Have you noticed your monitor randomly turning black for a few seconds at a time?
This flickering on and off is annoying and can cause eye strain and headaches.
In this article, we’ll explore the common causes of a flickering monitors and how to fix them.
What Causes a Monitor to Flicker?
There are a few likely culprits when a monitor flickers:
1. Loose Cable Connection
The most common reason a monitor flicker is a loose cable connection.
If the cable connecting your monitor to your computer is not securely plugged in, it can cause intermittent signal loss. This results in a black screen flicker.
Try unplugging both ends of the cable and firmly pushing them back into the ports.
Twist the connectors to get a tighter fit. If your monitor uses screws to connect the cable, tighten them securely.
2. Outdated or Faulty Drivers
Outdated graphics card drivers can also cause flickering issues.
Download the latest drivers for your graphics card from the manufacturer’s website.
Install them and restart your computer. This often resolves any software conflicts causing the monitor to flicker.
If updating the drivers does not help, the graphics card could be faulty and need replacing. Graphics cards rarely go wrong, but it is possible.
3. Display Settings
Incorrect display settings like an unsupported resolution can make the monitor flicker.
Go into your display settings and make sure your monitor supports the screen resolution and refresh rate.
60Hz refresh rate at 1920×1080 resolution works for most monitors.
4. Bad Power Connection
A faulty power cable or loose power connection can cause monitor flickering.
Check that the power cable from the wall to the monitor is firmly plugged in.
Try connecting it to another power outlet to make sure there are no issues with the outlet itself.
5. External Interference
Electrical interference from nearby devices can disrupt the monitor signal.
Ensure no appliances like fans, AC units or radios are too close to the monitor.
Move the monitor to a different location or further from the interfering device.
6. Dying Backlights
LED backlights provide illumination in LED monitors. If the backlights start to die, it can cause intermittent black screens.
Unfortunately, this requires the replacement of the entire LED panel inside the monitor.
7. Faulty Monitor
If you’ve tried the above fixes and the flickering persists, the monitor itself could malfunction.
Monitor components like the internal power supply can fail over time. Try connecting your computer to a different display.
If the new display has no flickering, it confirms your original monitor is faulty.
How to Fix a Flickering Monitor
Follow these steps when troubleshooting a flickering monitor:
- Firmly connect both ends of the video cable between the monitor and the computer. Twist connectors to get a tighter fit.
- Download and install the latest graphics drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
- Adjust display settings like resolution and refresh rate to match monitor specs.
- Try a different power outlet and firmly connect the cable to the monitor.
- Keep electrical devices and appliances away from the monitor.
- If the flickering persists, connect your computer to a different display.
- If a new display has no flickering, your original monitor is likely faulty and needs replacement.
- Replace the internal LED backlights or monitor the power supply as a last resort.
These troubleshooting steps will help identify and resolve any issues causing your monitor to flicker intermittently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about dealing with a flickering monitor:
Ques 1: Why does my monitor flicker when I plug it in?
Ans: If the monitor flickers right when you plug it in, it likely indicates a loose cable connection.
Unplug and firmly reconnect the video and power cables to resolve this.
Ques 2: How do I stop my monitor from randomly flickering?
Ans: Random flickering is usually caused by interference or faulty monitor components.
Keep the monitor away from other electrical devices and update graphics drivers.
If it still flickers, the internal electronics may be malfunctioning.
Ques 3: What causes monitor flickering when gaming?
Ans: Gaming puts extra demand on the monitor to exacerbate any existing issues.
Make sure to update graphics drivers and lower game settings. Also, check for any overheating issues.
Ques 4: Why does my monitor flicker when moving the mouse?
Ans: Mouse movements can highlight power or signal cable issues. Check cable connections and try another power source.
Faulty cables that can no longer provide a steady signal under load need replacement.
Ques 5: How do I know if monitor flickering is from the GPU or the display?
Ans: Connect your computer to a different external display.
If the new display has flickering, the GPU is likely the culprit. If the new display is fine, your original monitor is the issue.
Conclusion
While a flickering monitor can be disruptive and annoying, the causes are usually identifiable.
Start by firmly reseating connections and cables. Update graphics drivers, adjust display settings, and rule out electrical interference.
If the monitor still flickers, internal components may need repair or replacement.
With consistent troubleshooting, you should be able to resolve monitor flickering issues and prevent them from returning.
