Windows computer screen brightness flickering or flashing

If your Windows 10/8/7 desktop computer or laptop screen brightness is flickering randomly or when on battery power, then this post suggests methods on how to resolve this problem. I recently bought a new computer and was facing this issue. Although I have prepared this post keeping in mind a Dell laptop, this could work for HP, Lenovo, Acer, and other computers too.

Computer screen brightness flickering

If your computer screen flickers, pulsates or dims and brightens every once in a while, you may see if any of these troubleshooting suggestions help you. Some of them may apply to a Desktop and some of them may apply to a laptop.

First of all, try and identify when you face this issue, when on Battery power, mains AC adapter, or in both scenarios. Is it for a particular power plan or all power plans? Also, check if this happens when you enter BIOS and in Safe Mode too. Is your battery very old? Having this bit of information may help you.

You may try these steps in any order. Select the ones which you think apply to your scenario and are more likely to help you.

1. Update Graphics Driver
2. Uninstall and reinstall the Display driver
3. Restore default Power plan
4. Change the Monitor Refresh Rate
5. Disable Dell Intelligent Display
6. Disable Intel Power Saving Technology
7. Check third-party software issues
8. Run Hardware Troubleshooter
9. Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State
10. Check if it is a hardware issue.

1] Update Graphics Driver

Press Ctrl+Win+Shift+B to restart the graphics driver and see if it helps. If not, then all visit the manufacturer's website and update your video and graphic drivers, for your model.

2] Uninstall and reinstall the Display driver

If updating does not help, uninstall, and reinstall the Video drivers.

• Boot Windows 10 in safe mode.
• Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
• Expand the Display adapters section
• Right-click the listed adapter
• Select Uninstall device
• Select the Delete the driver software for this device check box
• Then again select Uninstall
• Restart your PC.

After your PC restarts, Run Windows Update and install the available driver update that may be offered.

3] Restore default Power plan

Open Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options\Edit Plan Settings and restore the default power plan settings by clicking on Restore default settings for this plan. Do this for all your Power Plans.

4] Change the Monitor Refresh Rate

Change the Monitor Refresh Rate and see if that helps.

5] Disable Dell Intelligent Display

Open My Dell and Run PC Checkup for your Monitor. If any issues are detected, follow its instructions to address the issue.

Open Power Options in Control Panel, and from the left side, select Dell Extended Battery Life Options.

The Battery Meter settings box will open. Uncheck Enable Dell Intelligent Display. Click Apply and Exit.

See if this helps.

6] Disable Intel Power Saving Technology

If your laptop used Intel processors, disable the Intel Power Saving Technology. You will get this setting in your Dell or Vaio Control Center.  From the Start Screen search, type Intel HD Graphics Control Panel and hit Enter to open it. Click on Power > On Battery.

You will see Display Power Saving Technology. Disable it, click Apply and restart your computer.

7] Check third-party software issues

Norton AV, iCloud, and IDT Audio are three apps that are known to cause screen flickering in Windows 10. Check if you have them installed. See this post in if your computer screen is flickering after upgrading Norton in Windows 10.

8] Run Hardware Troubleshooter

Run the Hardware Troubleshooter and see if it helps you.

9] Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State

Open the Task Manager. If the Task Manager flickers along with everything else on the screen, your display driver could be the culprit. You thus need to update or rollback the driver.

If Task Manager doesn't flicker while the rest of the screen is flickering, an incompatible app could be causing the problem.

Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State to identify the offender and uninstall the program.

10] Check if it is a hardware issue

If the whole screen flickers it is likely a driver issue, but if only a corner or a part flickers, it could be a hardware issue. You may need to take it to a hardware engineer and get it checked.

Other resources:

• This post will help you if your screen is flickering on Surface Book.
• See this post if Windows 10 Brightness not working or changes automatically.

Let us know if any of these helped you fix your laptop screen flickering issue, or if you have any other suggestions to make.