Black screen on your XREAL? It might just be hiding

A black screen on XREAL glasses feels like a dead pair. Usually it isn't. XREAL's own support guide lists five causes, and the most common ones take seconds to fix. Work down this page in order.

These steps come from XREAL's guide for its One series, so they cover the XREAL One, One Pro and 1S.

First, unplug and plug back in

Yes, really. XREAL's first step is to disconnect the cable and connect it again. Give it a couple of tries before you move on.

The screen might be hiding

No warning message, but still black? Check Anchor mode. In Anchor mode, the screen stays pinned to one spot in the room. If you turned your head or shifted your seat, the screen may be sitting off to the side.

The fix: press and hold the X button on the glasses. That brings the screen back to the center of your view.

No XREAL logo at all

If you never see the XREAL logo when you plug in, the connection isn't getting through.

1. Check that the cable is pushed all the way in at both ends.
2. Use the cable that came in the box. XREAL's guide calls for its official cable.
3. Try another device that sends video over USB-C, like a Steam Deck, a ROG handheld, a Mac or a recent iPhone.
4. Still no logo on a second device? Contact XREAL support. The glasses or the cable may be faulty.

A "reconnect" warning

Seeing a message like "Please reconnect" or "Device may not support video output"? The glasses can't find a video signal. XREAL notes that not every device sends video over USB-C.

This catches a lot of people. These devices can't run AR glasses, no matter which cable you use:

• iPhone Air. Its USB-C port doesn't carry video.
• iPhone 16e and 17e. Apple leaves both off its list of iPhones that work with external displays.
• iPhone 14 and older. These use Lightning. XREAL says they need an adapter.
• Nintendo Switch 2. It only sends video through its dock. Our Switch 2 guide shows the two setups that work.

Some Android phones skip USB-C video too, especially budget models.

Compatibility checkeriPhone Air + XREAL One ProDoesn't work

Check your exact device in the compatibility checker. Using an iPhone? Our iPhone guide has the full list of models that work.

Black only in Netflix (or another app)

If everything works except one app, the app is the problem. Some streaming apps use copy protection that blocks external screens, and XREAL lists this as a known cause. To your phone, the glasses are just an external display.

Start with the easy stuff. Unplug, plug back in, then reopen the app. XREAL also suggests checking that the app allows external display output at all.

Netflix on iPhone has two extra traps:

• Your plan. Netflix says its ad-supported plan and its Mobile plan don't let you watch on a TV from a phone or tablet. If you see error 10065, "The connected display is not supported," this is the likely cause. The fix is a plan that includes TV viewing.
• Your adapter. If you use an adapter between your phone and the glasses, Netflix says it needs to support HDCP 2.2.

Still black in one app? XREAL asks you to send its support team your device model and the app name. It says it replies within 24 hours.

Still black?

If nothing above worked, reconnect one more time, then contact XREAL support. Tell them your glasses model, your device and everything you've tried. That saves a round of back and forth.

Where to next

• Gaming on a Steam Deck? Here are the glasses we'd pick for Deck, and why screen shape matters.
• Shopping for a new pair? See RayNeo Air 4 Pro vs XREAL 1S.
• Picture's back but sliding away? Try our XREAL screen drift fix.