Screen flickering on your Acer laptop? Here's how to fix it

When your Acer® laptop or monitor starts acting more like a strobe light than a screen, its flickering display can throw a wrench into your productivity and leisure time. But don't worry—a few simple Acer screen-flickering fixes can help you resolve the problem.

At Asurion, when tech breaks, we know how to fix it. Whether your Acer laptop won’t turn on or is stuck on the loading screen, we’ve got all of your tech care needs covered. Here’s how to fix Acer screen-blinking issues so you can get back to working, gaming, or streaming without interruptions.

Common causes of Acer screen flickering

Both physical damage and software problems can cause screen flickering on an Acer device. Some common causes include:

• Faulty cables
• Driver issues
• Display settings
• Hardware issues
• Power supply issues

Troubleshooting for Acer screen flickering

There are various ways to stop your Acer screen-blinking problems. Our suggestions range from the simple to the increasingly complex. Start from the beginning and work your way down the list.

Restart the laptop or monitor

A simple restart may fix temporary Acer laptop screen problems caused by minor glitches, overheating, background process overload, or temporary software conflicts:

1. Press the Start key on your keyboard.
2. Click the Power icon. 
3. Select Restart.

For an Acer monitor, turn it off and unplug it from the outlet for 30 seconds. Then, plug the cable back in and turn the monitor back on.

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Check and reconnect the display cables

A loose or faulty display cable could be the source of your Acer laptop monitor problem. For an external monitor, check for any loose connection or damage in your HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA cable. Try a different cable or port to see if the connection is the problem.

For a laptop, gently press around the display edges. If the flickering changes or stops, a loose internal connector may be the issue. You’ll likely need an Acer repair pro to fix this.

Adjust refresh rate in display settings

Changing your refresh rate can sometimes stop your Acer laptop’s screen from flashing:

1. Press the Windows + I keys to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Display > Advanced display settings.
3. Under Refresh rate, select a higher value from the dropdown menu.
4. Click Apply and check whether the flickering stops.

Try different refresh rates if the issue persists.

Test with an external monitor to identify hardware issues

If your Acer screen is still flickering, connecting an external monitor can help you determine whether the issue is hardware- or software-related. Connect your laptop to an external screen using an HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA cable. Then, press the Windows  + P button to display your computer on the external monitor. 

If the external monitor works fine, the laptop screen, internal display cable, or panel will likely be the issue. If both screens flicker, the problem is software-related.

Software fixes for screen flickering

If the problem isn’t hardware-related, try the following software fixes to see if they resolve the flickering screen.

Update graphics drivers

A driver update can correct a host of display problems, including your Acer laptop screen issues:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Double-click on Display adapters and right-click your graphics card — listed as NVIDIA®, Intel®, or AMD®, depending on your computer model.
3. Click Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.

Restart your laptop and check whether the flickering stops.

Disable hardware acceleration in Chrome or other applications

Your Chrome browser can also cause flickering if you’ve enabled hardware acceleration. Follow these steps to deactivate it:

1. Open Google Chrome and click the three-dot menu.
2. Go to Settings and select System.
3. Toggle off Use graphics acceleration when available and click Relaunch to restart Chrome and apply the changes.

Update or roll back Windows display drivers

Other times, a computer driver update can cause flickering due to a software conflict or incompatibility issue with your system. Rolling back to the previous display driver version can restore your laptop’s screen stability:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Double-click on Display adapters and right-click your graphics card.
3. Select Properties > Driver > Rollback Driver (if available).

Adjust Windows power settings to improve screen stability

If your display driver isn’t the culprit, the issue can be caused by incorrect power settings. So proceed as follows:

1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard.
2. Copy and paste powercfg.cpl in the text field and hit Enter.
3. Select High performance or Balanced mode.
4. Click Change plan setting > Change advanced power settings > PCI Express.

Double-click on Link State Power Management and set it to Off.

FAQ

Can a virus cause screen flickering?

While it's rare, malware can sometimes interfere with display performance. Running a virus scan can help rule out that possibility.

How do I fix my flickering screen on Windows 10 or 11?

Try updating your display drivers, disabling hardware acceleration, adjusting refresh rate settings, or restarting in Safe Mode to isolate the issue.

Is screen flickering a sign of a hardware problem?

It can be. If software fixes don’t work, the issue could be with the laptop’s screen, GPU, or internal connectors. A professional diagnostic can help.

Can screen flickering damage my Acer laptop?

Flickering itself won’t damage your laptop, but ignoring the issue could lead to further strain on your eyes or mask an underlying hardware problem.