Screen flickering in Windows 11: how to fix it

Applies to: Windows 11 desktops and laptops, with built-in or external screens. The steps start with the quickest and least disruptive checks; nothing here needs third-party software.

Start here: the Task Manager test

Microsoft’s own troubleshooter for screen flickering in Windows splits the problem in two with one check: whether Task Manager flickers too. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and choose Task Manager, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc if that doesn’t open it, then watch it for a minute.

What you see	Likely cause	Go to
Task Manager flickers with the rest of the screen	Display driver	Fix the display driver
Task Manager is steady, everything else flickers	An incompatible app	Update or remove the app
Flicker also appears before Windows loads	Cable, monitor or hardware	Signs it’s hardware

If the desktop and taskbar disappear and redraw every few seconds rather than shimmering, File Explorer may be crashing and restarting. Our guide on a desktop that keeps refreshing shows how to confirm that in Event Viewer.

1. Reset the graphics driver

Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B. Windows restarts the graphics driver, and the screen goes dark for a moment before coming back. This clears a driver that has got stuck without closing your apps, so it is worth trying before anything else. If the flicker returns, restart the PC fully; Microsoft lists that as the next step too.

2. Rule out the cable and the monitor

Microsoft’s flicker page focuses on drivers and apps, but a loose or worn cable can produce the same symptom on an external monitor, and it costs nothing to check. These checks are general guidance rather than official steps:

• Unplug the video cable at both ends and push it back in firmly.
• Try a different cable, and a different port on the PC or graphics card if there is one.
• Connect the monitor directly instead of through a dock, adapter or extension cable.
• Open the monitor’s own on-screen menu. If the menu itself flickers, the problem is probably in the monitor or the signal reaching it, not in Windows.

If you use HDR, Microsoft’s HDR settings page recommends DisplayPort over HDMI where the display supports HDR over DisplayPort, which is worth knowing if you see display problems only with HDR turned on.

3. Check the refresh rate

A refresh rate the monitor or cable can’t handle cleanly is a common suspect, especially right after connecting a new screen. Microsoft’s refresh rate guide gives the path:

1. Open Start > Settings > System > Display.
2. Select Advanced display. The Display information section shows the current resolution and refresh rate.
3. Use the drop-down next to Choose a refresh rate to pick a different rate.

Rates marked with an asterisk don’t support your current resolution, and choosing one changes the resolution. A higher rate is not automatically better here: if flicker started after you raised it, step back to the previous value, or to 60 Hz as a test. If that stops it, the cable or port may not support the higher rate reliably.

On screens that support it, the same page has a Dynamic refresh rate toggle, which lets Windows change the rate on the fly to save battery. Microsoft notes it needs variable refresh rate support and at least 120 Hz. If brightness or smoothness seems to shift while you scroll or type, try turning it off to see whether the flicker stops.

4. Roll back, update or reinstall the display driver

If Task Manager flickered too, work on the driver. Microsoft’s rule of thumb: if a recent Windows Update changed the driver, roll it back; otherwise update it or reinstall it. You need an administrator account for these steps. If you’re not sure which graphics adapter you have, see how to check what graphics card you have.

Roll back the driver

1. Search the taskbar for device manager and open it.
2. Expand Display adapters, right-click the adapter and select Properties.
3. On the Driver tab, select Roll Back Driver, then Yes.
4. Restart the PC.

If Roll Back Driver is unavailable, Windows has no earlier driver to return to, so move on to updating.

Update the driver

In Device Manager, right-click the adapter under Display adapters and select Update driver. If Windows finds nothing newer, Microsoft suggests getting the latest driver from the PC maker or the graphics card maker. Our guide on how to update drivers in Windows 11 compares those routes. On laptops, the PC maker’s driver is often the safer choice because it may include tweaks for that specific screen.

Reinstall the driver

1. In Device Manager, right-click the adapter and select Properties.
2. On the Driver tab, select Uninstall Device.
3. Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device and select OK.
4. Restart. Windows tries to reinstall a driver automatically.

Expect a lower resolution and possibly a brief black screen while the generic driver takes over. Microsoft notes that if the check box doesn’t appear, you may need to start in Safe Mode first. If the screen goes black and the PC then shows a blue screen naming the graphics driver, see our VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE guide instead.

5. Update or remove the app causing it

If Task Manager stayed steady, an app that draws over the desktop is the more likely cause. Think about what changed just before the flicker began: a new screen recorder, overlay, theme tool or security suite are reasonable first suspects.

• Update it first. For Microsoft Store apps, check for updates in the Store. For other apps, check the developer’s website.
• If that doesn’t help, uninstall it. Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps, select the app, then Uninstall and confirm.
• Restart and check. If the flicker is still there, uninstall the next most recent app, one at a time, restarting each time.

Once the culprit is found, you can try reinstalling a newer version from the Microsoft Store Library or the developer’s site. If the latest version still flickers, report it to the developer and leave it uninstalled for now.

6. Brightness and HDR settings

Some flicker is not a fault at all but the screen adjusting itself. On laptops and tablets, a brightness that pulses as you switch between dark and light windows usually comes from content-based brightness. Microsoft’s brightness and color page covers the settings, which appear only on some PCs:

1. Go to Settings > System > Display and select Brightness.
2. Set Change brightness based on content to Off to stop the display adjusting brightness and contrast to what’s on screen. Microsoft notes this can shorten battery life.
3. If brightness changes when the room lighting changes, turn off the toggle for automatic brightness on the same page.

If you have an HDR display, flicker or brightness jumps that appear only with HDR on are worth isolating. Turn the HDR toggle off under Settings > System > Display and see whether the problem goes away; if it does, update the graphics driver and check the cable advice above before turning HDR back on.

Can’t see the screen well enough?

If the flicker is so bad you can’t follow the steps, Microsoft suggests starting in Safe Mode, which typically starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and apps. If the screen is steady in Safe Mode, that points to the driver or an app rather than the hardware. Our guide to starting Windows 11 in Safe Mode covers the ways in, including from a screen you can barely read.

Signs it’s hardware

None of the following come from a Microsoft page; they are general rules of thumb for deciding when software fixes won’t help:

• Flicker before Windows starts: if the maker’s logo or the firmware setup screen flickers too, Windows and its drivers are not involved yet.
• Only one screen is affected: if an external monitor shows a steady picture while the laptop screen flickers, or the reverse, the faulty part is likely that screen or its connection.
• Laptop flicker that changes with the lid angle: this often points to the internal display cable or hinge, which is a repair job.
• Lines, color bands or flashing in the monitor’s own menu: the panel or its electronics are the likely cause.

In those cases, contact the PC or monitor maker, especially if the device is under warranty.

Related guides

• How to update drivers in Windows 11 (and when not to)
• How to check what graphics card you have in Windows 11
• Desktop keeps refreshing in Windows 11 and 10: how to fix it
• How to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11
• VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE blue screen in Windows 11: how to fix it

Official sources

• Microsoft Support: Troubleshoot screen flickering in Windows
• Microsoft Support: Change the refresh rate on your monitor in Windows
• Microsoft Support: Change display brightness and color in Windows