How to Fix Monitor Flickering + Update GPU Drivers for Windows

July 30, 2026

Is your monitor screen flickering, flashing, or cutting in and out? One easy way to try isolating the cause is to enter Safe Mode. If this stops the flickering you know it’s a software issue, not a monitor issue.

Here’s how to enter Safe Mode in Windows 10 and Windows 11:

Press and hold the Shift key, select Start, select Power, then select Restart.
Continue holding the Shift key until the “Choose an option screen” appears.

Watch the full video for more simple troubleshooting methods.

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Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] Burt: Hey everyone, I’m Burt from ViewSonic, and I’m here to answer your questions about your displays.

Burt: Today’s question is: How do I stop my monitor from flickering?

Burt: Picture this: you’re mid-game, mid-movie, or on an important video call—and your screen suddenly starts flashing, strobing, or cutting in and out. It’s distracting, it’s frustrating, and it can feel like your monitor is about to die.

Burt: But before you panic—most flickering issues have a fix. Let’s start with the quick ones. Make sure your Windows is updated to the latest version before continuing.

Burt: Try these fixes first—in order. Each one takes just a minute, and one of them will likely solve your problem right away.

Super: #1: Reseat All Cables Firmly

Burt: Unplug and firmly re-plug both ends of your power cable and video cable. A loose connection is one of the most common causes of flickering. Also, be sure your power cable is pushed all the way into both the monitor and the outlet.

Super: #2: Use Native Resolution

Burt: Next, check your settings. Right-click your desktop and select “Display settings”. Under “Display resolution”, ensure it’s set to the “(Recommended)” resolution for your monitor.

Super: #3: Disable VRR and HDR

Burt: Sometimes advanced features like Variable Refresh Rate or HDR can cause sync issues with certain apps. Try turning these off in your Windows settings to see if the flickering stops.

Super: #4: Test Motherboard Video Port

Burt: If you’re using a dedicated graphics card, try connecting your monitor directly to the video output on your motherboard instead. If the flickering stops, the issue may be with the GPU or its drivers.

Super: #5: Try Safe Mode

Burt: Try starting Windows in Safe Mode to isolate the cause. If the screen is stable there, you’ve confirmed the problem is software-related, not a broken monitor. Check the description below for details on how to do this.

Super: #6: Win + Ctrl + Shift + B

Burt: Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to instantly reset your graphics drivers without restarting. The screen will go black for a second—that’s normal.

Burt: If none of those fixes worked, it’s time to look at the graphics card drivers. When they’re outdated, the OS can’t send the correct timing and resolution signals to your monitor—and that causes a flicker.

Burt: In your Windows search bar, type “Device Manager” and select it to open the window.

Burt: Locate “Display adapters” in the list and select the arrow to expand it. This shows all the graphics cards installed on your PC. If you don’t see your graphics card listed, check your GPU manufacturer's website and install the latest drivers from there.

Burt: For each graphics card you see listed, right-click and select “Update driver”. Choose “Search automatically for drivers”. Windows will find and install the latest version. For the absolute latest gaming drivers, though, it’s still good to check your GPU manufacturer’s website.

Burt: And that’s it. Following these steps should give you a rock-solid, flicker-free image. But if you’ve updated everything and the flashing persists, it might be a hardware-level issue. If that’s the case, please contact our ViewSonic service center for further assistance.

Burt: If you found this video to be helpful, please hit “like,” and we’ll keep making videos like this. If you want to read more on this topic, go to our online user guides in the description below.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

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