How to Fix Flickering Screen on Windows 11
Having a flickering screen on Windows 11? It’s a real pain, especially when you’re trying to get stuff done. It happens more often than you’d think, but the good news is there are some simple fixes. Usually, it’s more likely to be a software or driver hiccup rather than anything serious with your hardware—so no need to panic. Let’s get stuck into some quick fixes and save yourself some bother.
Try Checking Task Manager
First up, bring up Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Keep an eye on it—if the screen flickers when it opens, it’s a sign your display drivers might be having a lend. If Task Manager stays solid but your wallpaper jumps around, then maybe an app’s causing the issue. Who would’ve thought such a simple tool could be a lifesaver?
Update Your Display Drivers
This one’s a classic fix that sorts out heaps of Windows troubles. Outdated drivers can really muck up how your graphics run. Right-click the Start button and pick Device Manager. Go to Display adapters, right-click your graphics card, and choose Update driver. Then, select Search automatically for updated driver software. If Windows finds an update, awesome! If not, it’s worth jumping onto the manufacturer’s website—like NVIDIA or AMD—to see if there’s a fresh driver available.
And here’s a handy tip: if updating normally doesn’t do the trick, you can run some commands in Windows Terminal:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
This will check for any system file corruption that might be causing your display drama and fix it up. Worth giving a crack.
Uninstall Any Troublesome Apps
Sometimes, after installing a new app, the flickering kicks in. Think back—was it a recent install? Maybe it was a dodgy antivirus or some cloud storage software. Head over to Settings > Apps and skim through what’s installed. If something looks suspect, click on it and choose Uninstall. Booting into Safe Mode can also help spot if the issue’s just a third-party app causing grief.
Adjust Your Display Refresh Rate
This one’s often overlooked but can really make a difference. If your refresh rate doesn’t match what your monitor can handle, flickering can happen. Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. Click on your monitor and then hit Display adapter properties. Under the Monitor tab, try switching between different Screen refresh rates to see if that settles things down. Just make sure you’re not trying to run your monitor faster than it’s built for—like setting it to 144Hz when it only supports 60Hz, for example.
Clean Boot—It’s Worth a Try!
A clean boot is basically starting your PC fresh, without anything unnecessary running in the background. It can help you figure out if some third-party app’s causing the flicker. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter. Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all. Next, switch to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager. Disable any startup items you don’t need. Reboot and see if the flickering’s gone. If it is, then one of those apps was the culprit. You can re-enable them one by one to find out which one’s causing the trouble.
If you give these a go, hopefully the flickering will bugger off for good. Sometimes it takes a bit of patience—no one’s saying it’s an instant fix. Figuring out whether it’s a software or hardware issue can save heaps of time and hassle.
Extra Tips While Fixing Flickering Screens
While you’re at it, make sure your Windows 11 is fully up to date—check Settings > Windows Update. Microsoft often rolls out fixes that can help with flickering. If driver updates aren’t finding anything, try downloading the latest drivers directly from your GPU’s site—NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel (links below).
Keep an eye on background apps too—they can slow your system down and cause odd issues. Use Task Manager > Startup to tidy things up. If you’re worried about overheating, give HWInfo a look to see if your PC’s running too hot. And don’t forget to run regular malware scans—better safe than sorry!
Flickering screens are a pain, but with a bit of patience and these tips, most can be sorted. The key is figuring out whether it’s software or hardware causing the drama—that helps you target the fix. If it’s still playing up after all that, it might be time to call in a pro or test your monitor on another PC to rule out hardware issues. Keeping notes on what you’ve tried can make troubleshooting a whole lot quicker next time.