While the screen is flickering, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and watch Task Manager. If it flickers too, Microsoft points to the display driver as the likely cause. If Task Manager stays steady while the rest of the desktop flickers, check recently installed or updated apps.
01If Task Manager flickers with the desktop
Section linkSave your work. Try Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver, then see whether the flicker returns. If it started after a driver update, open Device Manager → Display adapters. Open Properties for the affected adapter, select Driver, then Roll Back Driver. You need administrator access and a previous driver for this option. Restart the PC after the rollback.
02If the driver cannot be rolled back
Section linkCheck for a compatible graphics driver through Windows Update or the PC maker’s support page for your exact model. Device Manager also offers Update driver from the adapter’s context menu. On a managed PC or a laptop with multiple display adapters, ask support which driver applies before changing anything.
03If Task Manager stays steady
Section linkUpdate the app that was running when the flicker began. Check Microsoft Store for Store apps and the publisher’s site for other apps. If a specific app still triggers the problem, back up its local data before removing it from Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Restart and retest after each change so you can tell what helped. If the display is too hard to read to follow these steps, use Microsoft’s Safe Mode instructions linked from its flickering guide.