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Experiencing screen flickering on your Windows 11 laptop can be frustrating and distracting. This issue often disrupts your workflow and can signal an underlying problem. Fortunately, many causes of screen flickering are simple to diagnose and fix.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through easy, step-by-step solutions to resolve laptop screen flickering on Windows 11. Each step is explained in a clear and basic way to help users of all levels.

By following these methods, you can identify the root cause and restore your screen to normal functioning. Let’s begin with some quick checks before diving into detailed fixes.

Read carefully and try the solutions in the order presented for the best results.

Quick Note: Prerequisites and Initial Checks

• Restart your laptop: Sometimes, a simple reboot can clear temporary glitches causing screen flickering.
• Check for physical damage: Make sure your screen is clean and not physically damaged or loose.
• Observe when flickering happens: Does it occur all the time, only when opening certain apps, or after sleep mode? This helps narrow down the cause.
• Update Windows: Ensure your system is up to date by going to Settings > Windows Update and installing any pending updates.
• Backup important data: Before making major changes, it’s good practice to back up your files.

Step 1: Update or Roll Back Display Drivers

Display drivers control how your laptop communicates with the screen. Outdated or corrupted drivers often cause flickering. Updating or rolling back drivers can fix this.

How to Update Display Drivers

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Display adapters section.
3. Right-click your display adapter (e.g., Intel, NVIDIA, AMD) and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will look for and install any available updates.
5. Restart your laptop and check if flickering stops.

How to Roll Back Display Drivers

If the flickering started after a recent driver update, rolling back to the previous version may help.

1. Open Device Manager again.
2. Right-click your display adapter and select Properties.
3. Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver (if available).
4. Follow the prompts and restart your laptop.

Note: If the “Roll Back Driver” option is greyed out, it means no previous driver version is stored.

Step 2: Adjust Screen Refresh Rate

The refresh rate controls how often your screen updates per second. An incompatible or unsupported refresh rate can cause flickering.

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings.
2. Scroll down and click Advanced display settings.
3. Under Refresh rate, try selecting a different rate from the dropdown menu (e.g., 60Hz, 75Hz).
4. Click Apply and observe if the flickering stops.

Why this matters: Setting a refresh rate your laptop screen supports ensures smooth image updates and prevents flickering.

Step 3: Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration allows apps to use your GPU for better performance, but sometimes it causes screen flickering, especially in browsers or office applications.

Disable Hardware Acceleration in Microsoft Edge or Chrome

1. Open the browser.
2. Click on the three dots (menu) in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Search for Hardware acceleration or navigate to System settings.
4. Turn off Use hardware acceleration when available.
5. Restart the browser and check for flickering.

This step helps isolate if apps using GPU acceleration cause the flicker.

Step 4: Check for Conflicting Apps

Some third-party applications or recently installed software may conflict with display settings.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup tab.
3. Disable any suspicious or unnecessary apps by selecting them and clicking Disable.
4. Restart your laptop and monitor if flickering persists.

You can also try starting Windows in Safe Mode to check if flickering occurs without third-party apps running.

Step 5: Run Windows Troubleshooter for Display Problems

Windows 11 includes built-in troubleshooters that can detect and fix common display issues automatically.

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Find Display or Video Playback troubleshooter and click Run.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

This tool can fix problems without requiring manual intervention.

Step 6: Check and Reconnect Display Cables (For External Monitors)

If you use an external monitor with your laptop, loose or damaged cables can cause flickering.

• Turn off your laptop and monitor.
• Unplug and carefully reconnect the video cable (HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA).
• Inspect the cable for any visible damage and replace if necessary.
• Turn on the devices and see if flickering stops.

When Nothing Works

If none of the above steps fix your laptop screen flickering, consider these final options:

• Update BIOS: Sometimes, outdated BIOS firmware affects hardware compatibility. Visit your laptop manufacturer’s website for instructions and updates.
• Perform a System Restore: Roll back Windows to a previous state before flickering started. Search Create a restore point in Windows and follow the System Restore process.
• Contact Support: Visit the official Microsoft support page or your laptop manufacturer’s help center for professional assistance.
• Hardware Inspection: Persistent flickering may indicate a hardware problem like a faulty screen or GPU. Consult a technician for diagnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why does my laptop screen flicker only when I open certain apps?

Some apps use hardware acceleration or high graphics settings that may not be fully compatible with your display driver. Try disabling hardware acceleration or updating drivers to fix this.

Can a virus cause screen flickering?

Viruses rarely cause screen flickering directly, but malware can affect system performance. Running a full antivirus scan is always a good precaution.

Is screen flickering related to battery or power settings?

Yes, some power-saving modes reduce display performance and may cause flickering. Try switching to a high-performance power plan in Control Panel > Power Options.

How do I know if the flickering is a hardware problem?

If flickering happens even in BIOS or Safe Mode, or when connecting an external monitor, it could indicate hardware issues like a faulty display cable, screen, or GPU.

Will reinstalling Windows 11 fix screen flickering?

Reinstalling Windows can fix software-related issues, but it should be a last resort after trying all other fixes.

Conclusion

Screen flickering on a Windows 11 laptop can have many causes, from simple software glitches to hardware faults. Starting with basic steps like restarting your laptop, updating drivers, and adjusting refresh rates usually resolves the problem. Disabling hardware acceleration and checking for conflicting apps further narrows down the cause.

If these solutions don’t work, advanced options such as BIOS updates, system restore, or professional hardware inspection may be needed. Always back up your data before making significant changes.

By following this guide carefully and methodically, you can fix screen flickering and enjoy a smooth, flicker-free display on your laptop.