12 Ways to Stop Your Screen from Flickering in Windows 11

Troubleshooting tips for a blinking or flickering screen on Windows 11

Co-authored by Megaera Lorenz, PhD Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: July 16, 2026 Fact Checked

Is your screen flickering or flashing on your Windows 11 computer? While there are several possible causes, the most likely ones are a faulty display driver or an incompatible app. We’ll explain how to diagnose and fix the most common causes of a flickering screen. We’ll also go over other possible issues, such as a poor cable connection or an incorrect refresh rate. Keep reading to learn how to get your monitor back in working order!

Why is my screen flickering in Windows?

The most common causes for screen flickering in Windows 11 are faulty display drivers and incompatible apps. To determine which problem is more likely, open the Task Manager. If the Task Manager flickers, there's probably an issue with a driver. If it's not flickering, there's likely a problematic app on your computer.

1

Refresh your graphics driver.

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Press ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+B. A flickering screen in Windows often indicates an issue with your graphics or display driver. In some cases, you can resolve the problem by rebooting your graphics driver. To do so, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B.^{[1]
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- It might also help to reboot your computer if you haven’t done so already.

2

Open Task Manager to determine if an app is to blame.

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If Task Manager doesn’t flicker, it’s probably a software problem. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open your Task Manager. If Task Manager is flickering along with the rest of your screen, the cause is likely a bad driver or a hardware problem. If Task Manager isn’t flickering, the most likely cause is an incompatible app.^{[2]
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- If Task Manager is flickering, keep reading to learn how to fix problems with your display driver.
- If Task Manager isn’t flickering, jump to this step.

3

Boot up in Safe Mode if you can’t see your screen.

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This temporary fix may make it easier to take other troubleshooting steps. Depending on what’s causing the problem, booting into Safe Mode might temporarily stop the flickering so that you can see what you’re doing while you attempt to fix it.^{[3]
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Go to source} To start up in Safe Mode:
- Turn your computer off, then turn it on again. At the login screen, click the power icon.
- Hold down Shift and select Restart. If prompted, click Restart anyway (while still holding down Shift).
- When you see the Options screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
- Click Restart.
- Press F5 to enable Safe Mode with Networking. Your computer will reboot into Safe Mode, and you should still have access to the internet.

4

Roll back your display driver.

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Try this solution if the problem started after an update. If you recently updated Windows (or your display driver, specifically), there might be an issue with the new driver. Try rolling back to a previous version of the driver and see if the flickering goes away. To do this:^{[4]
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- Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
- Expand the Display adapters section of the Device Manager menu.
- Right-click your display adapter and click Properties.
- Click the Driver tab. Select Roll Back Driver and click Yes to confirm.
- When the process is complete, restart the computer and see if the flickering issue is gone.

5

Update or reinstall your display driver.

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An outdated or corrupted driver could be to blame. If your driver was not recently updated, try installing a newer version.^{[5]
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Go to source} Depending on what kind of graphics card you have, you can either do this through the Device Manager on Windows, or through the manufacturer’s dedicated app. It’s generally better to use the manufacturer’s driver rather than a generic one. Ideally, you should attempt this while your computer is in Safe Mode.
- Check out our guide to manually updating device drivers for detailed instructions on how to find and install the manufacturer’s driver.
- If you’d rather let Windows automatically install the driver for you, right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager. Expand the Display adapters section and right-click your display adapter. Select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software. If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.^{[6]
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- If no updated drivers are available, you can force Windows to reinstall the current driver. Go to Device Manager > Display adapters and right-click your display adapter. Select Uninstall device. Check the box next to “Attempt to remove the driver for this device.” Uninstall. When the process is complete, reboot your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver at startup.
  - If you don’t see the “Attempt to remove the driver for this device” option, make sure you’re in Safe Mode.

6

Uninstall or update problematic apps.

