How to Resolve Flickering Screen Issue on Windows 10

A flickering screen can be incredibly frustrating. Imagine working on an important task when suddenly, your screen starts flickering for no apparent reason. It disrupts your workflow and makes it difficult to focus. But why does it happen and how can you fix it? In this article, we will explore some effective solutions to resolve the flickering screen issue on your Windows 10 computer.

1. Identify the Source of Flickering

Before you dive into solutions, it's important to identify the source of the problem. Is it a recently installed app or an outdated driver causing the issue? To find out, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager. If the Task Manager itself is also flickering, it indicates a problem with your drivers. On the other hand, if the Task Manager remains stable while the screen flickers, it suggests an issue with one of the installed apps.

2. Update or Roll Back Drivers

If the Task Manager is flickering along with the rest of the screen, you should focus on updating or rolling back your drivers. Open the Device Manager by searching for it in the Windows Start Menu. Double-click on Display adapters, right-click on the graphics card, and select Properties. Under the Driver tab, you will find two options: Roll Back Driver and Update Driver. If the Roll Back Driver option is available, try that first as the latest version of the driver might be causing the flickering issue. If not, proceed with the Update Driver option to install a newer version that might fix the bug.

3. Troubleshoot Incompatible Apps

If the Task Manager remains stable while the screen flickers, it's likely that an incompatible app is causing the issue. Check for any recent updates that may have triggered the problem. Open the Windows Store, go to Downloads and updates, and update all the apps installed on your computer. For apps installed directly from the manufacturer's site, either check for updates within the app or visit the manufacturer's site to ensure you have the latest version installed. It's crucial to run the latest versions to benefit from bug fixes and security patches.

If updating the apps doesn't resolve the issue, you will need to uninstall the incompatible app. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, click on Apps, and scroll to find the list of installed apps. Filter the list by parameters such as Installation date to identify the last app you installed before the screen started flickering. Click on the app, select Advanced options, and choose either Terminate to kill the app and associated processes, Reset to reinstall the app, or Uninstall to remove it entirely.

4. Create a New User Account

Creating a new user account in Windows 10 has worked as an alternative solution for many users. Open Settings, click on Accounts, and select Add someone else to this PC under Family & other users. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new user account and give it Admin rights. Then, switch to the newly created user account by clicking on your profile picture in the Start Menu. Check if the screen still flickers on the new account.

5. Known Conflicting Apps

Some apps have been identified as known causes of the flickering screen issue. For example, Norton antivirus and the IDT Audio app can trigger screen flickering. If you have these apps installed, consider uninstalling them. Also, some users have reported similar problems with Apple's iCloud app. Keep an eye on app updates and consult the respective developers for any available fixes.

6. Adjust Hardware Acceleration

If your monitor is unable to handle the high output of your computer's graphics card, it can result in a flickering screen. To resolve this, you need to disable hardware acceleration. Right-click on your desktop, select Display settings, go to Advanced display settings, and click on Graphic Properties. If the Change setting button is available, click on it to open Display Adapter Troubleshooter. Move the pointer to the extreme left to disable hardware acceleration. If this option is unavailable, you can try editing the registry entry by navigating to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftAvalon.Graphics and creating a new DWORD (32-bit) file called DisableHWAcceleration. Set the Hexadecimal value to 1 to disable hardware acceleration.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the flickering screen issue on your Windows 10 computer. Remember to always keep your apps and drivers up to date to avoid compatibility issues. If you have discovered another solution, feel free to share it in the comments below.