What Causes Google Chrome Flickering?
Before diving into solutions, it’s helpful to understand what might be causing your Chrome browser to flicker. Several factors can contribute to this issue:
Common causes of Google Chrome flickering issues
- Hardware acceleration conflicts – Chrome’s hardware acceleration feature can conflict with your graphics card
- Outdated graphics drivers – Old or incompatible display drivers often cause visual glitches
- Windows display settings – Certain background or color settings can trigger flickering
- Problematic extensions – Some Chrome extensions may interfere with rendering
- Chrome flags and experimental features – Enabled experimental features like smooth scrolling
- Hardware issues – Faulty display cables or connections
Now that we understand the potential causes, let’s explore the most effective solutions to fix Google Chrome flickering.
Quick Fixes for Chrome Flickering
Before trying more complex solutions, start with these simple fixes that often resolve Chrome flickering issues:

1. Restart Chrome and Your Computer
Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective. Close all Chrome windows completely (check your system tray to ensure Chrome is fully closed), then restart your computer. This can clear temporary glitches that might be causing the flickering issue.
2. Check Your Display Cable
Loose or damaged display cables can cause screen flickering that might appear to be a Chrome issue. Ensure your monitor cables are securely connected at both ends. If you’re using adapters (like DP to HDMI), make sure they’re high-quality and properly connected.

Fix Chrome Flickering by Adjusting Windows Settings
3. Disable Automatic Color Selection on Windows
Windows’ automatic color selection feature can sometimes conflict with Chrome and cause flickering. Here’s how to disable it:
- Right-click on your desktop and select Personalization
- Click on Colors in the left sidebar
- Scroll down and uncheck the box next to “Automatically pick an accent color from my background”
- Restart Chrome to see if the flickering stops

4. Change Your Desktop Background
Animated or slideshow backgrounds can sometimes cause Chrome to flicker. Try switching to a static background image or solid color:
- Right-click on your desktop and select Personalization
- Click on Background in the left sidebar
- Change the background type to either Picture or Solid color
- If using third-party wallpaper apps like Wallpaper Engine, try closing them temporarily
Adjust Chrome Settings to Fix Flickering
5. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Chrome
Hardware acceleration is often the primary culprit behind Chrome flickering. This feature offloads some processing tasks to your GPU, but it can cause conflicts with certain graphics cards and drivers.

- Open Chrome and click the three dots in the top-right corner
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu
- Scroll down and click on Advanced to expand additional options
- Under the System section, find and toggle off “Use hardware acceleration when available”
- Click the Relaunch button that appears to restart Chrome
After disabling hardware acceleration, Chrome may feel slightly slower, but the flickering should stop. If performance becomes an issue, you can try updating your graphics drivers before re-enabling this feature.
6. Disable Smooth Scrolling in Chrome
Chrome’s smooth scrolling feature can sometimes cause flickering, especially when scrolling through pages. Here’s how to disable it:

- In Chrome’s address bar, type chrome://flags and press Enter
- In the search bar at the top, type “smooth scrolling”
- Find the Smooth Scrolling option and change it from Default to Disabled
- Click the Relaunch button at the bottom to restart Chrome
Update Your Graphics Drivers to Fix Chrome Flickering
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a common cause of Chrome flickering. Updating your drivers can often resolve these issues.

7. Update Graphics Drivers Using Device Manager
- Press Windows + X keys and select Device Manager
- Expand the Display adapters section
- Right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver
- Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the prompts
- Restart your computer after the update completes
Need help updating drivers?
Download our recommended driver update tool to automatically find and install the latest graphics drivers for your system.
8. Download Drivers Directly from Manufacturer
For the most up-to-date drivers, it’s best to download them directly from your graphics card manufacturer’s website:
NVIDIA Drivers
Visit the NVIDIA Driver Download page to find the latest drivers for your NVIDIA graphics card.
AMD Drivers
Visit the AMD Drivers and Support page to download drivers for your AMD graphics card.
Intel Drivers
Visit the Intel Download Center to find drivers for your Intel integrated graphics.
Reset Chrome to Fix Persistent Flickering
If you’ve tried the above solutions and Chrome is still flickering, you may need to reset Chrome settings or reinstall the browser completely.

