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Monitor Flickering/Blinking On And Off Fix

Computers have made people’s lives easier and arguably more enjoyable but also, sometimes, more aggravating. While applications like Google Maps are indispensable, others are built to scam you, spy on you, and steal from you, and those generally make your life difficult. These types of applications are only one of the several possible causes for glitches in your favorite device. If you need a monitor flickering/blinking on and off fix, you’ve come to the right place.

If your monitor is flickering/blinking on and off, secure your connecting cables, and ensure that your cable is the correct one for your setup. Adjust to an optimal refresh rate. Reseat your graphics card, and ensure that it’s clean. Ensure that your display driver is up-to-date. Otherwise, you can also try these other steps.

Black Monitor on the desk

If you’re using a docking station, ensure that your BIOS revision is current. Gamers, you can try adjusting your graphics card controllers or disabling Windows Desktop Manager. If you’re connected to your laptop when you experience flickering, adjust your display settings. 

If you’re having trouble with flickering in Windows 10 or 11 or after being in Sleep Mode, first see whether it still flickers in Task Manager. If it does, you’ll need to update your video driver and check your hardware. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to ensure that all your applications are up-to-date. You may even have to rollback your display driver or uninstall it or update the application or, as a last resort, uninstall it. 

If you have a Mac, MacBook, or iMac, downloading, installing, and running CleanMyMacX should solve all your problems.

Monitor Flickering On and Off HDMI

Man looking at his monitor

HDMI dramatically changed the monitor’s vividness and sharpness available to PC users, but that beautiful picture can be interrupted. If your monitor begins to flicker when connected to HDMI, it may be something simple like a loose cable or a video card that isn’t connected properly, something fixable like an incorrect monitor refresh rate, or something that isn’t repairable, like a bad monitor. Here is the way to figure it out.

Secure your HDMI cable correctly on both ends. Set your refresh rate at the optimal value by right-clicking anywhere on your Windows desktop. Choose Display Settings > Advanced Display Settings > Choose the correct monitor > Choose the highest refresh rate. Check your cooling fan, and clean your graphics card.

Monitor Flickering On and Off DisplayPort

Man looking at his monitor

DisplayPort cables are known to go above and beyond the audio and visual capabilities of even HDMI. Gamers especially love them because they make it easier to use multiple monitors, and they are able to push their graphics capabilities to their limits. However, if your monitor is flickering on and off when connected to DisplayPort, you are not alone, as monitor flickering is a common issue with some DisplayPort cables. However, there is a fix.

Ensure you are buying a VESA-certified DisplayPort cable, and know which type of cable you need. DisplayPort 1.2 only supports 4K (3840 x 2160) at 120 Hz with 10-bit color and a total bandwidth of 21.6 Gbps while DisplayPort 1.4 supports 8K (7680 x 4320) at 60 Hz with 10-bit color and HDR and a total bandwidth of 32.4 Gbps.

Monitor Flickering On and Off When Connected to Docking Station

Black Monitor on the desk

Not everyone uses a laptop docking station, but those who do are probably aware that some brands of monitors have had issues with flickering when connected to a docking station. Here are some handy tips on how to troubleshoot those issues.

Resecure the connecting cables on both ends. Ensure that the screen resolution and refresh rate are optimized for your particular monitor. Visit the Drivers & Downloads page of your brand’s website to ensure your BIOS revision is current. While you’re on that page, ensure your video driver is also up-to-date.

Monitor Flickering On and Off When Connected to Laptop

Black Monitor on the desk

Some users are more comfortable when they can hook up a larger secondary monitor to their laptop. If you are experiencing flickering when you hook a secondary monitor up to your laptop, you are probably just having issues with your laptop’s display drivers. Here’s what you need to do.

With the secondary monitor unplugged, right-click on your desktop, and choose Display Settings. Now, plug in the monitor. From Display Settings, choose Show Only On 2 > Extend These Displays > Keep Setting. If, for whatever reason, this doesn’t work, there are a few other things you can try.

Try different settings on your monitor’s refresh rate (in some cases, it needs to match that of the laptop). Update your laptop’s video driver. Lower the resolution on the monitor. Check your connecting cable. Is it attached securely on both ends, and could it be damaged?

Monitor Flickering On and Off When Playing Games

Man looking at his monitor

Even with top-shelf monitors, you can run into flickering monitors while gaming and the cause could be one of several. The great news is that, with minimal sleuthing on your part, it’s a problem for which you can find a solution. Here’s what you need to do.

Ensure your cables are securely attached at both ends. Ensure your graphics card driver is up-to-date. Adjust your graphics card controller. You can also try disabling Windows Desktop Manager. Next, set your refresh rate at 75Hz or higher. 

To adjust your graphics card controller, open your NVIDIA Control Panel. Choose Display > Advanced Desktop Color Settings > Desktop Programs > Apply. For instructions on how to set your refresh rate, refer to the first subsection on “when connected to HDMI”. 

Also, When you spend as much money on your PC systems as many gamers do, it may be time to consider insurance for your PC or at least time to consider the purchase of an extended warranty to protect your equipment.

