Symptoms
- Screen flashes, flickers, or briefly goes black repeatedly
- Flickering gets worse when the cable is touched or moved
- Flickering happens only in certain apps or games
- Screen flickers more at low brightness
Likely causes
- CommonLoose or damaged video cableA partially disconnected cable causes an intermittent signal that looks like flickering.
- CommonIncorrect or unstable refresh rateA refresh rate the monitor doesn't fully support can cause visible flicker.
- CommonOutdated or corrupted graphics driverDriver bugs are a frequent cause of intermittent display glitches.
- PossiblePWM (pulse-width modulation) dimming at low brightnessSome monitors flicker at low brightness because of how they dim the backlight.
- Less commonElectromagnetic interference from nearby devicesSpeakers or other electronics placed too close can interfere with the signal.
What to do
- Unplug and firmly reseat the video cable at both ends, and try a different cable if possible.
- Right-click the desktop, open display settings, and set the refresh rate to the monitor's standard rate (commonly 60Hz).
- Update your graphics driver from the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
- Raise the monitor's brightness above 20–30 percent to see if PWM flicker at low brightness is the cause.
- Test with a different cable type if your monitor and GPU both support more than one, such as swapping HDMI for DisplayPort.
- Move other electronics like speakers or routers away from the monitor and its cables.
- Test the monitor on another computer to see if the flicker follows the monitor or stays with the PC.
Tools and parts
- None
Replacement video cableSearch: “DisplayPort cable 6ft”
When to call a pro
If flickering continues after a cable swap, driver update, and testing on another device, the monitor's internal electronics may be failing and a repair tech or warranty claim is the next step.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.