Old NVIDIA GPUs Face Secure Boot Black Screen Issue After June 2026

In 2026, some NVIDIA GPU owners could have trouble turning on their PCs. The root cause is an expiring digital security certificate embedded in the graphics card's own firmware. The issue affects a range of UEFI-compatible GeForce models. Their microcode contains a specific module (the Graphics Output Protocol, or GOP) responsible for displaying an image on the monitor during the initial boot stages, before the operating system starts. This module carries a digital signature that is set to expire in June 2026.

When the Secure Boot function is enabled in the motherboard's UEFI (BIOS), the system verifies the signatures of all critical components. If a signature is deemed invalid or expired, the boot process halts. In this case, that will result in a black screen immediately after pressing the power button, before the motherboard logo even appears or you can enter the BIOS settings.

The situation will be particularly dire for users whose CPUs lack integrated graphics. For them, the discrete GPU is the only way to get a display output. Its failure during this pre-boot stage will render the computer practically useless — it won't be able to boot not only Windows, but also a USB installer or recovery environment. It's important to understand that updating your motherboard's BIOS will not fix this problem, as it resides in the VBIOS memory of the graphics card itself.

Graphics card manufacturers like ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, and other NVIDIA partners are reportedly aware of the issue. They are expected to release updated firmware (VBIOS) with new certificates for some affected models.

The simplest, albeit insecure, temporary workaround is to disable Secure Boot in the UEFI settings. However, this step lowers the computer's defense against low-level threats. Furthermore, a growing number of modern games and anti-cheat systems (like those in Battlefield 2042 or Valorant) now require Secure Boot to be enabled to even run.

Experts advise owners of older GeForce cards to start monitoring their manufacturer's websites for new firmware releases. They also recommend keeping Windows updated, as newer OS versions can help the system recognize new trusted certificates.