If your Windows 10 screen is constantly flickering, it's probable because yous take a troublesome application installed or an unsuitable display commuter. It's time for yous to resolve that annoying screen flash.

The trouble often begins when upgrading to Windows 10 from a previous version of the operating system, but information technology tin can occur at any time. We're going to show you various methods to fix a Windows 10 flashing screen.

Perform This Screen Flickering Test Starting time

Commencement, you need to establish what might be causing the flickering screen. To practise this, open up Chore Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously.

Alternatively, right-click your taskbar and select Task Managing director. Yous don't actually demand to use Task Manager, but you do need it open.

task manager

Now, watch your screen to encounter if Task Manager flickers. If it does, along with everything else on the screen, the problem is likely caused by your hardware or a faulty display commuter. On the other manus, if everything except Task Manager flickers, the effect is likely due to an application.

If information technology'southward the erstwhile, follow the instructions beneath in order. If information technology'southward the latter, skip to step 5. That said, if the advice there doesn't work, cheque the advice in the other sections besides.

1. Check Your Monitor and Cables

If you lot have a flashing screen, the first matter to dominion out is the hardware. Cheque all the cablevision connections from the monitor to the reckoner—take them out and plug them dorsum in to ensure the cables are secure.

If yous take a spare monitor cable, attempt using information technology instead. Or purchase a replacement online since it's an inexpensive purchase. Cables can degrade over time, or maybe a pet has had a sneaky chew. Either manner, switch the cable and run across if information technology stops screen flickering.

If you can, try a unlike monitor. If this resolves the problem, yous know it's your monitor that'southward the consequence. At that point, contact the manufacturer for support or to raise a warranty claim.

2. Set the Correct Refresh Rate

A monitor'south refresh rate is the speed at which the screen updates the epitome per 2d, measured in hertz (Hz). Basic monitors tin can usually only handle a 60Hz refresh rate, while more than advanced ones—typically aimed at gamers—tin can become up to 360Hz.

It's important that you gear up a suitable refresh charge per unit for your monitor. Sometimes a monitor manufacturer will support an overclocked refresh rate, simply this can crusade screen flickering.

display settings refresh rate

To suit your refresh charge per unit:

  1. Printing Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click System.
  3. Click Avant-garde display settings.
  4. Use the Refresh charge per unit dropdown and incrementally select lower rates until the screen flashing stops. If the flashing continues, revert to your monitor's recommended refresh rate.

3. Reset Your Display Driver

The screen flashing could be caused by your display driver. You lot might have an onetime commuter or a faulty new i. Let's make sure you are running the right version for your organisation.

Remove the Driver

First, boot Windows in safe mode:

windows 10 recovery
  1. Printing Windows primal + I to open Settings.
  2. Select Update & Security > Recovery.
  3. Underneath Advanced commencement-up, click Restart now.
  4. When your system restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings > Restart.
  5. Again, in one case restarted, select option five to launch your PC into Safe Way with Networking.

Side by side, use Device Manager to uninstall the display driver:

uninstall display device drivers
  1. Press Windows key + 10 and click Device Manager.
  2. Double-click on Display adaptors to expand the category.
  3. Right-click your graphics menu, click Uninstall device, bank check Delete the driver software for this device and then click OK.
  4. Restart your organization once more.

Alternatively, you tin use 3rd-party software Display Commuter Uninstaller, which will completely wipe any traces of the driver from your system.

Install a New Driver

Yous now want to install the latest commuter for your organisation. Windows Update will provide the driver information technology thinks is compatible with your system. To do this:

  1. Printing Windows Central + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Update & Security.
  3. Click Check for updates.

Alternatively, you can go to your graphics card manufacturer'southward website (likely AMD or Nvidia) and manually download the driver from there.

Download the driver, install information technology, and see if the screen flashing problem has ceased.

Roll Dorsum to an Older Driver

If the problem continues, it might exist that the newest driver hasn't patched the problem. If the screen flickering occurred after a commuter update, effort rolling back to an older version.

Follow the steps above to uninstall the driver, and so head to the onetime driver page for either AMD, NVIDIA, or Intel. This might exist a flake of trial and error, but try selecting 1 released when your screen wasn't flickering.

4. Reseat Your Graphics Menu

If the problem isn't with your display driver, information technology doesn't hateful your graphics carte du jour isn't to blame. If your graphics carte isn't seated correctly in your motherboard, information technology tin cause screen flashing.

You can hands check this if your motherboard has inbuilt graphics. Remove the monitor cable from your graphics card and plug it into the motherboard's display slot instead. If the flashing stops, you know the graphics menu is the problem.

Power off your PC, unplug everything, open the case, and remove your graphics carte du jour from the motherboard. Then carefully reseat it, ensuring the card firmly clips into the motherboard.

Of class, don't do this if yous're not comfortable working inside a computer because y'all might brand things worse.

If this doesn't fix it, your graphics bill of fare might be faulty. Contact the manufacturer for back up or to claim on the warranty.

five. Uninstall Problematic Applications

Some apps are incompatible with Windows 10 and tin can cause screen flickering. Think about whether you lot installed any new software before the screen flashing began or if an app recently updated. In the past, three problematic apps have been Norton Antivirus, iCloud, and IDT Sound.

Across all your applications, brand sure yous're running the latest versions. Either update within the app itself or head to the respective official websites and download the most upwardly-to-appointment release. Alternatively, check the developer'due south back up page for recently updated apps to run across if screen flashing is known as a recent bug.

windows 10 uninstall app

If this doesn't work, uninstall the program. To do so:

  1. Printing Windows Key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Apps.
  3. Click Sort by and choose Installation engagement.
  4. Click the offending app and click Uninstall. You may demand to restart your organisation for the changes to accept total effect.

vi. Create a New Windows User Profile

Many Windows ten problems can often be solved past creating a new user profile. Screen flickering is one of them.

windows 10 family and other users

To create a new account:

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open up Settings.
  2. Go to Accounts > Family & other users.
  3. Click Add someone else to this PC and follow the wizard.

For advice on transferring your files over, run into our guide on fixing issues with a new user business relationship.

Windows x Screen Flickers... No More!

As with most Windows x issues, no one fix will piece of work for everyone. Hopefully, one of the steps to a higher place has solved your Windows 10 screen flashing trouble.

If it is time for a new monitor, there are plenty of productive and fun things you tin can practice with the quondam 1. Otherwise, accept it off for recycling then it tin can rest in monitor heaven.

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About The Author

Joe Keeley (876 Manufactures Published)

Joe was born with a keyboard in his hands and immediately started writing about applied science. He has a BA (Hons) in Business and is at present a full-time freelance writer who enjoys making tech simple for anybody.

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