You switched your Windows device to take on one of your favorite games or keep track of an ongoing project. But as soon as you powered on your device, the screen started flickering so much so that you couldn’t carry out your project. Fret not! You are not alone to have complained about the screen flickering problem on your Windows 11 device. Having looked into the problem, we’ve lined up the 20 viable tips and tricks to resolve the issue. Read on…
Pro Tips to Fix Screen Flickering on Windows 11
From the malicious software packages that recently found their way into your system to the ill-fated display drivers to the clogged-up startup to the malfunctioning display connected to your PC, there are several villains of the screen flickering chaos. But bother not, there is an ever-reliable solution for each of the culprits.
1. Get to the Root Cause of Screen Flickering
To get going, it would be better to get to the root cause of the screen flickering and figure out what’s causing the problem. Note that it is often triggered by malfunctioning display drivers and outdated apps.
- On your PC, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to launch Task Manager.
- If the Task Manager app is flickering along with the rest of the screen, there is a high chance that your display drivers are at fault.
- However, if the Task Manager does not flicker, the problem could be related to an app.
2. Restart Your Computer
More often than not, you can temporarily fix the screen flickering problem on a Windows device by just restarting it.
- Go to the Start menu > Power icon > Restart.
3. Check Monitor and Cable Connections
When using an external monitor, keep an eye on the loose or damaged cables as they can cause flickering problems.
- To ward off this issue, make sure that the monitor cable (HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA) has been connected securely.
- Take a close look at the cable to ensure it’s not worn out or damaged. If needed, do not fail to replace it.
- If possible, it would also be a good idea to test the monitor with another PC to take control of the hardware issues.
- Besides, I would also suggest you use a different cable or port to check if the flickering continues to plague your PC.
4. Update All the Problematic Apps
To ensure the outdated apps are no longer hurting the performance, update them all.
- Open the Microsoft Store app > Library tab in the sidebar > Get Updates > Update all apps.
5. Check for Incompatible Apps
Now is the right time to nab the ill-functioning third-party apps. Especially the ones related to screen recording or display management as they could cause be flickering issues.
- Go to the Settings app on your PC (Win+I).
- Choose Apps located in the left sidebar > Installed apps.
- Find all the recently installed/suspicious apps.
- Click on the three-dot menu next to the app in question and hit Uninstall in the menu.
6. Adjust Refresh Rate
While there is a lot to like about the enhanced “Refresh Rate”, beware of the incorrect or unsupported refresh rate as it can easily lead to screen flickering issues.
- Press the Windows + I keys to open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- Under “Choose a refresh rate” section, select a compatible refresh rate such as 60Hz or 120Hz, and confirm the change.
7. Disable Fast Startup
Be warned that the “Fast Startup” often triggers various issues, including screen flickering. Thus, it would be wise to altogether turn it off.
- Simply, the press Windows + R keys > type control panel > press Enter to open the Control Panel.
- Navigate to the Hardware and Sound section > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
- Then, click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable”.
- After that, uncheck the box for Turn on fast startup (recommended) > click Save changes.
- In the end, restart your PC.
8. Update Display Drivers
The corrupted or ill-fated display driver could be at the heart of the screen flickering issue on your PC.
- To update the display drivers of your PC, press Windows + X > select Device Manager in the list.
- Use the tiny downward arrow to expand the Display adapters section > > Right-click your graphics card and choose the Update driver in the menu.
- Up next, choose “Search automatically for drivers” and then run through the instructions to complete the updating process.
- Alternatively, you can also navigate to the manufacturer’s website (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) > find the latest drivers and download them for your GPU.
9. Update Windows
Is your system running the outdated version of Windows 11? If you are nodding in “Yes”, updating the software could help you overcome the hurdle.
- On your Windows device, press Windows + I to open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates > Install the latest update.
10. Reinstall Drivers
Should screen flickering continue to haunt your PC, reinstall the display drivers.
- Use the Win+X keyboard shortcut and choose Device Manager in the list.
- Expand the display drivers section and right-click your graphics card > select Uninstall device.
- After that, you will need to restart your Windows device to allow it to reinstall the driver automatically.
