Chrome Bug: Launching Incognito Window Loads Black Window

Just documenting a strange bug I’ve been unable to fix in Google’s Chrome browser on my Windows 7 Pro (64 bit).

If I’m in a maximised Chrome window and use the keyboard short-cut CTRL+SHIFT+N to open a new incognito (private browsing) window Chrome loads a completely black windows across both of my DELL U2414H monitors with no toolbar or address bar. The window it loads is unusable, the only thing you can do is resize it and it looks like this:

The blank black window that loads. No toolbar, no address bar.

If you hover over the Chrome icon in the taskbar

It just shows as a new tab in the taskbar

Looking at Chrome’s built in task manager doesn’t reveal anything either

Chrome’s Task Manager doesn’t reveal anything untoward

The other strange thing is that it seems to be linked to whether the current Chrome window you are in is maximised or not. If you don’t have the current Chrome window maximised and just have it sitting in the middle of the screen and you repeat the same steps, press CTRL+SHIFT+N to launch a new private browsing window then a new incognito window loads as expected, but not maximised.

I have tried running Chrome with no GPU or hardware graphics acceleration flags with no luck. I’ve removed all extensions and tried in a new user profile and it still occurs and Chrome reports that it is up to date

Since the blank black window loads across both my monitors I suspect this could be an incompatibility with Chrome and my Nvidia NVS 310 graphics card but it certainly didn’t happen a few weeks ago so either a Chrome auto-update, a GPU driver update or a Windows update seems to have borked things up for me.

If you are plagued with the same issue please leave a comment below and perhaps detail if you are using a dual monitor set-up and Nvidia GPU.

If I find a solution I’ll be sure to update this post for others to see.

 

34 Replies to “Chrome Bug: Launching Incognito Window Loads Black Window”

  1. I am experiencing the same thing. I have a dual boot windows 10 setup. 1 for work and the other for personal. I have a triple display setup with display fusion installed. However the issue is not happening on the System that has display fusion installed, it’s on my work system. Which runs the same triple monitor setup without display fusion. This started happening yesterday. hardware: NVIDIA GTX 1080 with latest NV drivers. tried reinstalling Chrome/ Disable Hardware decode. ??? Not too sure why this is the case. Most likely a Chrome update.

  2. Nvidia finally responded to this bug after half a year of mucking around with their reporting process. Final response was this:

    Cindy from Nvidia:
    “When I realized that you reported the issue, and no bug had been filed, I then wrote a bug and it is fixed as of today but I cannot give you an ETA of the fixed version and I cannot give you an ETA of the version it will be fixed in.

    You will need to watch for driver updates to see if there is a new version of the nView Desktop Manager and then download it to see if the fix is in that version.

    nView Desktop Manager is not updated as frequently as drivers are so it is not possible for me to know what version the fix will be in or when it will be released.”

    Hopefully it will come out soon!

    Leon

    1. HI All

      I just installed the newest NVIDIA driver package to k1100M from the 9th of September ’16 which solved the problem – i.e. everything works flawless now.

      /eddy

  3. Oi Leon,

    Novas versões do nview não funcionaram com meu desktop, então parei de testar na versão 141.24, deve ser pelo fato do modelo da minha vga ser antigo.

    Fico feliz em ter ajudado.

  4. Spoke too soon!!! I think you finally found the source of the problem!!!

    I’ve never really looked at nView Desktop Manager before, but when I was checking the version just now I noticed a “Disable” button at the top right. Disabling nView Desktop Manager has completely fixed the bug, and I’m still able to use multi-screen functionality as usual. Whatever benefits it is supposed to offer (looks like pre-configuring workspaces for launching/containing multiple apps) are not useful to me since I am on a laptop anyway and use different combinations of monitor ranging from built-in only to up to 3 separate displays…

    I have reported this bug to nvidia now that we finally know the source of the problem, let’s see if they reply.

  5. Spoke too soon!!! I think you finally found the source of the problem!!!

    I’ve never really looked at nView Desktop Manager before, but when I was checking the version just now I noticed a “Disable” button at the top right. Disabling nView Desktop Manager has completely fixed the bug, and I’m still able to use multi-screen functionality as usual. Whatever benefits it is supposed to offer (looks like pre-configuring default monitors for opening apps?) are not useful to me since I am on a laptop anyway and use different combinations of monitor ranging from built-in only to up to 3 separate displays…

    Will consider posting this as a bug to nvidia now that we finally know the source of the problem.

  6. Interesting approach Rafael! I’m using an actual Quadro (NVS 4200M) so I’m still getting updates to nView Desktop Manager, currently on version 146.78 and still seeing the bug…

  7. Hi Guys,

    My problem was solved updating the nView Desktop Manager from version 125.58 to 136.18 ( my chrome is updated 45.0.2454.101 )

    I have an oldest GTS250, and the driver for GeForce has no more nView in your Package, only for Quadro, so i extract the nview files ( from a quadro driver ) to an NVIDIA folder and run nview64.dll with rundll32.exe on startup.

    I’m brazillian, so, sorry for my bad english.