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An incompatible app could cause display issues. If you recently installed an app, or if you first noticed the problem when using a particular app, then there could be a conflict between the app and your display adapter/graphics card. Before you delete the app altogether, try updating it first. Check for updates in the Microsoft Store or on the developer’s website, depending on where you got it. If that doesn’t work, uninstall the app.^{[7]
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- After updating or uninstalling an app, restart your computer to see if the flickering problem goes away.
- You might have to uninstall multiple apps if you’re not sure which one is causing the problem.
- If the flicker goes away after you uninstall an app, try reinstalling it and see if the issue comes back. If not, the problem might have been a corrupt installation rather than the app itself.

7

Run older games in compatibility mode.

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Some games might flicker because they aren’t compatible with your system. If you just notice the flicker while using specific games or apps, you can try fixing this by changing how you run the program. Try these steps:
- Right-click the game or app’s executable (.exe) file.
- Select Properties from the pop-up menu.
- Click the Compatibility tab.
- Check the box next to “Run this program in compatibility mode for” and select an older version of Windows (e.g., Windows 8).
- You can also try checking options like “Disable Fullscreen Optimizations” or “Reduced Color Mode,” which may help minimize display issues.
- Click Apply > OK.
- Try running the game or app and see if the flickering problem is fixed.

8

Check your cables if you’re using an external monitor.

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A loose connection can cause flickering. If you have an external monitor, make sure the HDMI cable (or whatever connection type you are using) is securely attached to the port on your computer. Check for any signs of damage to the cable as well.
- If possible, test a different cable to see if that fixes the problem.
- You can also try connecting the monitor to a different computer, which may help you narrow down whether the problem is with the computer or the monitor itself.

9

Reduce your monitor’s refresh rate.

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The wrong refresh rate can cause flickering. Typically, this happens if the refresh rate is set too high, or if your computer is trying to automatically adjust the refresh rate based on what kind of software you’re using. To change your refresh rate settings:^{[8]
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- Open the Start menu and select Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- Select a lower refresh rate from the Choose a refresh rate menu.
- If Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) is enabled, try toggling it off. You’ll only see this option if your computer’s hardware supports DRR.

10

Disable hardware acceleration.

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Hardware acceleration may cause flickering system-wide or in specific apps. Try turning this feature off in the apps where you see flickering issues. You can also turn it off in Windows’ Display settings menu. For detailed instructions on how to disable hardware acceleration in either your system settings or a specific browser, see our guide on How to Turn Off Hardware Acceleration.
- For apps other than browsers, you can often find this option in the Settings or Options menu, typically in a section called “Performance,” “Advanced,” or something similar.^{[9]
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11

Run a system scan.

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Scan your computer for corrupted or missing files. Windows has built-in diagnostic tools that can identify, and often fix, broken or missing files in your system. If other troubleshooting steps aren’t working, try running an SFC (System File Checker) scan.^{[10]
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- Search for cmd in the Windows taskbar or Start menu search bar. Right-click Command Prompt in the results and click Run as administrator. If prompted, provide your administrator credentials or click Allow.
- In the command prompt, type the command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth. Press Enter. This command will download the resources you need to repair any corrupted files.
- Wait for the DISM command to finish running, which may take a few minutes.
- Once it’s done, enter the command sfc /scannow. Press Enter. Wait for the system scan to finish.
- If the scan finds any corrupted files, it will hopefully be able to repair them. If it can’t repair them, look at the details of the scan’s findings for information about which files were corrupted and see if you can replace or repair them manually.
  - If Windows can’t complete the scan, try performing the scan again in Safe Mode.

12

Get your computer checked by a professional.

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There might be a hardware problem or a more serious system issue. If none of these troubleshooting steps resolve the flickering problem, take your computer in for repairs. Search for computer repair specialists in your area, such as at your local Best Buy or uBreakiFix.

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Surface computers have their own issues with screen flickering that might require more specialized troubleshooting solutions. Check out our article on how to fix a flickering Surface screen!

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