Monitor Flickering On and Off Windows 10

Man looking at his monitor

I didn’t care for Windows 10 at first, because I had loved Windows XP and even Windows 7. However, I finally found my way around in it, and while I still like XP and 7 the best, I don’t hate 10 anymore. There are people, though, who have had issues with Windows 10, one being flickering on the monitor. Here are the steps to take if your monitor is flickering on and off while using Windows 10.

Open Task Manager by simultaneously pressing (Ctrl+Alt+Del[ete]). If the screen still flickers in Task Manager, your issue is likely a driver that’s not up-to-date, or it could even be your hardware. If your screen doesn’t flicker while in Task Manager, your flickering problem is likely caused by an application.

If it’s an application (iCloud, Norton Antivirus, and IDT Audio have been known to clash with Windows 10), do a sweep to ensure your applications are up-to-date. If it’s not, check your connecting cables. Adjust to the highest possible refresh rate. Ensure your display driver is current. 

If this doesn’t help, you may have to rollback or uninstall the display driver or even update or uninstall the application. If none of this helps, you should ensure it’s not your graphics card. Reseat it if you feel comfortable doing so, but if you don’t, seek help from a pro.

Monitor Flickering On and Off Windows 11

Black Monitor on the desk

With every version of Windows comes something new, and it’s not necessarily for the better, so I haven’t made the jump to Windows 11 yet. However, I do know that some users are having flickering issues while using Windows 11, and I can help. Here’s what to do to remedy the problem.

Open Task Manager by simultaneously pressing (Ctrl+Alt+Del[ete]). If the screen still flickers in Task Manager, your issue is likely a driver that’s not up-to-date, or it could even be your hardware. If your screen doesn’t flicker while in Task Manager, your flickering problem is likely caused by an application.

If it’s an application,  check to make sure your applications are current. Otherwise, check your connecting cables. Change yours to the highest possible refresh rate. Ensure your display driver is up-to-date. 

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on May 3, 2022.

If this doesn’t help, you may have to rollback or uninstall the display driver or even update or uninstall the application. If none of this helps, you should make sure it’s not your graphics card. Reseat it if you know how. If you don’t, seek help from a professional.

Monitor Flickering On and Off Mac

Black Monitor on the desk

Mac users are proudly a different breed. I don’t do Macs, but my son swears by them, citing that Mac encryption and security features ensure the safety and security of its users. Their systems are somewhat different, so the fixes can be different, as well. Here are the steps I recommend if you experience flickering on and off while using iMac, MacBook, and Mac.

Reboot your system. Update your Mac operating system, but always backup your data first. Reset your device’s PRAM or NVRAM. Delete the cache. Remove unnecessary (junk) files. Change Energy Saver settings. Run Maintenance Scripts. Try booting Mac in Safe Mode. Disable True Tone.

To update your operating system, backup your data first. Then, from the Apple Menu, choose System Preferences > Software Update. Follow the instructions. To reset your PRAM (or NVRAM), shut down your device. Reboot it, and simultaneously press (P+R+Command), holding for 20 seconds. 

To adjust Energy Saver settings, from the Apple Menu, choose System Preferences > Energy Saver. Ensure the box next to Automatic Graphic Switching is unchecked. Download and install CleanMyMacX. Then, run it. Choose System Junk, and scan it. Also, run Smart Scan. Choose Maintenance. Run Maintenance Scripts, and then, reboot your device. 

If you still experience flickering, reboot your Mac in Safe Mode by pressing the Shift key when your device begins to reboot and holding it down until you see the login screen. 

If your screen still flickers and your Mac was built in 2018 or later, try disabling True Tone by choosing System Preferences from the Apple Menu and then choosing Displays. Then, ensure the box beside True Tone is unchecked.

Monitor Blinks On and Off After Sleep Mode

Black Monitor on the desk

I’ve run into an issue already with Sleep Mode but my problem was specific to Windows 10. My PC was just blackscreening, though. If you’re having an issue with your monitor blinking on and off after being in Sleep Mode, you may be having a display driver issue, or it may be an incompatible app. Try these steps to solve your problem.

Open Task Manager by simultaneously pressing (Ctrl+Alt+Del[ete]). If the screen still flickers in Task Manager, your issue is likely a driver that’s not up-to-date, or it could even be your hardware. If your screen doesn’t flicker while in Task Manager, your flickering problem is likely caused by an application.

If it’s an application, ensure your applications are up-to-date. If it’s not, check your connecting cables. Adjust to the highest possible refresh rate. Ensure your display driver is up-to-date. 

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on May 3, 2022.

If this doesn’t help, you may have to rollback or uninstall the display driver, or you may even have to update or uninstall the application. If none of this helps, you should ensure it’s not your graphics card. Reseat it if you feel comfortable doing it, but if you don’t, get help from a pro.

In a nutshell, if you’re having issues with your monitor flickering/blinking on and off, there could be several causes. Try ensuring that your connecting cables are secure and that you are using the proper cable for an optimal experience. Ensure that you are using an optimal refresh rate. Ensure your graphics card is clean, and reseat it. Update your display driver.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on May 3, 2022.

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