Troubleshoot screen flickering in Windows 10

Screen flickering in Windows 10 is usually caused by a display driver issue or incompatible app. To determine whether a display driver or app is causing the problem, check to see if Task Manager flickers. Then, based on that information, you’ll need to update, rollback, or uninstall your display driver or update or uninstall the app.

For more, select any of the following headings, and it’ll open to show more info:

Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open Task Manager. If you don’t see Task Manager after pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

If Task Manager flickers along with everything else on the screen, a display driver is probably causing the problem. In this scenario, see the Fix your display driver section.

If Task Manager doesn’t flicker while the rest of the screen is flickering, an incompatible app is probably causing the problem. In this scenario, see the Update or uninstall an incompatible app section.

Note: For help with a flickering or scrambled screen on a Surface Pro 4, see Surface Pro 4 screen flickers or is scrambled.

If you’re having trouble seeing your screen properly, you may need to start your PC in safe mode to follow the steps below.

If Windows Update recently made updates to your device, roll back your display driver. Otherwise, try updating or uninstalling your display driver to fix the flickering or scrambling problem.

Roll back your display driver

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, and then select it from the list of results.

Select the arrow to expand Display adapters.

Under Display adapters, right-click the adapter, then select Properties.

Select the Driver tab, and then select Roll Back Driver > Yes.

Restart your device.

You must have administrator privileges to roll back or uninstall a device or driver package using Device Manager.

If the Roll Back Driver option is unavailable, Windows doesn’t have a previous driver to roll back to and won’t be able to complete this process.

Update your display driver

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, and then select it from the list of results.

Select the arrow to expand Display adapters.

Under Display Adapters, right-click the adapter, then select Update.

Note: You may need to contact your PC or display adapter manufacturer to download the most recent driver for your system.

Uninstall your display driver

In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, and then select it from the list of results.

Select the arrow to expand Display adapters.

Under Display adapters, right-click the adapter, then select Properties.

Select the Delete the driver software for this device check box, and then select OK.

Restart your device and Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver.

Note: If you don’t see Delete the driver software for this device check box, make you started your PC in safe mode.

Update an app

If the app didn’t come from Microsoft Store, check the manufacturer’s site for updates.

Uninstall an app

Some apps may not be compatible with Windows 10 and can cause a flickering or scrambled screen. Try uninstalling the app, here’s how:

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Apps > Apps & features. It’ll take a moment for your apps to appear.

Scroll down the list and find the app you want to uninstall.

Select the app, and then select Uninstall > Uninstall. If you’re asked to confirm your choice, select Yes.

After you uninstall the first app, restart your device and check if the screen flickering or scrambled issue is resolved or not. If it’s not, uninstall each app one by one until the issue is resolved.

Reinstall an app

Select the Microsoft Store icon on the taskbar.

Select More > My Library.

Select the app you want to reinstall, and then select Install.

If your app isn’t in Microsoft Store, reinstall it from the manufacturer’s site.

Screen flickers in Windows 10

Technical Level : Basic

Screen flickering in Windows 10 is usually caused by incompatible apps or display drivers.

The first step to finding the problem is seeing if Task Manager flickers. To open Task Manager, press-and-hold or right-click the Start button, and then select Task Manager from the menu.

These troubleshooting steps were originally published here . If you have any feedback about these steps, please comment on this Wiki article.

If Task Manager flickers, it’s probably because of a display driver. If it doesn’t, the flickering is probably because of an app.

To update your display driver:

2. Press-and-hold or right-click the Start button, and then select Device Manager.

3. Expand the Display adapters section, right-click the listed adapter, then select Uninstall. Select the Delete the driver software for this device check box, then select OK and restart your PC.

4. After your PC restarts, select the Start button and then select Settings.

5. From Settings, select Update & security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

• If you have multiple display adapters, you’ll need to disable the added adapter (often an Intel HD 400 or AMD Radeon HD 4200) by right-clicking it from the list in Device Manager and selecting Disable >Yes. Then, turn off your PC, disconnect installation or recovery media (if you’re using it), and turn your PC back on. If that doesn’t fix the flickering, restart your PC in safe mode, re-enable the added display adapter, and then disable the other adapter.

