How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off:  In 3 Easy Steps [Video]

How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off; Your computer will always experience hardware failure or bad graphics drives; hence information on how to fix the monitor flickering on and off could easily come in handy.

Screen flickering is a common issue these days, especially with monitors. While using the monitor, there is a visible change on the screen as the screen starts vibrating continuously.

Your monitor may flicker because of faulty graphics drivers, a bad monitor, loose input cables, incompatible applications installed on your computer, or an improperly seated graphics card.

It becomes critical that we all learn simple tricks such as how to fix monitor flickering on and off because any of the above can happen even to the best of us.

How to Fix Monitor Flickering On And Off

How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off
How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off

You’ll need to do several quick checks to know what’s causing the monitor flickering and how to fix it.

Here are guides to how to fix monitor flickering on and off in 3 quick and easy steps:

Step 1: Open Task Manager

Many of your computer experience issues can be efficiently diagnosed through the Task Manager. So start there.

Advertisement

To do this, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc simultaneously.

Step 2: Click on Task Bar

Once you open the Task Bar, right-click it to open another menu and select Task Manager.

Step 3: Check Your Screen If It Flickers

The last step on how to fix monitor flickering on and off is to check what you have done.

Once the program is up and running, check if the issue has been fixed by opening your screen to see if it flickers.

If everything else on the screen is black, there’s a problem with your hardware or display driver. However, if your screen flickers but nothing else does, the issue is with an application.

How to Fix Screen Flickering on Windows 10 in 6 Easy Steps

How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off
How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off

Aside from the general steps on how to fix monitor flickering on and off as described above for all systems, you may still need to learn how to fix this problem for Windows 10.

Step 1: Check Your Monitor and Cables

If you notice flickering, the first thing to rule out is hardware. Check all the cable connections to the monitor. Swap cables and see if this resolves the problem.

Step 2: Set the Correct Refresh Rate

Many times, screen flickering is caused by overclocking the refresh rate. You can fix it by turning it off, adjusting the refresh rate, or even replacing the monitor with one that doesn’t change the refresh rate.

To adjust your refresh rate:

  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click System.
  3. Click on advanced display settings.
  4. Use the Refresh rate dropdown and incrementally select lower rates until the screen flashing stops. If the flashing continues, revert to your monitor’s recommended refresh rate.

Step 3: Reset Your Display Driver

Remove the Driver

First, boot Windows in safe mode:

  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Select Update & Security > Recovery.
  3. Under Advanced start-up, click Restart now.
  4. When your system restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings > Restart.
  5. Again, once restarted, select option five to launch your PC into Safe Mode with Networking.

Next, use Device Manager to uninstall the display driver:

  1. Press Windows key + X and click Device Manager.
  2. Double-click on display adaptors to expand the category.
  3. Right-click your graphics card, click Uninstall device, check to delete the driver software for this device, and then click OK.
  4. Restart your system again.

Install a New Driver

You now want to install the latest driver for your system. Windows Update will provide the driver it thinks is compatible with your system. To do this:

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Update & Security.
  3. Click “Check for updates.”

Roll Back to an Older Driver

If the problem continues, it might be that the newest driver hasn’t patched the problem. If screen flickering occurs after a driver update, roll back to an older version.

Step 4: Reseat Your Graphics Card

If the problem isn’t with your display driver and it’s not with your graphics card, try reseating them.

Step 5: Uninstall Problematic Applications

Think about whether you installed any new software before the screen flashing began or if you updated. Either updates the app itself or head to the respective official websites and download the most up-to-date release. If a recent update is causing your monitor to flash, you can try to reinstall the app.

If this doesn’t work, uninstall the program. To do so,

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Apps.
  3. Click Sort by and choose Installation date.
  4. Click on the offending app and click Uninstall. You may need to restart your system for the changes to take effect.

Step 6: Create a New Windows User Profile

If you have a monitor flickering on your Windows, the solution is to create a new user profile.

To create a new account:

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Accounts > Family & other users.
  3. Clicks Add someone else to this PC and follow the wizard.

Why is my monitor flickering on and off?

How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off
How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off

Everyone who has ever embarked on the quest to learn how to fix monitor flickering on and off also tries to understand why this happens.

Your screen may flicker ON and OFF because of a failing monitor, loose power, and input connection cables, or if the screen refresh rate is too low.

You can fix this by following the six easy steps given below.

Step 1: Select More Power Options

Click the “Battery” icon and select “More Power Options.”

Step 2: Select “Never On Turn Off Display”

Set the “Choose when to turn OFF display” option to “Never” from the dropdown menu and save the settings.

Step 3: Set Your Screen Resolution

Press the “Windows” and “D” keys to access the desktop. Right-click the desktop and choose “Screen Resolution.”

Step 4: Click Advanced Settings to Change the Refresh Rate

Click the “Advanced Settings” option followed by the “Monitor” tab. Change the refresh rate from 72 Hertz to 85 Hertz. Click the “OK” button to save the changes.

Step 5: Check Power Input Cables

Check the power and input cables. You can remove and reconnect them.

Step 6: Update Video Drivers Fro, Task Manager

Update the video drivers installed on your computer from the “Task Manager.”

Laptop screen blinking on and off

Laptop screens blinking on and off are annoying and can even cause eyestrain and headaches. The first step to fixing monitor flickering is to find the cause.

