8 Best Ways to Fix Screen Flickering on Windows 11

The upgrade to Windows 11 was anything but smooth, even after upgrading, from confusion over compatibility of older Windows 10 computers to issues with Wi-Fi, sound, and widgets. One such issue that has emerged recently is the flickering screen issue in Windows 11.

Screen flickering can happen for various reasons. But if you cannot pinpoint the cause, there are several solutions to circumvent the problem. We have compiled a list of viable methods to fix this. Let’s check them out.

1. Check Hardware

You can start by checking the wired connection between your CPU and monitor. Incorrect or loose wired connections are often the main cause of screen flickering issues in Windows. However, if you are sure that the cable is not damaged and connected properly, you can move on to other solutions.

2. Disable Desktop Window Manager

Desktop Window Manager is a process responsible for creating eye-catching window animations in Windows 11. If this action encounters an error, it may lead to screen flickering issue. So, you can try to terminate it using the following steps. The process should automatically run again.

Stage 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager in Windows. Click the More details button to expand it.

Step 2: Under Windows processes, select Desktop Window Manager and click the End Task button.

3. Change the Refresh Rate

If you have your PC’s display set to a higher refresh rate than recommended, it may cause screen flickering. You may need to choose a lower refresh rate to see if it helps. Here’s how.

Stage 1: Press Windows key + I to launch the Settings app and go to Display.

Step 2: Scroll down to the relevant settings and click on the Advanced display option.

Stage 3: Use the drop-down menu next to ‘Choose a refresh rate’ to lower it.

4. Uninstall Incompatible Apps

If the screen flickering issue only occurs while using a particular app, it is possible that the problem is app related and has nothing to do with Windows or your computer hardware. This can happen for a variety of reasons, from compatibility issue to app malfunction. In this case, you can try uninstalling the app in question to fix the problem.

5. Update Graphics Driver

The Graphics driver on your computer is responsible for connecting Windows to the hardware of your Windows 11 PC. Ideally, Windows should automatically update the graphics driver whenever it installs a new update. But if you’ve disabled automatic updates in Windows, it won’t take long for these drivers to wear out over time. So, you can try to update them manually by following the steps below.

Stage 1: Click the Search icon in the Taskbar, type Device Managerand press Enter.

Step 2: In the Device Manager window, expand Display adapters and right-click on your graphics card to select Update driver.

Now follow the on-screen instructions to update.

6. Reinstall Graphics Driver

Sometimes corrupt graphics drivers may need to be fixed. In such cases, you can try to uninstall the graphics driver and install the new or latest version. Here’s how.

Stage 1: Press Windows key + S to open Windows Search, type Device Managerand press Enter.

Step 2: In the Device Manager window, expand Display adapters and right-click on your graphics card to select Uninstall driver.

Now go ahead and restart your computer and Windows should automatically install the removed driver.

7. Malware Scan

Computers affected by the virus often face screen flickering issues. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t hurt to run a deep scan on your PC. You can use Windows Defender or any of your preferred third-party antivirus programs to do this.

8. Reset Windows

If nothing works, resetting Windows may be the last option you have. Doing so will reset all your settings preferences to their default values. Here’s how to do it.

Stage 1: Press Windows key + I to launch the Settings app. Now go to Windows Update tab and click on Advanced options.

Step 2: Scroll down to additional options and click Recovery.

Stage 3: Finally, under Recovery options, click on the Reset PC button to begin resetting your PC.

No More Flickering

A flickering screen can disrupt everything you do on your computer. The solutions mentioned above should help resolve the issue. If these methods do not help, you need to bring your computer to an official service center for further troubleshooting and fixes.