How to Fix a Flickering Screen in Windows 11 and 10

Microsoft says screen flickering in Windows is usually caused by a display driver problem or an incompatible app. A one-minute test with Task Manager tells you which one you're dealing with, so you can go straight to the right fix. If the screen is too hard to read to follow these steps, start your PC in safe mode first (see the FAQ below).

1. Check Whether Task Manager Flickers

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1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select Task Manager.
2. Watch the screen for a few seconds.

• Task Manager flickers along with everything else: a display driver is probably causing the problem. Go to sections 2 and 3.
• Task Manager doesn't flicker, but the rest of the screen does: an incompatible app is probably causing the problem. Go to section 4.

Expected result: you know whether to fix the driver or an app.

2. Reset the Graphics Driver

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Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B. Microsoft notes that resetting the graphics driver this way may fix the issue in some cases. If it doesn't, restart your PC: Start > Power > Restart.

Expected result: you may hear a beep or see the screen flicker once as the driver resets, and then the screen stays steady.

3. Roll Back, Update or Reinstall the Display Driver

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All three fixes start in Device Manager. Search for device manager in the search box on the taskbar and select it, then expand Display adapters. You need to be signed in as an administrator to roll back or uninstall a driver.

Roll Back the Driver

Try this first if Windows Update recently updated your PC.

1. Right-click your display adapter and select Properties.
2. Select the Driver tab, then Roll Back Driver, and follow the prompts.
3. Restart your PC.

If Roll Back Driver isn't available, Windows doesn't have a previous driver to go back to. Move on to updating the driver.

Update the Driver

1. Right-click your display adapter and select Update driver.
2. Select Search automatically for updated driver software and follow the prompts.

If Windows doesn't find a newer driver, you may need to get the latest one from your PC or display adapter maker's website. For more detail, see how to update your graphics driver.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Driver

1. Right-click your display adapter and select Properties > Driver > Uninstall Device.
2. Tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device (on Windows 10: Delete the driver software for this device) and select OK to confirm.
3. Restart your PC. Windows tries to reinstall the driver.

If you can't see the tick box, start your PC in safe mode and try again.

Expected result: after the restart, nothing on the screen flickers, Task Manager included.

4. Update or Remove the App Causing It

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If only the apps flicker, think about what you installed or updated just before the flickering started.

1. Update the app: check for updates in Microsoft Store or on the app maker's website.
2. Uninstall the app: on Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select More (…) next to the app, then Uninstall. On Windows 10, select Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select the app, then Uninstall.
3. Restart your PC and check the screen. If it still flickers, uninstall other recent apps one at a time, restarting after each, until the flickering stops.
4. Reinstall what you need: open Microsoft Store and look in Library, or download the app again from its maker.

Expected result: the flickering stops once the app that caused it is updated or removed.

5. Check the Refresh Rate

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The refresh rate is how many times per second the image refreshes on the screen. The rates Windows lists depend on what your display supports. Microsoft notes that a higher refresh rate can help minimize flicker, so if your display offers more than one rate, try a higher one.

1. On Windows 11, select Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, then pick a rate next to Choose a refresh rate.
2. On Windows 10, select Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings, choose your display if you have more than one, then pick a rate under Refresh rate.

On Windows 11, a rate marked with an asterisk (*) doesn't support your current resolution. Choosing it changes the resolution too.

Expected result: the rate you picked is shown as the current refresh rate on the same page.

6. Check the Cable on an External Monitor

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If only an external monitor flickers, check the connection:

• Make sure the cable is firmly connected at both ends, or try a different cable.
• Disconnect docks, dongles and adapters and connect the monitor straight to the PC.
• Try a different video port on the PC, or try the monitor on another PC to see whether the monitor or the PC is at fault.

Expected result: if the flickering stops with a different cable or port, the old cable or port was the problem.

Still Flickering? What to Try Next

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• Install Windows updates: select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates (on Windows 10: Update & Security > Windows Update).
• Get the driver from the maker: download the latest display driver for your exact model from your PC or graphics card maker's support site.
• Undo recent changes: if the flickering started recently, System Restore can take Windows back to an earlier restore point without affecting your personal files.