Resolving an Annoying Flickering Issue in Windows 10 While Gaming

For years, I was plagued by a frustrating problem whenever I played games on my Windows 10 PC: random flickering that would force any open tabs or programs to momentarily seize focus. This disruptive behavior not only detracted from my gaming experience but also led to glitches and crashes, prompting inconvenient restarts that often resulted in lost progress.

The frequency of this annoyance varied widely; at times, it occurred just once every few hours, while at other moments it happened multiple times per minute. The triggers seemed arbitrary, as the flickering was exclusively confined to gaming environments and never occurred with any other applications. I attempted a range of solutions, from updating my graphics card drivers to experimenting with different monitors and cables, as well as toggling between fullscreen and windowed modes. Unfortunately, none of these measures bore fruit.

After a recent round of research, I decided to delve into the Windows Event Log the next time the flickering occurred. To my surprise, I discovered that a process called dwm.exe, which stands for Desktop Windows Manager, had crashed coincidentally at the same time. Intrigued, I began researching this process along with the corresponding error ID. Most results offered common troubleshooting steps like reinstalling the operating system or replacing hardware, both of which seemed excessive and unlikely to address the root of the problem.

That’s when I stumbled upon a forum post that hinted at a potential solution: outdated firmware for my Xbox controller. This revelation struck a chord, as I always used my Xbox controller for gaming, which explained why the flickering issue was game-specific. Reflecting on past instances, I recalled that the flickering always occurred during controller input moments.

Following this lead, I downloaded the Xbox Accessories app from the Windows Store, which allowed me to update the controller’s firmware. Ever since I completed this update, I’ve enjoyed uninterrupted gameplay without the incessant flickering or crashes that once marred my sessions.

I hope sharing this experience helps others who are facing a similar issue. It’s a relief to finally game without distractions, and I encourage anyone encountering this problem to check on their controller firmware before diving into more drastic troubleshooting measures.