successfully created your game in Godot, but when you export it, you're greeted with a black screen instead of your game. This frustrating issue can happen on any platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS) and has several common causes.

Common Symptoms:

Game runs perfectly in the Godot editor
Exported game shows only a black screen
Game window appears but no content is visible
Game crashes immediately after launch
Scene doesn't load or transition properly

Root Cause Analysis

The black screen issue typically occurs due to one of these problems:

Scene Loading Issues: Main scene not set correctly in project settings
Asset Path Problems: Resources not found in exported build
Export Settings: Incorrect export configuration
Platform-Specific Issues: Different behavior on different platforms
Memory Problems: Insufficient memory allocation for the game

Solution 1: Check Main Scene Settings

Step 1: Open your Godot project Step 2: Go to Project > Project Settings Step 3: Navigate to Application > Run > Main Scene Step 4: Ensure your main scene is set correctly

# Verify in Project Settings
# Application > Run > Main Scene should point to your main scene file
# Example: res://scenes/Main.tscn

Step 5: If the main scene is not set, click the folder icon and select your main scene file Step 6: Click "Save" to apply changes

Solution 2: Verify Scene File Paths

Step 1: Check that all scene files are in the correct location Step 2: Ensure scene files are not in the addons folder (they won't be exported) Step 3: Verify that scene files have the correct .tscn extension

# Correct scene structure:
# res://scenes/Main.tscn
# res://scenes/Player.tscn
# res://scenes/UI.tscn

# Incorrect (won't export):
# res://addons/scenes/Main.tscn

Step 4: Test by creating a simple test scene and setting it as the main scene

Solution 3: Fix Export Settings

Step 1: Go to Project > Export Step 2: Select your export preset (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) Step 3: Check the following settings:

Windows Export Settings

Runnable: Should be checked
Export Path: Set to a valid location
Export Mode: Set to "Export all resources in the project"

Android Export Settings

Runnable: Should be checked
Export Path: Set to a valid .apk or .aab file
Export Mode: Set to "Export all resources in the project"

Step 4: Click "Export Project" to create the build

Solution 4: Check Resource Loading

Step 1: Open your main scene Step 2: Check that all resources are properly loaded Step 3: Look for any missing resources in the FileSystem dock

# In your main scene script, add debug output:
func _ready():
    print("Scene loaded successfully")
    print("Current scene: ", get_tree().current_scene.name)

Step 4: Test in the editor first to ensure everything loads correctly

Solution 5: Fix Asset Path Issues

Step 1: Check that all assets are in the project folder Step 2: Ensure assets are not in the addons folder Step 3: Verify that asset paths are relative, not absolute

# Correct asset loading:
var texture = load("res://assets/textures/player.png")

# Incorrect (won't work in export):
var texture = load("C:/Users/Player/Desktop/game/assets/textures/player.png")

Step 4: Use the FileSystem dock to verify all assets are included

Solution 6: Platform-Specific Fixes

Windows Fixes

Step 1: Check that you're using the correct export template Step 2: Ensure you have the latest Godot export templates Step 3: Try exporting with different export modes

Android Fixes

Step 1: Check Android export settings Step 2: Verify that the Android SDK is properly configured Step 3: Ensure the export template is compatible with your Android version

iOS Fixes

Step 1: Verify iOS export settings Step 2: Check that the iOS export template is properly installed Step 3: Ensure Xcode is properly configured

Solution 7: Memory and Performance Fixes

Step 1: Check your game's memory usage Step 2: Reduce texture sizes if necessary Step 3: Optimize scene complexity

# Add memory debugging to your main scene:
func _ready():
    print("Memory usage: ", OS.get_static_memory_usage())
    print("Available memory: ", OS.get_static_memory_usage())

Step 4: Test with a simpler scene to isolate the issue

Solution 8: Debug Export Issues

Step 1: Enable debug output in your export settings Step 2: Check the console output for error messages Step 3: Use Godot's built-in debugger

# Add debug output to identify the issue:
func _ready():
    print("Game starting...")
    print("Current scene: ", get_tree().current_scene)
    print("Scene tree: ", get_tree())

Alternative Solutions

Solution A: Recreate the Main Scene

Step 1: Create a new, simple main scene Step 2: Add basic elements (a sprite, some text) Step 3: Set it as the main scene Step 4: Export and test

Solution B: Check Export Templates

Step 1: Go to Editor > Manage Export Templates Step 2: Download the latest export templates Step 3: Restart Godot Step 4: Try exporting again

Solution C: Verify Project Settings

Step 1: Check Project > Project Settings > Application Step 2: Verify that the main scene is set correctly Step 3: Check that the project name is valid Step 4: Ensure no special characters in the project path

Prevention Tips

Tip 1: Test Early and Often

Export your game frequently during development
Test on different platforms regularly
Keep your export templates updated

Tip 2: Organize Your Project

Keep all scenes in the scenes folder
Store assets in the assets folder
Avoid putting game content in the addons folder

Tip 3: Use Relative Paths

Always use res:// for resource paths
Avoid absolute paths in your code
Test asset loading in the editor

Tip 4: Keep It Simple

Start with simple scenes when testing exports
Add complexity gradually
Test each addition before proceeding

Verification Steps

Step 1: Export your game using the solutions above Step 2: Run the exported game Step 3: Check that the main scene loads correctly Step 4: Verify that all assets are visible Step 5: Test basic game functionality

Related Issues

If you're still experiencing problems, check these related help articles:

Still Having Issues?

If none of these solutions work, try these additional steps:

Create a minimal test project with just a simple scene
Check Godot's official documentation for your specific version
Update to the latest Godot version if possible
Check the Godot community forums for similar issues
Contact Godot support if the issue persists

Summary

The black screen issue in Godot exports is usually caused by incorrect main scene settings, asset path problems, or export configuration issues. By following these solutions systematically, you should be able to resolve the problem and get your game running properly on all platforms.

Key Takeaways:

Always check your main scene settings first
Verify that all assets are in the correct location
Test with simple scenes before complex ones
Keep your export templates updated
Use relative paths for all resources

Bookmark this fix for quick reference - this is one of the most common Godot export issues, and these solutions will help you resolve it quickly in the future.

Share this article with your dev friends if it helped you solve your Godot export problems!