Are you experiencing screen flickering in Google Chrome? Don’t worry — this issue is common and can be resolved easily. In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix Chrome screen flickering and get your browser back to normal.
Google Chrome remains one of the most popular web browsers in 2025 thanks to its speed, ease of use, and customization options. However, it’s not without flaws. Some users report graphical glitches such as screen flickering, making it difficult to browse, watch videos, or interact with web content.
This Chrome flickering issue may occur while watching a video, moving your mouse, or hovering over website elements. Fortunately, there are several effective methods to resolve this and restore a smooth browsing experience in Google Chrome.
Why Is Google Chrome Flickering? Possible Causes
If you’re dealing with screen flickering in Google Chrome, the most likely cause is your display or graphics drivers. In many cases, this issue happens when your drivers are outdated or incompatible with your system.
Another common reason for Chrome flickering issues could be your Windows background or color settings. For instance, using an animated wallpaper can trigger flickering, especially when Google Chrome is open during the animation. Additionally, hardware acceleration can sometimes conflict with system settings and cause the screen to flicker.
Before you can apply a fix, it’s important to identify the root cause. Here are some of the most common solutions to fix Chrome flickering:
- ✅ Change your desktop background and system color settings
- ✅ Update your graphics/display drivers
- ✅ Disable hardware acceleration in Google Chrome
- ✅ Turn off smooth scrolling in Chrome settings
Next, we’ll walk you through step-by-step instructions to apply each solution and eliminate Chrome screen flickering once and for all.
How to Fix Screen Flickering in Google Chrome
The methods below are compatible with the latest version of Google Chrome. If you’re unsure how to update Chrome, check out Method 1: Restart and Update Google Chrome from our guide on fixing the ERR_CACHE_MISS error.
Method 1: Fix Your Desktop Background and Color Settings
One of the first things to check when experiencing Google Chrome screen flickering is your desktop background and color configuration. Animated or slideshow wallpapers, especially those from apps like Wallpaper Engine, can interfere with Chrome’s display and cause flickering issues.
✅ How to Set a Static Background in Windows 10 or 11:
- Click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen and open Settings (or press Windows + I).
- Go to the Personalization section and switch to the Background tab.
- Under Background, select either Picture or Solid Color to eliminate any animation or slideshow effects.
- If you use third-party apps like Wallpaper Engine, exit or disable them temporarily.
- Now, switch to the Colors tab within the Personalization menu.
- Enable Automatically pick an accent color from my background to let Windows match system colors with your selected background.
After applying these changes, restart Google Chrome and check if the screen flickering issue is gone.
Still having problems? Don’t worry — we have more Google Chrome fixes coming up next!
Method 2: Update Your Graphics Drivers
A graphics driver update is often the key to fixing Google Chrome flickering issues. If your display driver is outdated or corrupted, it can cause Chrome and other applications to glitch or behave unexpectedly—especially after a major Windows update.
There are three easy ways to update your graphics drivers on Windows:
✅ Option 1: Automatically Update Your Display Driver
- Press Windows + R, type
devmgmt.msc, and click OK to open Device Manager.
- Expand the Display adapters section.
- Right-click your graphics card and choose Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
- Let Windows find and install the latest driver.
- Restart your computer and check if the screen flickering in Chrome has stopped.
✅ Option 2: Manually Update Your Graphics Driver
- Press Windows + R, type
dxdiag, and click OK to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
- Click on the Display tab and take note of your GPU name and manufacturer.
- Visit your manufacturer’s official website:
- Search for your exact graphics card model and download the latest driver.
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Restart your computer after the installation.
🔒 Note: Always download drivers from official sources to avoid malware or incorrect installs.
✅ Option 3: Use a Trusted Third-Party Driver Updater
If you’re looking for a more hands-off solution, try a third-party driver updater like:
- Driver Booster
- DriverHub
- DriverPack Solution
These tools can scan your system and automatically install the latest compatible drivers. Most are free to use, but always research reviews to ensure you’re using a trusted application.
⚠️ Be cautious! Avoid shady software — some free apps may include adware or spyware. Always read reviews and download from official websites.
Keeping your graphics drivers up to date is essential for system stability and performance. If Chrome flickering persists, don’t worry — we’ve got more fixes in the next methods!
