Windows display blank on reboot after Windows 11 ARM preview/24H2 update

[chadlwilson]

Describe the issue

After an update to Windows 11 ARM Insider Preview 26200.5001 (similar for those updating to official release 24H2) when the VM rebooted the screen was black/blank. The VM seemed to be doing stuff underneath.

I could workaround/fix this by

• Changing the display device from virtio-ramfb-gl (default, I never have changed this) to virtio-gpu-gl-pci
• edit: some folks have found they need to eject any Windows installer ISO and the spice tools ISO as an additional step
• Restarted VM. Display now works.
• Reinstalling UTM/Spice guest tools (this is normal to need to do after an upgrade due to the way insider previews work)
• Changing back to virtio-ramfb-gl. Display still works.

I'm not sure if this is a change on UTM (from 4.5.x) or Windows 11 ARM Insider preview nor what the differences are between the display drivers, but recording it here in case others have the same issue and need a workaround.

Feel free to close this if it's expected.

Configuration

• UTM Version: 4.5.2
• macOS Version: Sonoma 14.4.1
• Mac Chip (Intel, M1, ...): M1

Debug log
I don't think I can recreate this now - perhaps at the next Insider Preview update? :-(

Upload VM
config.plist.zip

[chadlwilson]

For what it's worth, I didn't have the same problem after updating to 26212.5000 so not sure if this was something to do with that release; or the QEMU/UTM update. To be fair, these are Canary channel builds (necessary right now to get necessary fixes to be able to run Ruby on Win 11 arm64, and I missed my chance to switch back to dev channel at 26200)

[chadlwilson]

I did another Insider Preview upgrade and did not have an issue with the display. Will close this for now as perhaps it was something quirky specific to my setup, and I am using Insider Preview builds so it's possible this is specific to that, rather than a UTM issue.

Can re-open if others have similar issues.

[Kaiojag]

Only now I have the same problema as your. Even changing the display option I still have a black screen. I also do not know how to reinstall UTM/Spice guest tools how can I do it? I am sorry for reopening the thread.

[chadlwilson]

Well you can't reinstall the spice tools until you can actually see the screen and interact with the guest, so need to find a way to fix that first.

There could probably be many reasons the display isn't working, this ticket was specifically about it happening as an unexpected side effect of a Window update/upgrade (which hasn't happened to me before or since).

[halter73]

I noticed the same issue shortly after updating to Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1252. It might have happened earlier without me noticing since I typically RDP in, but I appreciate the tip that you need to reinstall UTM/Spice guest tools to fix this issue. That worked for me. It's good to know if I lose RDP for some reason, I can still use the UTM display.

It might be worth reopening this issue for visibility especially if changing the display option doesn't work around the issue. I found https://www.reddit.com/r/mac/comments/1dk7z45/windows_11_vm_on_utm_black_screen_after_software/ before finding this which suggests that Windows updates are causing the UTM display not to function and just show a black screen. I'm glad I was able to fix the issue without reverting the update.

[chadlwilson]

Interesting - so it isn't/wasn't just me...

Since I was on the canary channel, if it's something from a windows update it does stand to reason that I'd be hit first.

I haven't done any updates for a while as I'm trying to get off the canary channel at some point without a complete reinstall, so had switched to Dev and hoping for the build #s to catch up for a small window some time this year 😅

[RealDyllon]

I'm experiencing this issue as well. I'm able to see the login screen, but upon logging in the screen turns black.

[corwin-of-amber]

@chadlwilson's symptom occurred for me as well after updating to 240927. I can confirm that switching to virtio-gpu-gl-pci and reinstalling guest tools worked as prescribed.

BTW any reason not to leave the display setting as virtio-gpu-gl-pci? In case future updates will reintroduce this problem.

[msart-it-vision]

Having Updated my UTM VM Windows 11 from 22H2 with the 24H2 from ISO and have the BlackScreen also.

Above mentioned Method did not work but the Display change to Option virtio-gpu-gl-pci works.
Only downside it is only 1024x786 and no Screen Sizing or Resolution change possible.

I use RDP and lucky me had it also configured before the Update.

No virtio-ramfb-gl anymore i had used from the beginning in mid 2022.

MBA M2 MacOS 15 - UTM 4.5.4
(this is now my most actualized Windows because whatever i do i get no 24H2 Updates on my Hardware Windows11. This is not to important because my Z490 is mostly running on MacOS (Sequoia) and my Laptop on Zorin 17. These are up to Date with ease.)

[chadlwilson]

I suspect the particular update is causing an issue regardless of the display device - since it's possible to change it temporarily and then change it back to the original driver without ongoing issue.

[msart-it-vision]

Have tried the above method changing device several times but as i stated that did not work.
And yes, i have always reinstalled the Spice Tools.
The GraficCard shows up in the devicemanager but on the Mac Side it only flashes shortly when entering Remote Desktop.
The flash is the same when device is virtio-gpu-gl-pci but after flash it comes up with a Monitor Out after one Second which it will not when on virtio-ramfb-gl.

Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.1882
[KB5043178] MBA M2 MacOS 15 - UTM 4.5.4

Btw.: have updated my Z490 to 24H2 26100.1882 as well with the GroupPolicy Trick and there is the difference also, first the start sound and after a second the Monitor turns from Black to Login. It was also present with 26100.1742.
My Laptop did a BSOD while updating from 1742 to 1882 and is now back on 1742 but tries again.
After having the updated the AMD Adrenalin Driver the 1882 Update has run through.

I have stumbled across other Users with Hardware also getting the BlackScreen in the same way: First Boot Sequenc with Vendor Logo and Circle visible and after GraficDriver Loadet stays Black.

[darianss]

Hi all, this didn't really work for me. Switching the display device to virtio-gpu-gl-pci still leads to a black screen, after the initial Windows loading screen showing up fine. The mouse pointer is visible though. Not sure what else to try.