How I Resolved a Long-Standing Issue with Windows 10 Game Flickering
Experiencing interruptions while gaming can be incredibly frustrating, especially if it disrupts your gameplay or results in lost progress. Recently, I encountered an issue on my Windows 10 PC that had plagued me for years: random flickering between open programs while gaming. After countless hours of trial and error, I finally discovered the solution.
The Problem
Whenever I launched a game, my screen would sporadically flicker through various tabs and applications, sometimes leading to my game losing focus entirely. On more than a few occasions, this peculiar behavior caused games to crash, forcing me to restart and often resulting in the loss of valuable in-game progress. The frequency of the flickering was unpredictable; sometimes, it occurred only every few hours, while other times, it felt like it was happening multiple times within a minute.
After trying several common troubleshooting steps—such as updating my graphics drivers, testing different monitors and cables, toggling between fullscreen and windowed modes, and even closing background applications—nothing seemed to remedy the issue. It appeared to be an inexplicable glitch, as it only occurred during gaming sessions.
The Breakthrough
After extensive searching online, I had a breakthrough when I decided to check the Windows Event Log while the flickering was happening. To my surprise, I found that a process named dwm.exe (Desktop Window Manager) had crashed at the same time. Intrigued, I began investigating this process further.
While many suggested common fixes such as reinstalling Windows or replacing hardware components—measures that felt excessive and likely not the root of the problem—I persisted. Eventually, I stumbled upon a forum post that pointed to an interesting possibility: outdated firmware for my Xbox controller. This insight clicked for me, as I frequently use my Xbox controller for gaming. I recalled that the flickering often coincided with my inputs through the controller.
The Solution
To update the firmware, I downloaded the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store. Within moments of completing the update, my screen flickering issues vanished. It had been a simple oversight that had eluded me for far too long, but now I can enjoy my gaming sessions without the fear of unexpected crashes or unsettling screen flickers.
In Conclusion
If you’re experiencing similar issues with flickering screens while gaming on Windows 10, consider checking your controller’s firmware. It may seem like a minor detail,
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