Windows 11 Screen Flickering: Find the Cause and Fix It

Windows 11 screen flickering usually comes from one of three places: the graphics driver, an app that does not draw its windows properly, or the physical connection between the graphics chip and the screen. The fixes are different for each, so the most useful thing you can do first is work out which one you are dealing with. This guide starts with a one-minute test that splits driver problems from app problems, then moves through display settings, cables, drivers and apps.

Everything here applies to Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2, on Home and Pro, for both laptops and desktops with external monitors.

Step 1: The Task Manager test

This is the classic diagnostic Microsoft has long recommended for flicker:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Watch it for a minute while the screen flickers.

What you see	Likely cause	Where to go next
Task Manager flickers along with everything else	Display driver, display settings or hardware	Steps 2 to 5
Task Manager stays steady while other windows flicker	An app, often one that overlays the screen	Step 6
Flicker also appears in the BIOS/UEFI setup screen	Hardware: cable, monitor or laptop panel	Step 3

If you cannot see well enough to work, start the PC in safe mode, which uses a basic display driver. Flicker that disappears in safe mode points strongly at the graphics driver or a startup app.

Step 2: Restart the graphics driver

Press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. The screen goes black for a second, you may hear a beep, and Windows reloads the display driver. Open apps stay open. This clears a lot of one-off flicker and black flashes, especially after waking from sleep or plugging in a monitor. If the problem keeps coming back, carry on with the next steps.

Step 3: Check cables, ports and the monitor

Flicker that changes when you move the cable or the laptop lid is physical.

• Reseat both ends of the HDMI, DisplayPort or USB-C cable, or try a different cable. Long, cheap or old cables often cannot carry high resolutions at high refresh rates.
• Try another port on the PC or the monitor. On desktops, make sure the monitor is plugged into the graphics card, not the motherboard, if you have a separate card.
• Remove adapters, docks and KVM switches as a test and connect directly.
• Use the monitor’s own menu to check its input and any features such as overdrive or adaptive sync, and try turning them off.
• On a laptop, connect an external monitor. If the external screen is steady and the built-in one flickers, the panel or its internal cable may be at fault, which is a repair job.

Step 4: Check refresh rate, resolution, brightness and HDR

Refresh rate. Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and look at Choose a refresh rate. Pick a different value from the list; if flicker started after you raised it, step it back down. Some laptops offer a Dynamic option that lowers the rate automatically to save power; switch to a fixed rate as a test.

Resolution and scale. In Settings > System > Display, use the resolution marked (Recommended). A non-native resolution can shimmer on some panels.

Content adaptive brightness. Many laptops change backlight brightness depending on what is on the screen, which can look like pulsing or flicker when you switch between dark and bright windows. Go to Settings > System > Display > Brightness and set Change brightness based on content (or content adaptive brightness control) to Off as a test. On some PCs, the display or graphics control panel from the maker has its own power-saving brightness feature that does the same thing.

HDR. If you use HDR, turn it off in Settings > System > Display > HDR and see whether the flicker stops. HDR at high refresh rates needs a cable and port that support it.

Multiple monitors. With two or more screens, check each display’s refresh rate separately; mixed rates and some docks cause flicker. Our multiple monitors guide explains the display arrangement options.

Step 5: Fix the graphics driver

If flickering started after a Windows update or a new driver, roll back first:

1. Right-click Start and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters, right-click your graphics chip and choose Properties.
3. On the Driver tab, select Roll Back Driver if it is available, give a reason and confirm.
4. Restart the PC.

If roll back is greyed out, or the driver is old, install a current one:

• Check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates for a newer display driver.
• For laptops, use the driver from the laptop maker’s support page; it is tuned for that panel and power management.
• For desktops with a dedicated card, use the latest driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel.

Our Windows 11 graphics drivers guide walks through each source of drivers, rollbacks and a clean reinstall.

Step 6: Find the app that flickers

When Task Manager stays steady, an app is to blame. Common suspects are apps that draw over the screen: overlays from game launchers and chat apps, screen recorders, older antivirus tools, display or RGB utilities, and some browsers with hardware acceleration problems.

1. Think about what you installed or updated around the time the flicker began.
2. Check for an update to that app, since developers often fix compatibility with new Windows releases.
3. If there is no fix, uninstall it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps and restart.
4. For browsers, try turning off hardware acceleration in the browser’s own settings as a test.

Also check Settings > Apps > Startup and switch off apps you do not need at sign-in; our startup apps guide shows how.

If nothing works

Run System File Checker and DISM to repair Windows files, then check whether a recent Windows update lines up with the problem. If the flicker shows up in the firmware setup screen, on a different PC, or with every cable you try, the monitor or laptop panel needs repair or replacement. For other display problems, from scaling to colour, start with our Windows 11 graphics and display guide.