  1. You can fix monitor flickering by changing the refresh rate to match your monitor’s capabilities.
  2. Two things will fix your monitor flickering: update your graphics card drivers and revert to an older driver if the flickering starts immediately after an update.
  3. Turn on vertical if the monitor flickers when playing 3D games or programs. The screen refresh rate is your monitor’s refresh rate. HORIZONTAL Better! Tearing goes away!
  4. If the screen starts flickering when the laptop is on, there is probably a loose or damaged cable inside. You might want to open it to confirm this, but you might not want to risk voiding the manufacturer’s warranty. For the best results, professionals should look into it.

How do I know if my monitor is dying?

How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off
How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off

Learning how to fix monitor flickering on and off is one thing, but understanding the entire problem can help you take immediate precautions and prevent further damage.

Monitors are fragile, and just like other devices, they are not meant to last a lifetime as they need replacement after a specific timeframe.

Here are eight common signs that your monitor is dying:

  1. Monitors take a long time to turn on.
  2. Dim images on a screen.
  3. Flickering and blinking images.
  4. Dead pixels.
  5. Burn-in images.
  1. Straight lines and patterns on the screen.
  2. Random shutdown.
  3. Monitor noise and image jitter.

Why does my monitor flicker on and off when I play games?

How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off
How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off

Note that this has nothing to do with the brand of gaming display you have set up or having a high-quality and professional monitor; you can still run into flickering issues.

In most cases, your monitor will flicker when you play games because of a faulty graphic card.

Here are five different methods to fix your monitor from flickering when playing games, applicable to all windows:

Method 1: Use a Higher Screen Refresh Rate

A low refresh rate can cause screen flickering in games. To fix flickering issues in games, you can try using a higher screen refresh rate.

Follow these steps to select a higher screen refresh rate:

  1. Right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings.”
  2. Click on “Advanced display settings.”
  3. Under Related settings, click on Display adapter properties.
  4. In the Monitor tab, select a refresh rate higher than the current rate you’re using in the Monitor Settings section.
  5. Click Apply->OK to save the changes.
  6. Restart your computer and check if the screen is still flickering when playing games.

Method 2: Roll Back Graphics Card Driver

The graphics card driver was via Windows Update, and you didn’t even notice it. In this case, an updated graphics card driver may cause screen flickering issues in games. Try rolling the card driver back to a version you know to fix it.

To do so,

  1. On your keyboard, press Win+R (the Windows logo key and the R key) at the same time to invoke the Run box.
  2. Type “msc” into the Run box and click OK to open the Device Manager.
  3. Expand the “Display adapters” category and double-click on the graphics card device.
  4. Click on the Driver tab and click on the “Roll Back Driver” button to roll back the driver.
  5. Click OK to save the changes once you’ve rolled back the driver.
  6. Restart your computer and check to see if the flickering screen issue persists.

Method 3: Update Graphics Card Drivers

You can manually update the drivers if you want. Simply jump on the PC manufacturer’s website or the device manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers corresponding to the Windows version have.

If you don’t have the time or computer skills to update the drivers manually, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.

You can update drivers with a few clicks, even if you have too many computer skills.

  1. Download and install “Driver Easy Free” on your computer.
  2. Launch the application and click on Scan Now to detect any problem drivers on your computer. See a list of drivers that be updated.
  3. Click the Update button next to the graphics card driver, and then the driver will be downloaded automatically. Once the download is complete, you can install the driver with the step-by-step guide from Driver Easy.
  4. If you use the Pro version, click the Update All button to update all drivers automatically. Besides, you get full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  5. After updating the driver, check to see if the error persists.

Method 4: Disable Full-screen Optimization

The flickering issue can happen in full-screen mode. In your case, you can disable Full-Screen optimizations in the system.

How to do it:

  1. Right-click on the game shortcut and select Properties.
  2. Click on the Compatibility tab and tick the box next to “Disable Full Screen optimizations.”
  3. Click Apply->OK to save the changes.

Method 5: Turn Off Free sync

If you’re using a FreeSync monitor, turning off the FreeSync may resolve the problem.

Generally, FreeSync is active on the monitor by default. You can turn it off on the monitor side. Press the OSD (On-screen Display menu) button to navigate to an option that allows you to turn off FreeSync.

Or you can turn it off from the graphics card control panel. You need to turn FreeSync off on the graphics card you’re using. For example, if you’re using an AMD graphics card, you can refer to the steps to turn FreeSync off.

Monitor flickering when turned on

How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off
How to Fix Monitor Flickering On and Off

Monitor flickering, when turned on, is a problem that needs to be looked into, as the monitor is one crucial thing we should consider because of our eyes.

It’s where every movie you watch, every Spread sheet you see, and every gaming adventure comes to life.

Ten years of development and improvements to LCD monitors have put top-quality displays within reach of even the tightest budgets, although the old CRT monitors are all but extinct from the market.

Did you know that monitor flicker, unfortunately, hasn’t followed CRT monitors onto the ash-heap of history?

Although the new monitors are far more reliable than the old CRT technology, it is still possible for them to develop flickers, and this is precisely why anyone with a monitor should learn the tricks on how to fix monitor flickering on and off.

Conclusion

If your monitor is flickering and you’re using Windows, it’s likely due to a display driver or incompatible application. Check the Task Manager to see if it flashes too. We recommend updating or uninstalling applications that are causing the problem.

Thankfully, not all of them mean you need to buy a new monitor, and this guide is written to help you in such an instance.

Learning how to fix a monitor flickering on and off should have anyone feeling like the best version of themselves.