How to fix a laptop screen that flickers or flashes on Windows 11

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix a laptop screen that flickers or flashes on Windows 11. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Screen flickering or flashing on a Windows 11 laptop is often caused by an outdated display driver, an incompatible refresh rate, or a loose hardware connection. This guide walks you through the most effective steps to resolve the issue.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Restart your laptop to clear temporary system glitches.
2. Check that your power cable is firmly connected to both the laptop and the wall outlet.
3. Disconnect any external monitors, docking stations, or USB-C hubs to see if the flickering stops.
4. Update Windows by going to Settings > Windows Update and selecting Check for updates.

Detailed Instructions

Update your display driver

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Display adapters category.
3. Right-click your graphics adapter (such as Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD) and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the prompts.
5. Restart your laptop once the update completes.

Adjust the screen refresh rate

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings.
2. Scroll down and select Advanced display.
3. Choose your built-in display from the dropdown menu.
4. Next to Choose a refresh rate, select a different value (for example, switch from 60 Hz to 120 Hz, or vice versa).
5. Test whether the flickering stops.

Roll back a recent driver update

1. Open Device Manager and expand Display adapters.
2. Right-click your graphics adapter and select Properties.
3. Go to the Driver tab.
4. If available, click Roll Back Driver and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Restart your laptop.

Troubleshooting

Check for hardware issues

• Gently open and close the laptop lid. If the flickering changes with the angle of the screen, the display cable may be loose or damaged.
• Connect an external monitor. If the external screen does not flicker, the issue is likely with the laptop's internal display or cable.
• Ensure the laptop is not overheating. Make sure vents are clear and the device is on a hard, flat surface.

Boot into Safe Mode

1. Hold the Shift key while selecting Restart from the Start menu.
2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
3. Press the corresponding number key to enable Safe Mode.
4. If the screen does not flicker in Safe Mode, a third-party application or driver is likely causing the problem.

If you have completed these steps and the screen continues to flicker, please Open a Ticket with our support team for further assistance.

Related articles:

• Screen brightness adjustment
• How to connect an external monitor

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