Is your Windows 11 screen flickering?

Don’t worry. You’re not alone.

Many users have reported this issue, one time or another. Generally speaking, the problem occurs due to software-related issues.

Continue reading to find out the most common software issues that cause Windows 11 screen to flicker and, more importantly, how to resolve them.

Solution 1 – Update the graphics card driver

Graphic card is an important component of your computer, and to function properly it requires a functional (and usually the latest) graphics card driver. Think of graphic card driver as a bridge between your Windows OS and the graphics card, allowing the system to display visuals on your screen.

An outdated, corrupt, or damaged graphics card driver can potentially trigger many issues, including screen flickering. The solution? You must install the latest graphics driver.

If you’re wondering how to update the graphics card driver, you mainly have two options. Either you can update the driver manually or use a third-party tool that’ll update the driver for you with a couple of clicks.

Needless to say, the second option is easier and faster. While driver update tool are available dime a dozen, not all of them are created equal. Some are much more advanced and reliable than others. One such tool is Driver Updater, which has been in the market for some years and is touted as the best tool for updating drivers by more than one software experts. You can find more information about Driver Updater, along with a download link, towards the end of this post.

If you’d rather update the graphics card driver yourself, head to the manufacturer’s website, search for the latest version for your graphics card, and download and install it.

Not sure about the make and model of your graphics card? No problem. Simply follow these steps:

• Click the Start button located in the center of the taskbar at the bottom of your screen
• Type device manager in the search bar and hit Enter
• In the Device Manager window, look for and expand the Display adapters category
• The model of your graphics card driver will be listed there. Right-click it and select Properties to view more detailed information (including the current driver version and hardware IDs)

Once you know what graphics card you have, go to the manufacturer’s website, search for the latest driver, and download it. Before you click the Download button, make sure the selected driver is compatible with your version of Windows. For example, if you’re using a Windows 11 32-bit computer, select the latest driver for Windows 11 32-bit, not Windows 11 64-bit or Windows 10 32-bit.

After you’ve downloaded the driver file, double-click it to launch the installation. If a User Access Control window pops up, click Yes. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the installation. Restart the computer, if required.

Solution 2 – Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration transfers some of the CPU processing work to inactive hardware resources, such as the GPU. This handy process improves processing speeds, reduces the load on CPU, and boosts graphic-display quality. However, there are instances when it does more damage than good. For instance, if your GPU cannot manage the increased workload due to hardware acceleration, screen flickering may occur.

If you’re already using the latest graphics card driver or the problem persists even after a driver update, disabling hardware acceleration may help.

• Click the Start icon
• Type system in the search bar and press the Enter key
• Click System > Display > Graphics

• Disable Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling

Solution 3 – Adjust your monitor’s refresh rate

The screen flickering issue may also occur when the selected monitor’s refresh rate is too low or too high compared to your monitor’s native capacity.

Try selecting a refresh rate that aligns with the monitor’s capabilities and see if that fixes the issue.

• Right-click on an empty space on the desktop and choose Display settings
• Click Advanced display in the right-side pane
• Change the refresh setting to your monitor’s native capacity using the drop-down menu next to Choose a refresh rate

If you don’t know your monitor’s native refresh rate, select each of the listed options. The setting at which the flickering issue stops is the native refresh rate.

Select the native resolution

If you have changed your monitor’s resolution, we recommend going back to its default setting. The default resolution setting gives the best visual quality and changing it may trigger flickers.

Here’s what to do:

• Click the Start button
• Type settings in the Search bar and hit Enter
• Click System > Display
• Select the resolution option with “Recommended” written next to it in the Display resolution drop-down menu

Adjust screen scaling

As with screen resolution, not using the recommended screen scaling may trigger screen flickering. Switching back to the recommended setting may fix the issue.

Here’s what to do:

• Open the Settings app
• Click System > Display > Advanced Display
• Select the recommended setting in the drop-down menu in the Scale section (just below the Scale & layout heading)

That’s just about it! One of these solutions should work for you. But if you are still receiving this error, check the power and display cables for any visible signs of wear and tear. If there’re none, try another monitor if you’re using a desktop, if possible. If the other monitor works fine, you probably need a new monitor.

If you’re using a laptop or if you don’t have an alternate monitor, check whether the graphics card is damaged. You can ask a computer repair technician to have a look if you’re not comfortable with physically inspecting the graphics card. In case the graphics card is not damaged, the problem lies with your monitor.

Update graphics card drivers automatically

As said before, the most convenient way to update device drivers is by using a reliable third-party tool, and there’s no better software for this job than Driver Updater.

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

• You can update device drivers automatically
• The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
• The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
• Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

Start Download