11. Disable Hardware Acceleration
It’s worth pointing out that some apps are designed to take advantage of hardware acceleration for enhanced performance. While this feature is well thought-out, at times it tends to trigger the screen flickering problem.
- In Google Chrome: Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner > Settings > System > Disable “Use hardware acceleration when available” and relaunch the Chrome browser.
- In Microsoft Edge: Click on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner. Choose Settings > System and Performance turn off the “Use hardware acceleration when available” and relaunch the browser.
12. Bring on the Windows Troubleshooter
When there is an intensive conversation going on about the effective Windows savior, how long can you keep the beloved Windows Troubleshooter away from the discussion?
- Head over to the Settings app > System > Troubleshooter > Troubleshooter > Other Troubleshooter > Hit the Run button next to Windows Update and then follow the instructions to catch and fix the hurdles.
13. Check for Malware
It’s no secret that malware infections have a long history of causing display issues. Hence, it would be apt to perform a full system scan to nab the culprits.
- Fire up “Windows Security” by using the Windows + I keyboard shortcut and navigating to Privacy & Security > Windows Security.
- Select Virus & Threat Protection> Quick scan > Scan options > Full scan.
- Once the scanning is done, wipe out all the detected threats.
14. Boot into Safe Mode
What makes Safe Mode so decisive is the ability to load only necessary drivers, which works like a charm in helping determine if a third-party app or service is playing the devil’s role.
- Press Windows + R to fire up the Run dialog > type msconfig > press Enter.
- Select the Boot tab > Safe boot.
- Now, restart your PC.
- Next, check if the flickering has stopped in Safe Mode. If it has, a third-party app or driver is spoiling your party.
- Next up, uninstall all the apps or drivers that seem to be suspicious.
- To exit Safe Mode, just repeat the same steps explained above and uncheck Safe Boot.
15. Perform a Clean Boot
A clean boot has long been exceptionally effective in isolating software conflicts. Therefore, it deserves to be given a chance.
- Press the Windows + R keys and type msconfig > press Enter.
- Head over to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services.
- After that, click on the “Disable all” option.
- Then, select the “Startup” tab and choose “Open Task Manager”.
- Now, make sure to disable all startup items.
- Next up, restart your Windows PC and check for flickering.
- After that, re-enable services and startup items one at a time to nab the culprit.
16. Update the BIOS or UEFI Firmware
Believe it or not, the outdated BIOS/UEFI firmware is also equally responsible for the display issues.
- First off, identify your motherboard manufacturer and model.
- Then, go to your manufacturer’s website and install the latest firmware by following the provided instructions.
17. Test with Another Monitor
Are you using an external display with your PC? If that’s the case, try connecting to a different monitor to check if the issue is with your screen. Just in case the new monitor works without flickering, it’s likely that the problem is with your original monitor.
18. Restore Windows 11 to a Previous State
Did the screen flickering problem crop up after a recent software update? If yes, I would recommend you restore Windows 11 to its previous state.
- To get it done, press Windows + R to bring up the Run dialog box > type rstrui and press Enter.
- After that, choose a “restore point” which was created before the issue started, and then run through the on-screen instructions to restore your system.
19. Reset Your PC
If nothing has managed to fix the problem and your PC continues to flicker, reset it. Should the issue happen to be the byproduct of a software glitch, the factory reset will help you eliminate it.
- Dive into the Settings app on your PC > System > Recovery.
- Right next to “Reset this PC“, hit the “Reset PC” button > Select “Keep my files” and then go through the prompts to complete the process.
20. Contact the Authorized Service Center
Haven’t been able to overcome the display flickering issue yet? I’m afraid, there may be a hardware issue on your PC. In such a situation, contacting an authorized service center is the right way to go.
Wrapping up…
With the help of these handy tips, you can get the better of the screen flickering issue on your Windows 11 device. Featuring a variety of solutions for fixing faulty drivers, nabbing software conflicts to spotting hardware issues, this guide has got you fully covered. However, if you still find something missing or wish to offer invaluable feedback, be sure to shoot it up via the comments section below.
