Windows 10 screen flickering can be frustrating, but there are effective solutions to address this issue.
Reasons for screen flickering on Windows 10
1. Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers: If your graphics card driver is outdated or incompatible with Windows 10, it can lead to screen flickering. Updating the graphics driver can often resolve this problem. To update the graphics driver, follow these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the context menu.
b. Expand the “Display adapters” category and right-click on your graphics card.
c. Select “Update driver” and choose the option to search automatically for updated driver software.
d. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update.
2. Conflicting applications or software: Certain applications or software installed on your computer may conflict with Windows 10, causing screen flickering. To troubleshoot this issue:
a. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
b. Go to the “Processes” tab and look for any suspicious or unfamiliar applications running in the background.
c. Right-click on the application and select “End task” to close it.
d. If the flickering stops, consider uninstalling the conflicting application or software through the Control Panel or using an uninstaller tool.
3. Incompatible display settings: Incorrect display settings can also cause screen flickering. To adjust the display settings:
a. Right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings.”
b. Ensure that the resolution and refresh rate are set to the recommended values for your monitor.
c. If the flickering persists, try lowering the resolution or changing the refresh rate to see if it improves the issue.
4. Malware or virus infection: Malware or viruses can interfere with the normal functioning of Windows 10, including causing screen flickering. To scan and remove malware:
a. Use a reputable antivirus software to perform a full system scan.
b. Quarantine or remove any detected threats.
5. Hardware issues: In some cases, hardware issues such as a faulty graphics card or loose cable connections can cause screen flickering. To troubleshoot hardware problems:
a. Check the connections between your computer and the monitor to ensure they are secure.
b. If possible, try connecting your monitor to another computer to see if the flickering issue persists.
c. Consider contacting a professional technician or the manufacturer for further assistance.
Adjusting monitor refresh rate
Adjusting the monitor refresh rate can help fix screen flickering issues on Windows 10. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings” from the context menu.
2. In the Display settings window, scroll down and click on “Advanced display settings.”
3. Under the Advanced display settings, click on “Display adapter properties for Display 1.”
4. In the Properties window, go to the “Monitor” tab.
5. Under the Monitor tab, you will find the “Screen refresh rate” dropdown menu. Click on it and select a different refresh rate from the list. Choose a lower refresh rate than the one currently selected.
6. Click on “Apply” and then click on “OK” to save the changes.
7. If the screen flickering issue persists, try adjusting the refresh rate again, selecting a different rate this time.
8. Keep experimenting with different refresh rates until you find one that eliminates the flickering.
It’s important to note that not all monitors support higher refresh rates. If you don’t see any other options in the dropdown menu, it means that your monitor only supports the default refresh rate.
If adjusting the refresh rate doesn’t fix the screen flickering issue, there might be other underlying causes. Here are a few additional troubleshooting steps you can try:
1. Update Windows: Make sure your Windows 10 operating system is up to date. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on “Check for updates.”
2. Update device drivers: Outdated or incompatible device drivers can cause screen flickering. Open the Device Manager, right-click on the display adapter, and select “Update driver.” You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest driver for your graphics card.
3. Run a clean boot: A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, which can help identify if a third-party application is causing the issue. Press the Windows key + R, type “msconfig” and hit Enter. In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab, check “Hide all Microsoft services,” then click on “Disable all.” Go to the Startup tab and click on “Open Task Manager.” Disable all startup items, then close Task Manager and click on “OK” in the System Configuration window. Restart your PC and check if the screen flickering is resolved.
4. Try safe mode: Booting your computer in safe mode can help determine if a third-party application or driver is causing the screen flickering. Press the Windows key + I, go to Update & Security > Recovery, and under Advanced startup, click on “Restart now.” In the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings. Click on “Restart” and then press the F4 key to boot into safe mode.
python
import time
import win32gui
import win32con
def stop_flickering(window_title):
hwnd = win32gui.FindWindow(None, window_title)
if hwnd == 0:
print("Window not found.")
return
win32gui.LockWindowUpdate(hwnd)
time.sleep(2) # Simulating some process or delay
win32gui.LockWindowUpdate(None)
win32gui.RedrawWindow(hwnd, None, None, win32con.RDW_ERASE | win32con.RDW_FRAME | win32con.RDW_INVALIDATE | win32con.RDW_ALLCHILDREN)
# Usage Example
window_title = "My Application"
stop_flickering(window_title)
The above code uses the `win32gui` library to find the window with a specific title and then temporarily locks the window update to prevent flickering. It introduces a delay (2 seconds in this example) to simulate some process, and then unlocks the window update and redraws the window to eliminate flickering.
Updating graphics drivers
1. Open the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting “Device Manager” from the menu.
2. In the Device Manager, expand the “Display adapters” category to see your graphics card(s).
3. Right-click on your graphics card and select “Update driver” from the context menu.
4. Choose the option to automatically search for updated driver software. Windows will then search online for the latest driver for your graphics card.
5. If Windows finds an updated driver, it will download and install it automatically. Follow any on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
6. If Windows doesn’t find an updated driver, you can try manually downloading the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website. Visit the support page for your graphics card and download the appropriate driver for your version of Windows.
7. Once the driver is downloaded, double-click on the installer file to run it. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.
8. After the driver installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.
If updating the graphics driver doesn’t resolve the screen flickering issue, you can try the following additional troubleshooting steps:
1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager. Look for any processes that are using a high amount of CPU or memory resources and end them if necessary.
2. Uninstall any recently installed software or drivers that may be causing conflicts. Press the Windows key + X and select “Apps and Features” from the menu. Find the software or driver in the list, click on it, and select “Uninstall”.
3. Check for any patches or updates for Microsoft Windows. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app, then go to “Update & Security” > “Windows Update” and click on “Check for updates”.
4. If you’re using multiple monitors, try disconnecting all but one and see if the flickering persists. If it doesn’t, one of the other monitors may be causing the issue.
5. Try pressing the Esc key to exit full-screen mode if you’re experiencing flickering while using a specific program or application.
Resolving incompatible apps and repairing system files
- Check for app updates
- Uninstall incompatible apps
- Disable or uninstall third-party antivirus software
- Use compatibility mode
- Run the app troubleshooter
Repairing system files:
- Run Windows Update
- Use the System File Checker tool
- Perform a clean boot
- Reset the display driver
- Update or reinstall display drivers
Richard Krull is a talented technology writer for helptechportal.com, focusing on cloud computing and data storage. With a degree in Information Technology and years of experience in the IT industry, Richard’s articles provide readers with a deep understanding of cloud-based solutions. In his free time, Richard enjoys hiking and discovering new technologies to optimize his smart home.