Understanding and Troubleshooting Monitor Flickering During Video Playback
Introduction
Many Windows 10 users have experienced a frustrating issue: their monitor flickers on and off when attempting to fullscreen a video. While this problem may not occur during gaming sessions, it becomes noticeable and disruptive during media playback. If you own an NVision FHD monitor (21.5 inches) and are facing similar challenges, this article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of potential causes and practical solutions.
Identifying the Issue
It’s important to distinguish between different activities that may trigger screen flickering. In cases where fullscreen gaming runs smoothly without flickering, but video playback causes the issue, the root causes are often related to display settings, driver configuration, or software conflicts.
Common Causes and Solutions
- Graphics Driver Compatibility
Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers are a frequent culprit. To address this:
- Update your graphics drivers through Windows Device Manager or by downloading the latest driver from your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
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Consider performing a clean installation to remove residual driver files that might cause conflicts.
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Refresh Rate Settings
Incorrect or mismatched refresh rates can lead to flickering issues:
- Navigate to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings.
- Select your monitor and verify the refresh rate matches the manufacturer’s recommended specifications (commonly 60Hz).
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Adjust the refresh rate if necessary and test whether the flickering persists.
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Video Player and Browser Settings
Different media players and browsers might behave differently:
- For media players like VLC or Windows Media Player, check their output modules or hardware acceleration settings.
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For web-based videos (YouTube, streaming sites), disable hardware acceleration in your browser settings. For example, in Chrome:
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Go to Settings > Advanced > System.
- Toggle off “Use hardware acceleration when available.”
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Refresh the webpage and test fullscreen video playback again.
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G-SYNC and Vertical Sync
While some troubleshooting guides suggest disabling G-SYNC to resolve flickering, not all systems or monitors support this feature:
- Access your graphics driver control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings).
- Look for G-SYNC or V-SYNC options and disable them if they are enabled.
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Since you mentioned not seeing G-SYNC settings, it may not be supported on your hardware. In this case, focus on other troubleshooting steps.
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Monitor and Cable Check
Physical issues can also cause flickering:
- Ensure that your HDMI,
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