If Helldivers 2 shows a black screen while the opening cinematic audio still plays, close the game and back up user_settings.config. Open %appdata% > Arrowhead > Helldivers2, find adapter_index in that file, change 1 to 0 or 0 to 1, save, and start the game again. Use the broader driver and Steam-file checks only if this exact fix does not work.
Use the configuration fix below when the picture is black but you can still hear the opening cinematic. If there is no audio, the game never starts, or Windows shows an error code, skip to the broader checks in step 6.
2
Close the game and back up its setting
Exit Helldivers 2 and Steam. Before editing, make a copy of user_settings.config in a separate folder. The backup lets you restore the original setting if the edit has no effect.
3
Open the Helldivers 2 settings folder
Press Windows key + R, enter %appdata%, and press Enter. Open the Arrowhead folder and then Helldivers2.
4
Change adapter_index
Open user_settings.config in Notepad. Press Ctrl + F, search for adapter_index, and change its value from 1 to 0. If it is already 0, change it to 1. This tells the game to try the other detected graphics adapter.
5
Save and test once
Save the file, close Notepad, and start Helldivers 2. If the opening picture appears, leave the new value in place. If a different problem appears, restore the backup before trying unrelated changes.
6
Run the broader PC checks
If the screen is still black, confirm the PC meets the requirements, install the current graphics driver, and in Steam choose Helldivers 2 > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files. Do not delete the whole Arrowhead settings folder unless you accept that its contents and in-game settings will be reset.
If changing adapter_index fixes the picture but performance is poor, confirm which GPU the game now uses and install the current driver for that adapter.
If the exact black screen remains after the edit and file verification, restore the backup and send Arrowhead the symptom, GPU model, driver version, and steps already tested.
ⓘ Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows PC.
The steps below follow current publisher or platform documentation and explain technical terms where they first appear.