Method 3: Turn Off “Use Hardware Acceleration When Available” in Google Chrome
One of the most common causes of screen flickering in Chrome is the Hardware Acceleration feature. While this setting is meant to enhance performance by offloading tasks to your GPU, it can sometimes overburden your graphics card, causing visual glitches and flickers.
Follow these simple steps to disable hardware acceleration in Chrome on Windows:
🛠️ How to Turn Off Hardware Acceleration in Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner, then select Settings.
- Scroll down and click on Advanced to expand more settings.
- Under the System section, find “Use hardware acceleration when available.”
- Toggle this option off.
- Click Relaunch to restart Chrome with the new settings.
💡 Tip: Once disabled, the setting will appear greyed out, confirming it’s turned off.
Disabling this feature has resolved flickering issues for many users, especially those on older GPUs or integrated graphics. If Chrome is still giving you trouble after this step, don’t worry—we’ve got more methods coming your way.
Method 4: Disable the Smooth Scrolling Flag in Google Chrome
Another possible cause of screen flickering in Chrome is the Smooth Scrolling feature. While this setting is designed to create a seamless scrolling experience, it can sometimes conflict with your GPU, leading to unwanted visual glitches.
If you’re experiencing flickering while scrolling, disabling this option might help.
🛠️ How to Disable Smooth Scrolling in Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- In the address bar, type:
chrome://flagsPress Enter to access the experimental features page.
- Locate the Search Flags box at the top of the page.
- Type Smooth Scrolling and wait for the results to load.
- Click on the Smooth Scrolling dropdown menu and select Disabled.
- Click Relaunch to restart Chrome and apply the changes.
💡 Note: After relaunching, check if the flickering issue is resolved. If not, move on to the next troubleshooting step!
Method 5: Reset Google Chrome to Default Settings
If all else fails and Chrome is still flickering, resetting the browser to its default settings might be your best bet. This can help remove corrupted settings, extensions, or tweaks that might be causing conflicts.
🛠️ How to Reset Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, and select Settings.
- Scroll down and click Advanced to expand more options.
- In the Reset and clean up section, click on:
Restore settings to their original defaults
- A confirmation dialog will appear. Click Reset settings to confirm.
⚠️ Note: This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data. However, your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords won’t be deleted.
After resetting, restart Chrome and check if the flickering issue is resolved.
Method 6: Uninstall and Reinstall Google Chrome
If you’re still experiencing screen flickering issues in Chrome and nothing else has worked, the final step is to uninstall Chrome completely and reinstall the latest version. This ensures you’re working with a fresh copy that isn’t affected by hidden settings, corrupt files, or buggy updates.
🔧 How to Uninstall Google Chrome
- Press Windows + I to open Settings (or click the Start menu > Settings).
- Go to the Apps tab, then click Apps & features.
- In the list, find Google Chrome.
- Click it once, then select Uninstall, and confirm your action.
📥 Reinstall Google Chrome
- After uninstalling, open any other browser (like Microsoft Edge).
- Go to the official Chrome download page:
https://www.google.com/chrome - Download and install the latest stable version.
💡 Tip: You can also try the Beta or Canary version of Chrome to test out upcoming features and potentially get a version free of the flickering issue.
Once installed, launch Chrome and see if the issue is finally resolved.
✅ Final Thoughts
We hope the instructions provided above helped you resolve the Google Chrome flickering issue. Whether it was a simple background tweak or a full reinstall, these solutions are designed to give you a smooth and bug-free browsing experience.
With your browser working normally again, you can get back to streaming videos, reading articles, or working online without frustrating visual glitches.
🔁 Note: Since Google Chrome is updated frequently, flickering might come back in future versions. If that happens, just revisit this guide and try the same solutions again — they should still work.
One more thing
If you’re in search of a software company that embodies integrity and upholds honest business practices, your quest ends here at Ecomkeys.com. As a Microsoft Certified Partner, we prioritize the trust and satisfaction of our customers. Our commitment to delivering reliable software products is unwavering, and our dedication to your experience extends far beyond the point of sale. At Ecomkeys.com, we provide a comprehensive 360-degree support system that accompanies you throughout your software journey. Your trust is our foundation, and we’re here to ensure that every interaction with us is a positive and trustworthy one.
