Screen Flickering in Google Chrome? Try These Fixes – 2025

Screen Flickering in Google Chrome? Try These Fixes

Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers in the world. It’s fast, secure, and packed with features. However, like any software, it can sometimes experience problems. One frustrating issue that many users face is screen flickering when using Google Chrome. This guide will walk you through what causes Chrome flickering and how to fix it using step-by-step methods.

What Does Chrome Flickering Look Like?

Flickering in Chrome usually appears as rapid blinking of the screen, flashes of black or white, or sudden screen redraws while scrolling or opening new tabs. Sometimes, you might notice the whole screen flickering—not just the browser. Other times, only Chrome tabs flicker while other programs work just fine.

What Causes Chrome to Flicker?

There isn’t one single cause of this issue. Here are a few common reasons:

• Hardware acceleration conflicts

• Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers

• Interference from other apps like antivirus software

• Corrupted Chrome settings or extensions

• System display settings not optimized for Chrome

Now, let’s go through the methods to fix it.

1. Restart Chrome and Your Computer

Before diving into settings, try restarting Chrome and your PC. This can clear up temporary glitches.

Steps:

• Close all Chrome windows.

• Restart your computer.

• Open Chrome again and see if the flickering persists.

If the issue continues, move on to the next solution.

2. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Chrome

Chrome uses hardware acceleration to improve performance, but sometimes this feature can cause screen flickering, especially if your graphics card or driver doesn’t handle it well.

How to Disable It:

1. Open Chrome.

2. Click the three dots in the upper-right corner and go to Settings.

3. Scroll down and click System.

4. Toggle off the switch next to “Use hardware acceleration when available.”

5. Click Relaunch to restart Chrome.

Check if the flickering stops.

3. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or faulty graphics drivers are a common cause of flickering issues—not just in Chrome but system-wide.

To Update Drivers on Windows:

1. Press Windows + X and choose Device Manager.

2. Expand Display adapters.

3. Right-click your graphics card and select Update driver.

4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.

If you’re using a branded PC or laptop (like Dell, HP, Lenovo), visit their website to manually download the latest graphics drivers.

4. Run Chrome Without Extensions (Incognito Mode)

Some extensions—especially ad blockers or visual-enhancing tools—can conflict with Chrome’s display and cause flickering.

Test in Incognito Mode:

1. Open Chrome.

2. Press Ctrl + Shift + N to open an Incognito window.

3. Browse normally and see if the flickering continues.

If it stops, then one of your extensions is likely the cause.

5. Disable Suspicious Extensions

To find the problem extension:

1. Open Chrome and type chrome://extensions/ in the address bar.

2. Disable all extensions.

3. Enable them one by one, checking for flickering after each one.

Remove or permanently disable the one causing the issue.

6. Change Display Settings in Windows

Your display refresh rate and resolution can sometimes affect Chrome, especially if you’re using a high refresh rate monitor.

To Adjust Display Settings:

1. Right-click on your desktop and choose Display settings.

2. Scroll down and click Advanced display settings.

3. Change your refresh rate to 60Hz and see if Chrome flickering disappears.

4. You can also try lowering your resolution temporarily to test if it helps.

7. Disable Smooth Scrolling in Chrome (Optional Fix)

Smooth scrolling is a Chrome feature that improves how pages move when you scroll. However, it can cause issues on some machines.

How to Disable It:

1. Open Chrome.

2. In the address bar, type chrome://flags/.

3. Search for Smooth Scrolling.

4. Set it to Disabled.

5. Relaunch Chrome.

See if the issue goes away.

8. Create a New Chrome Profile

Corrupted Chrome user profiles can cause unusual behavior, including flickering.

How to Create a New Profile:

1. Go to Settings in Chrome.

2. Click You and Google > Add new profile.

3. Choose a name and picture.

4. Open the new profile and check if the flickering issue exists.

If it doesn’t, your original profile might be corrupted.

9. Reinstall Chrome

If none of the above methods work, consider reinstalling Chrome.

Steps:

1. Press Windows + I and go to Apps > Installed apps.

2. Find Chrome, click the three-dot menu, and choose Uninstall.

3. Download the latest version from Google Chrome website.

4. Reinstall it and test again.

Tip: If you want to save your bookmarks and passwords, make sure Chrome sync is turned on before uninstalling.

10. Scan for Malware

Sometimes malware or unwanted programs can interfere with your browser’s behavior. Run a scan using:

• Windows Security

• Malwarebytes

• Your preferred antivirus

Remove anything suspicious and restart your computer.

Final Thoughts

Chrome screen flickering can be annoying, but the good news is there are multiple ways to fix it. Most users find that disabling hardware acceleration or updating their graphics drivers resolves the problem. If not, going through the other steps like checking extensions, display settings, or creating a new user profile can help.

Take your time trying these solutions one by one, and you’ll likely find the fix that works best for your system. Once Chrome is stable again, browsing becomes a smooth and enjoyable experience once more.