9. Reset Chrome Settings
- Open Chrome and click the three dots in the top-right corner
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu
- Scroll down and click on Advanced to expand additional options
- Find the Reset and clean up section
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults
- Confirm by clicking Reset settings in the popup window
Note: Resetting Chrome will restore all settings to default, but won’t delete your bookmarks, history, or saved passwords.
10. Uninstall and Reinstall Chrome
If all else fails, a clean reinstallation of Chrome might be necessary:

- Press Windows + I to open Settings
- Go to Apps > Apps & features
- Search for Google Chrome in the list
- Select it and click Uninstall, then follow the prompts
- After uninstallation, download the latest version from the official Chrome website
- Install the fresh copy and check if the flickering is resolved
Advanced Solutions for Chrome Flickering
11. Disable Game DVR Feature (Windows 10/11)
Windows Game DVR feature can sometimes interfere with Chrome and cause flickering:

- Press Windows + I to open Settings
- Select Gaming
- Click on Xbox Game Bar
- Toggle off “Enable Xbox Game Bar”
- Also check Captures and disable “Record in the background while I’m playing a game”
12. Modify Registry to Fix DWM-Related Flickering
Some users have reported that modifying a registry setting related to Desktop Window Manager (DWM) can fix Chrome flickering:
Warning: Modifying the registry can be risky. Create a backup before proceeding, and only attempt this if you’re comfortable with registry edits.

- Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
- Right-click in the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Name it OverlayTestMode
- Double-click the new entry and set its value to 5
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect
Frequently Asked Questions About Chrome Flickering
Why does Chrome flicker on Windows 11 but not other browsers?
Chrome flickering specifically on Windows 11 is often related to compatibility issues between Chrome’s rendering engine and Windows 11’s graphics handling. This is particularly common with the Desktop Window Manager (DWM) in Windows 11. Disabling hardware acceleration in Chrome or updating to the latest Chrome version usually resolves this Windows 11-specific issue.
Will disabling hardware acceleration affect Chrome’s performance?
Yes, disabling hardware acceleration may slightly reduce performance, especially for graphics-intensive tasks like video playback or gaming. However, the impact is usually minimal for general browsing. If you notice significant slowdowns after disabling hardware acceleration, try updating your graphics drivers first before re-enabling it.
How do I identify which extension is causing Chrome to flicker?
To identify a problematic extension, open Chrome in incognito mode (which disables extensions by default). If flickering stops, systematically enable extensions one by one by going to chrome://extensions until you identify which one causes the flickering. Common culprits include ad blockers, dark mode extensions, and page modifiers.
Is Chrome flickering ever related to hardware issues?
Yes, Chrome flickering can sometimes indicate hardware problems, particularly with your graphics card or monitor. If you’ve tried all software solutions and the problem persists across multiple browsers, consider testing your monitor with another computer or having your graphics card checked for potential hardware failures.
Final Thoughts on Fixing Chrome Flickering

Chrome flickering can be frustrating, but as we’ve seen, there are multiple solutions available. Start with the simplest fixes like restarting Chrome or checking your display connections, then progress to more advanced solutions if needed. In most cases, disabling hardware acceleration, updating graphics drivers, or resetting Chrome settings will resolve the issue.
Remember that Chrome updates frequently, so new versions might fix existing flickering issues or occasionally introduce new ones. Keep your browser and drivers updated, and don’t hesitate to try a different browser temporarily if you need immediate relief from the flickering while troubleshooting.
Have you found another solution that worked for fixing Chrome flickering? Or do you have questions about any of the methods we’ve covered? Let us know in the comments below!