Here’s how to find the causes and execute solutions to stop the flickering.
Test the Task Manager
To solve the problem with the flickering screen, first determine if a malfunctioning driver or incompatible app is causing the issue. Test this by opening your Task Manager. You can open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting Task manager, or by typing Task Manager into the search box in the taskbar.
Once Task Manager opens, observe your screen to see what parts of it are flickering. If the Task Manager is flickering, then the problem is a display driver. If everything else is flickering, but the Task Manager window is not, then there is an issue with one of your apps.
Fix the Incompatible Apps
Did you run the test on the Task manager and determine that it is an app that is causing the problem? First, check to see if you are running Norton Antivirus, iCloud, or IDT Audio. These apps are known to cause screen flickering in Windows 10. If you don’t have these apps, then think about apps that you have recently installed. Another type of software that could possibly be affecting your display is desktop software, such as a live wallpaper program. If you have one of those, try disabling or uninstalling it. Try updating any suspect apps to the newest versions. If that doesn’t work, you may need to uninstall the apps.
Update Display Drivers
When you upgrade from another version of Windows to Windows 10, it doesn’t automatically download and update the graphics drivers. Several third-party apps can help you find and use the best drivers for your machine. These include Driver Talent, Driver Booster, and Driver Genius. You can update the drivers on your own using a Windows setting.
Open the Device Manager by typing devmgmt.msc in the taskbar search box.
Click on the arrow next to the display adapters to expand the menu.
Right-click on your display adapter.
Select Update Driver.
Select Search Automatically for updated driver software.
If Windows finds a newer version of your display driver, it will automatically download and install it for you.
Change the Monitor Refresh Rate
Right-click on a blank place on the desktop and select “Display settings.”
Scroll to the bottom and click “Advanced display settings.”
Under Related settings, click Display adapter properties.
Click the Monitor tab and choose a higher screen refresh rate, then click the OK button. If it’s available, try 80 Hz first.
Create a New User Profile
Sometimes creating a new user profile on your machine will correct this issue. To make a new profile, follow these steps:
Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
Go to Accounts.
Click on “Family & other people” along the left side of the window.
Select “Add someone else to this PC.” The Wizard will guide you through the steps.
Other Possible Solutions
A magnetic field can also cause your screen to flicker. Take your laptop to a wide area away from other electronics and check to see if it still flickers. If it does, and you’ve tried all the other strategies to fix it, it could be the monitor itself. Check it by connecting your laptop to a different screen. If that different screen does not flicker, then you may need to replace your monitor or laptop. Hopefully, one of these solutions will stop the flickering monitor and allow you to get back to work! Have you ever faced this issue? What steps did you take to fix it?
