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How to fix the Camtasia 9 black screen errors in Windows 10/11
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Camtasiais avideo-recording softwarethat you can record screencast videos Windows with.
However, some users have stated on TechSmith forums that they see ablack screenwhen they playback recorded output inCamtasia.
Thus, the recordedCamtasiavideo previews are blank. This is how you can fixCamtasia9’s black screen video previews in Windows.
How can I fix the Camtasia black screen issues?
1. Select the Use software-only mode hardware acceleration option
NumerousCamtasiausers have confirmed that the Use software-only mode option fixes the software’s black screen previews.
As such, the black screen error is often due toCamtasia’s hardware acceleration settings.
2. Turn off your antivirus software
Camtasia’s black screen error can also be due tothird-party antivirus utilities. The antivirus software can block the software’srecordingutility.
Trusteer Rapport, Zone Alarm, Webroot, and Anti-Key Logger are a few of the utilities that TechSmith confirms can conflict withCamtasia.
So you should certainly at least disable that software, and any other antivirus utilities, you have run alongsideCamtasia.
You can often turn off antivirus software by selecting a disable option on their system tray context menus. Alternatively, you can remove the antivirus software from the system startup.
That will ensure they don’t automatically run when Windows start.
3. Update the Camtasia software
SomeCamtasiausers have stated that updating the software fixed the black screen error for them.This pagelists updates that have fixed variousCamtasiabugs.
To check forCamtasiaupdates, click theHelpmenu at the top of the software’s window. Then you can select aCheck for Updatesoption.
Check outthis amazing guideto quickly learn how to record your screen in Windows 10 with the built-in tool.
4. Use an alternative video editing software
As unlikely as it may sound, the very first step in fixingCamtasia-relatedissues is to try different software.
In fact, this is first a simple method of testing that the recorded content plays back fine on software other than the affected one.
A great alternative toCamtasiais Adobe Premiere, which is also the industry-leadingvideo editingsoftware that allows you to record and process footage in anyformat, from 8K to VR.
One of its key features is the Intelligent reframing by Adobe Sensei (optimize footage framing whether it’s square, vertical, 16:9, or in 4K resolution).
It also has the Lumetri Color tools to make easy and accurate color grading selections, and the Essential Sound panel to improve audio content and accelerate audio mixing.
⇒Get Adobe Premiere Pro
5. Check the canvas dimensions
Also note that what appears to be a black screen preview might just be a tiny, invisible canvas.
OneCamtasiauser stated:It turned out the issue for me was that my Project Dimensions had somehow gotten set from 1,920 x 1,080 to 2 x 1.As such, it might also be worth checking your canvas dimension settings.
To do that, click theMagnificationdrop-down menu at the top of the canvas and select Project Settings. Then select a more standard 1,920 x 1,080 dimension for the canvas from theCanvas Dimensions menu.
Alternatively, you can enter custom values for the canvas in the width and height fields. Press theApplybutton to adjust the canvas.
Those resolutions will probably fix the black screen error inCamtasiaso that you can playback recorded output.
Note, however, that there are also quite a few alternative freeware software you can record videos with, starting with Adobe Premiere Pro. Check out oursoftware guideto discover further details for the best Windows 10 video-recordingprograms.
Let us know what worked for you in the comments section below.
More about the topics:Video Editors,video software
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it.
He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes.
In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.
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Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
He is passionate about everything surrounding Microsoft’s OS, focusing on troubleshooting guides & tips for everyday problems.
