How to Fix Flickering Screen In Windows 11

Screen flickering on Windows 11 can be a frustrating experience. Whether you’re browsing the web, playing games, or working on important tasks, a constantly flickering screen can make everything difficult to see and even cause eye strain or headaches. This issue is more common than you might think and can arise due to various reasons, such as outdated or corrupted display drivers, incompatible third-party apps, incorrect refresh rate settings, or even a faulty monitor or display cable.

Before panicking or rushing to a technician, it’s important to understand that many screen flickering problems can be fixed at home with a few easy steps. Microsoft provides built-in troubleshooting tools, and with some basic system tweaks, you can usually get your screen working smoothly again. This guide will walk you through all the possible fixes—from updating drivers to checking hardware—to help you resolve screen flickering in Windows 11 effectively, no matter what the cause is.

Step 1: Identify the Cause Using Task Manager

Before diving into fixes, it’s essential to understand what’s causing the flickering: your drivers or an app. A quick way to check is by using Task Manager.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Observe the screen while Task Manager is open.

• If everything flickers except Task Manager, the issue likely lies with a third-party app.
• If Task Manager itself flickers, your display driver is most likely the problem.

Identifying this distinction early saves you time and effort by directing your troubleshooting toward the right solution.

Step 2: Fix Display Driver Issues

Your screen’s stability heavily depends on a properly functioning graphics driver. If the driver is outdated, corrupted, or incompatible, it can easily lead to flickering.

Method 1: Update Display Driver

1. Press Win + X and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand the Display adapters section.
3. Right-click your GPU (e.g., Intel UHD, NVIDIA, AMD Radeon) and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow prompts.

Drivers tell Windows how to communicate with your GPU. Outdated drivers may not work well with newer updates in Windows 11, leading to issues like flickering or display lag. Keeping your GPU drivers up to date ensures compatibility and optimal performance.

You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers:

• NVIDIA GeForce Experience
• AMD Adrenalin Software
• Intel Driver & Support Assistant

Method 2: Roll Back Driver (if issue started after update)

Sometimes new driver updates cause instability. If you noticed flickering right after a driver update, you can roll back to the previous version.

1. Go to Device Manager.
2. Right-click your display driver and choose Properties.
3. Click the Driver tab.
4. Select Roll Back Driver (if available).

This will reinstall the previous version, which may be more stable for your current system setup.

Method 3: Reinstall the Display Driver

1. In Device Manager, right-click the display driver and select Uninstall device.
2. Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device.
3. Click Uninstall and restart your PC.

Windows will automatically reinstall a generic driver on startup. This is a good way to eliminate corrupted installations that persist through regular updates.

Step 3: Uninstall Incompatible Apps

Certain third-party applications—such as Norton Antivirus, iCloud, or IDT Audio—are known to cause flickering issues. These apps might conflict with display rendering or use incompatible drivers.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
2. Locate recently installed or suspicious apps.
3. Click the three-dot menu next to the app and choose Uninstall.

If you recently installed any new software before the flickering began, remove it and restart your PC to see if the issue is resolved. Consider installing an alternative version or waiting for the developer to release an update.

Step 4: Change Refresh Rate and Display Settings

Your monitor’s refresh rate defines how many times per second the screen refreshes. If it’s set incorrectly, your display might flicker or display visual artifacts.

1. Open Settings > System > Display.
2. Click Advanced display at the bottom.
3. Under Choose a refresh rate, set it to 60 Hz (or another recommended rate).

Some displays may support higher refresh rates like 120Hz or 144Hz, but if the GPU or cable doesn’t fully support it, it can lead to flickering. Always select the rate best supported by both your hardware and your monitor.

Step 5: Boot into Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and background services. If the flickering disappears in Safe Mode, then a third-party driver or app is likely the issue.

To enter Safe Mode:

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Boot tab.
3. Check Safe boot, choose Minimal, then click OK and restart.

Observe if the screen flickering stops. If it does, this confirms that external software (and not your display hardware) is the problem. You can then start uninstalling recent apps or drivers in normal mode.

To exit Safe Mode, return to msconfig, uncheck Safe boot, and reboot.

Step 6: Run System File Checker (SFC Scan)

Corrupt system files may interfere with the display rendering process, causing flickers. Running an SFC scan repairs these files.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type: bashCopyEditsfc /scannow
3. Press Enter and wait for the scan to finish.

If any corrupt or missing files are found, SFC will attempt to repair them automatically. After it completes, restart your system and check if the screen flickering issue persists.

Step 7: Install Windows Updates

Microsoft regularly pushes updates that fix bugs, improve drivers, and enhance compatibility. Skipping updates can leave known bugs—like flickering screens—unresolved.

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install all available updates.

Also, click Advanced options > Optional updates to check for additional driver updates. Sometimes, GPU or chipset driver updates appear only in this section.

Step 8: Check Display Cable and External Monitor

Loose or damaged cables can cause flickering, especially if you use an external monitor.

• Try replacing your HDMI or DisplayPort cable.
• Plug your PC into another monitor or TV to see if the problem persists.

If the new display works without flickering, your original monitor might be faulty. If flickering occurs on both screens, the problem is more likely software-related.

Step 9: Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot helps identify software conflicts by disabling non-essential startup programs and services.

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
2. In the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services and then click Disable all.
3. Go to the Startup tab and open Task Manager.
4. Disable all startup apps.

Reboot your system and observe. If flickering stops, start re-enabling services and apps one by one until the problem returns—helping you isolate the culprit.

Step 10: Reset or Reinstall Windows (Last Resort)

If none of the above methods work, a full system reset might be necessary.

A. Reset this PC

1. Go to Settings > System > Recovery.
2. Click Reset this PC.
3. Choose Keep my files or Remove everything depending on your preference.

B. Clean Install

Use the Media Creation Tool to reinstall Windows 11. This wipes everything and gives you a clean start.

Final Thoughts

A flickering screen in Windows 11 can be annoying, disruptive, and even damaging to your productivity. However, as this guide has shown, the issue is often software-related and fixable with a few targeted actions. Whether it’s a simple refresh rate tweak, removing a problematic app, or updating your display driver, there’s almost always a solution that doesn’t require professional repair.

It’s always a good idea to begin with identifying whether the flicker is driver or app-related using Task Manager. From there, you can take appropriate steps—from safe booting and uninstalling incompatible software to running diagnostic tools like SFC and updating Windows.

Don’t forget to consider the physical setup too—cables and monitors can be part of the problem. And while a system reset is a last resort, it can solve even the most stubborn flickering issues.

By following the detailed methods in this guide, you should be able to restore smooth display performance on your Windows 11 PC.