Uninstall an incompatible app:

There are three apps that are known to cause screen flickering in Windows 10: Norton AV, iCloud, and IDT Audio. In most cases, uninstalling these apps will fix the problem. If you have any of these apps installed, use one of these methods to uninstall them.

Method 1: Uninstall from Settings

1. Select the Start button and then select Settings.

2. From Settings, select System > Apps & features. It’ll take a moment for your apps to appear.

3. Scroll down the list and find the app you want to uninstall. Select the app, and then select Uninstall > Uninstall. If you’re asked to confirm your choice in a User access control window, select Yes. The app might uninstall on its own, or it might open a separate uninstaller where you’ll have to take additional steps to remove it.

Method 2: Uninstall from the Start menu

1. From the Start menu, select All apps.

2. Scroll down the list and find the app you want to uninstall. Right-click the app, and then select Uninstall. If you’re asked to confirm your choice in a User access control window, select Yes. The app might uninstall on its own, or it might open a separate uninstaller where you’ll have to take additional steps to remove it.

If you want to keep using Norton AV, iCloud, or IDT Audio in Windows 10, go to the app manufacturer’s website for more info on app updates and Windows 10 compatibility.

Windows 10 screen flickering, can’t use it at all!

ASUS X200CA Notebook

Intel Graphics adapter — up to date

Disabled all start up programs

Screen flashes constantly, will not allow me to use my computer.

I NEED MY COMPUTER TODAY, PLEASE HELP ME.

Replies (7) 

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I Understand how you feel about the situation. Let me help you solve this problem.

We have been seeing black screen issues of several types after upgrading to Windows 10. The main causes observed so far are driver issues, output to unexpected port, and possibly also issues with the Lock Screen app. Please use these steps:

If you see the black screen only after sign-in and you can see a mouse cursor:
1. While at the black screen, try using CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to start Task Manager.
2. If it becomes visible, try finding LockAppHost.exe on the Details tab and ending the task.
1. If this resolves the black screen, use corruption resolution steps (dism, then sfc), and run the all apps PowerShell command in 3080495.
3. If this does not work, use File, Run new task in Task Manager to start an Administrator CMD window. Use this to create a new administrator user with the following commands (changing “

” to something of the customer’s choosing):
net user test

/add
net localgroup Administrators test /add
4. This will give you a test user to try, which will confirm if the issue is user or system-specific.

If you see the black screen or have a flickering screen before sign-in:
1. Try connecting to different video outputs on the PC. Sometimes a change in driver can cause the video to be sent:
o To a different Adapter: from integrated graphics to a discrete card or vice versa.
o To a different output: from HDMI to DVI, DisplayPort to VGA, or any other combination.
2. Try to boot into Safe Mode with Networking or Enable low-resolution video.
1. Advanced boot options, Safe Mode with Networking, or Low Resolution Video
2. Check Device Manager and look for Display Adapters
 If you see 2 items under Display Adapters, disable to integrated video card (e.g. Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon HD 4200) and restart. (try vice versa if it does not work)
 If you see 1 item under Display Adapters, rollback the driver or uninstall the display adapter in Device Manager, and enable the option to delete driver software.
Check the PC or display adapter manufacturer’s site for an updated driver.

Hope the information provided was helpful. Please let us know if the issue persists. we will be happy to assist you further.

Windows 10 screen flickering

After the free upgrade my screen flickers and I cannot do anything because the screen just flickers. I can’t hit the start menu the only thing I can do is open the task manager. That is only thing I have been able to do .

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

Replies (14) 

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• Log out and go to the sign in screen.
• Hold down the shift key on your keyboard while clicking the Power button on the screen.
• Continue to hold down the shift key while clicking Restart.
• Continue to hold down the shift key until the Advanced Recovery Options menu appears.
• Click Troubleshoot
• Click Advanced options
• Click Startup Settings
• Click Restart
• Press (4) to Enable Safe Mode
• Wait while Windows 10 starts in safe mode.
• Log in
• Press Windows key + X
• Click Device Manager
• Expand Display Adapter
• Right click your Display adapter and click Uninstall
• Exit Device Manager
• Restart

You might need to go to a working computer, download the latest Video Driver for your computer, save it to a thumbdrive. Copy it to the affected computer and install it. If there is no native Windows 10 driver, download the latest Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 video driver and install in compatibility mode.

