Screen is black, flickering or broken
A black or flickering screen is worrying, but often the computer is fine and the screen just needs a nudge, a cable check or a restart.
Be careful: If the screen is cracked, don't press on it or use it with sharp glass showing. If you see smoke or smell burning, unplug it and get in-person help.
What to do
Step 1: Press the brightness up key on the top row a few times.
Step 2: Close the lid, wait 10 seconds, and open it again.
Step 3: Do a hard reset: hold the Refresh key (the circle arrow) and tap Power.
Step 4: Check for updates in Settings, then About ChromeOS, if you can see the screen.
Still stuck? If the screen stays black or broken, take it to the maker's support or a trusted repair shop, as screens can usually be replaced.