  8. Hi Hugh, interesting result but I am on Windows 7 and don’t use Display Fusion. Everything is up to date (Chrome 45.0.2454.99, Nvidia driver 354.13 on NVS 4200M) and close to stock software as possible… I think the mistake is thinking this is a bug in Chrome, it’s probably a problem in the nvidia drivers somewhere.

  9. Leon, Loyd and others; same problem here running windows 10 (64bit) after swapping out my OS hard drive. Only when chrome is maximized and only when using keyboard shortcut. I’m running three monitors and using two different Nvidia cards, using Display fusion to manage multiple monitors and task bars. WHEN I SWITCH OFF DISPLAY FUSION The PRoblem is SOLVED! Turning is back on and I have the problem again! Suspect there’s a conflict in shortcut keys with display fusion.

    NOTE! just updated Display fusion to latest version; everything works now!

  10. Hi Lloyd,

    thanks for the update. I’m still getting this bug as well. Can you post your graphics hardware, driver versions and Chrome version?

    Leon

  11. I have this exact problem.
    1. Chrome is open and maximized.
    2. Hit Ctrl-Shift-N
    3. New Chrome process starts and fills my second monitor with white
    4. I can click on the white and use alt-F4 to close it

    This does not happen if Chrome is not maximized
    This does not happen if I use the menu in the upper right corner to select the “New Incognito Window” option with my mouse

  12. I have the same problem but in the middle of my black screen is the “Chrome” logo. I open up chrome the screen is blue then it minimizes and when I maximize it a gain the re is a black screen with the logo in the middle. No functionality at all

  13. Started for me only after updating to Windows 10 (though I also had to grab some new video drivers for my NVidia card, so that may be more likely the culprit). Only with multiple monitors.

    In any event, haven’t found a solution, but did stumble onto the fact that it works fine if I run Chrome with Run As Administrator. Odd.

  14. Looks like this discussion got a little off track with all you people with problems with your Chrome icon?! I’m just posting again to say that this issue still exists in my Lenovo T420 with NVS 4200 graphics. Chrome 64 42.0.2311.135, Nvidia driver 348.07. Only reproducible from a maximised Chrome window and using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + N (or T) when a second monitor is connect in extended desktop mode. Using the menu or the keyboard shortcut from a non-maximised window will open incognito mode normally. Please post if there is a solution!

  15. Jason- any chance you found a solution to your chrome issue? I literally cannot stand the additional black box and page that chrome has added to my page. I have to close out of two boxes just like you said and it is a new chrome symbol with the black box around it just like you have. It is very frustrating because I cannot simply wave mouse over bottom of page anymore to bounce back to my desktop– instead I have to click out of two windows and then open up my desktop files….I know there are worse things out there- but I am a creature of habit and this is killing me! I want my old Chrome back- this just started yesterday for me….please help anyone! 🙂

  16. I was having this issue until last evening on my Windows 7(64bit). Its a HP machine and came with default setting. Yesterday, I have just enabled Windows update from the services which was disabled before.

    Windows has downloaded many updated files and applied in the next restart. After that it suddenly fixed. I haven’t done anything special but the issue has been resolved on my Machine.

    Good Luck guys !!!

  17. I have a similar thing happening. I think it could be some kind of bug on my end because simultaneously my keyboard started lagging severely and making what I type, when I type my normal speed, gibberish. This is AFTER following Chrome instructions on how to fix this secondary problem.
    I got a new antivirus, and the black window seemed resolved, but now, 3 days later, it’s all back. Any leads?

  18. I’m so glad to hear that I’m not crazy!!! I’ve been wrestling with this since xmas morning with dead ends everywhere. I would love to know if there is a fix for this pain in the butt!

  19. Hi, I have exactly the same symptoms. Chrome 39.0.2171.71 m (64-bit), and NVS 4200 with driver 341.21 in a Lenovo T420. It is only reproducible when a second monitor is plugged in and in extend desktop mode (not duplicate).

    I saw a Chrome bug report about this and they determined it was a problem with the Nvidia drivers. Please post here if anyone finds a solution, I’ll be following the thread!

  20. Experiencing same issue with Windows 7 Professional x64. I have 3 monitors and only happens when normal window is maximized. Able to open incognito window from right clicking the icon in the taskbar or from the menu on the top right in chrome. Very frustrating. Also using Nvidea Quadro card in HP laptop

  21. Please let me know. I am commenting again because I forgot to click the “notify me when a response is posted” box. Thanks again!

  22. Hey! I think I am experiencing something similar. I accidentally hit a few keys at the same time, & now my Google Chrome is different. The Google Chrome symbol at the bottom of my screen on the taskbar has a black box around it. And to get to the other items on my task bar, I have to minimize two different windows. It’s all weird. And everything is black in the background. I want it back the old way. 🙁

    Any idea of how to fix this..?! It just happened to me five minutes ago. Thanks! – Jason

    1. @Jason – no idea I’m afraid. There’s some very very strange bugs with Chrome and as they auto-update it’s hard to pin point what causes it.

  23. I have dual screen, and Chrome Incognito mode will not work (since my last Windows Update, in fact) but gives white screen. When I open in less than max window, it works, but popups still blank

    1. @Charles – it sounds like you’re having a very similar problem to me then. I’ve tried removing and reinstalling Chrome, updating GPU drivers and it’s still buggy as hell. So frustrating.

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