If none of the above work, try rolling back to your previous version and wait a while to upgrade again:

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Hi, I’m having the same problem and I’m planning to rollback to Windows 8.1.

I have a few questions about this rollback:

1. If I rollback, are all my files deleted? Or are they kept?

2. If I rollback, can I install Windows 10 for free again?

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• Log out and go to the sign in screen.
• Hold down the shift key on your keyboard while clicking the Power button on the screen.
• Continue to hold down the shift key while clicking Restart.
• Continue to hold down the shift key until the Advanced Recovery Options menu appears.
• Click Troubleshoot
• Click Advanced options
• Click Startup Settings
• Click Restart
• Press (4) to Enable Safe Mode
• Wait while Windows 10 starts in safe mode.
• Log in
• Press Windows key + X
• Click Device Manager
• Expand Display Adapter
• Right click your Display adapter and click Uninstall
• Exit Device Manager
• Restart

You might need to go to a working computer, download the latest Video Driver for your computer, save it to a thumbdrive. Copy it to the affected computer and install it. If there is no native Windows 10 driver, download the latest Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 video driver and install in compatibility mode.

If none of the above work, try rolling back to your previous version and wait a while to upgrade again:

Was this reply helpful?

Sorry this didn’t help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback.

If we see the screen flickering after sign-in there are two possible causes – apps causing Explorer to crash, or display driver issues.

To start, press this key combination: CTRL+SHIFT+ESC

If this opens Task Manager and that window is NOT flickering:
The likely cause is Software Compatibility issue causing Explorer.exe to crash repeatedly.

1. Use the File, Run option in Task Manager to open additional tools as-needed. Be sure to check the box to run tools as Administrator. These could include:
   appwiz.cpl: Opens Programs and Features
   compmgmt.msc: Opens Computer Management
   cmd.exe
2. You can search for crash events in the Event Logs and find if any third party DLLs are the faulting module in the Explorer,.exe crashes Or uninstall software that is likely to include shell extensions.
3. If removing software does not resolve the issue, use these commands to repair Windows:
   dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
   sfc /scannow

Removing these apps help resolve the issue:

• Norton Antivirus
• Other AV solutions
• iCloud
• IDT Audio (faulting module IDTNC64.cpl)

If Task Manager is flickering, or it didn’t open, proceed with display driver troubleshooting:
The likely cause is a display driver or display hardware issue.

1. Boot to Safe Mode with Networking.
2. Use the same steps here as for Black Screen issues – if dual chipset, disable built-in graphics, if still flickers, try with only the other chipset enabled.
3. If this does not work, or there is only a single chipset, uninstall the device and remove the driver software.
4. Then boot into Windows and update the drivers to the latest from the manufacturer.

How to stop flickering from the safemode

open task manager and now you will be able to Add new task>CMD

Ran : SFC Scan (Doesn’t work)
Ran : DISM Scan (Doesn’t Work)

File>Run new task>Must CHECK the Check Box

MSCONFIG: Boot to safe boot [Check BOX] with network

Uninstall : Norton Internet Security

Msconfig : uncheck the following services:
> Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support
> Windows Error Reporting Service
Now apply and OK, after computer restart, screen flickering issue will be resolved.

Or you can use the following link to remove the Norton

After stopping the screen from flicker, then open Norton Antivirus or any antivirus product which is installed in his compuer. The antivirus will ask for reinstallation, allow the permissions to start the installation. Once the installation gets completed, restart the computer. Now from device manager, try to update the VGA drivers and download all the drivers that are compatible for windows 10 from the manufacturer’s website and then update all the drivers. Now enable the Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support and Windows Error Reporting Services again to make sure that it reports about the errors of other applications.