# AnkiDesktop 25.09.04 and 26.05.b1 start to blank screen

**URL:** <https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/ankidesktop-25-09-04-and-26-05-b1-start-to-blank-screen/69779>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [May 17, 2026, 10:34am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/ankidesktop-25-09-04-and-26-05-b1-start-to-blank-screen/69779 "2026-05-17T10:34:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sue\_Donnelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@Sue\_Donnelly](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Sue_Donnelly)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 10:34am UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/ankidesktop-25-09-04-and-26-05-b1-start-to-blank-screen/69779/1 "2026-05-17T10:34:40Z")

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I have been using AnkiDesktop for windows 25.09.02 on Windows 10 and when I returned from holiday, starting Anki only showed a blank grey screen and does not show dialogue with the decks. I have attempted uninstall and upgrade to 25.09.04 and the beta 26.05.b1 and get the same results. The same versions of 25.09.04 run fine on other Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines. The UI reports that it completes a sync on startup and shutdown.

Account and cards are visible and usable on AnkiWeb and AnkiAndroid.

Thx

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**Author:** ![Danika\_Dakika](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/danika_dakika/32/17815_2.png) [@Danika\_Dakika](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Danika_Dakika)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/ankidesktop-25-09-04-and-26-05-b1-start-to-blank-screen/69779/2 "2026-05-17T15:16:25Z")

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Try everything on the [Troubleshooting Checklist](https://docs.ankiweb.net/troubleshooting.html), starting with #6 video drivers, and #2 add-ons.

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**Author:** ![Sue\_Donnelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58f4c7/32.png) [@Sue\_Donnelly](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Sue_Donnelly)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/ankidesktop-25-09-04-and-26-05-b1-start-to-blank-screen/69779/3 "2026-05-17T16:03:55Z")

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Danika,

Problem resolved by using the “software” video driver and not the “default” of Direct3D.

Not sure what caused the default to fail, as we made no changes at this end.

Thx

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**Author:** ![Danika\_Dakika](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.ankiweb.net/danika_dakika/32/17815_2.png) [@Danika\_Dakika](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/Danika_Dakika)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/ankidesktop-25-09-04-and-26-05-b1-start-to-blank-screen/69779/4 "2026-05-17T16:58:14Z")

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This can happen abruptly if your OS updates or a driver on your system updates.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/anki2/original/1X/8f1279ababc5879d54e4838989f606cfe55af8c7.jpeg) [@system](https://forums.ankiweb.net/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://forums.ankiweb.net/t/ankidesktop-25-09-04-and-26-05-b1-start-to-blank-screen/69779/5 "2026-06-16T16:58:34Z")

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