Taskbar icons flashing & flickering on Windows 10 [Fixed]

by Madalina Dinita

Former Managing Editor

Last update:March 4, 2021

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A not-so-frequent issue in Windows 10 is the taskbar flashing.  This issue occurs especially if the multimedia applications are incompatible, got outdated or the Graphics Card Driver is corrupted.

Rebooting the PC doesn’t seem to make a difference and this problem is especially irritating and visually challenging for users.

The first step you can take when determining the exact problem of your system is finding out if this issue only affects the Taskbar or if it’s a general problem.

You can figure this out easily by opening the Task Manager by right-clicking the Taskbar and selecting Task Manager, or you can use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut.

If everything on the screen flickers, but the Task Manager doesn’t, then most likely you’re dealing with an incompatible application issue.

In the case that Task Manager flickers along with everything else on the screen, then the problem is most likely to be the graphics drivers.

Here are some easy-to-apply solutions that may set your system back to its functioning state.

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How do I fix taskbar flashing/ flickering?

1. Update your display driver

1. Open run command by pressing Windows key + R and type and hit Enter.
2. Spot and expand the Display Adapter.
3. Right-click on the video driver and select Update Driver Software. Once this is done, restart the computer to check the problem fixed.

You may update the display driver from Device Manager manually. We suggest downloading and installing the latest graphics card driver from the graphics card manufacturer’s website.

However, there are tools that will automatically scan your computer and install all the necessary drivers, so you won’t have to lose time updating them manually.

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2. Uninstall problematic apps

1. Press and hold the shift key while clicking on Restart at the login Screen (Bottom right corner).
2. Select Troubleshoot and click on Advanced Options.
3. Select Startup Settings and click on Restart.
4. After restarting, choose Enable Safe mode with networking.

If the issue does not persist in Safe Mode, then perform a Clean Boot to check if any third-party application is causing it, as Clean Boot helps in eliminating software conflicts.

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Having troubles booting in Safe mode? Check out these easy steps to fix it.

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3. Use System File Checker

1. Open Command Prompt from Windows search bar.
2. Select Run as Administrator.
3. Type sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
4. Now check if the taskbar icons are still flashing.

System File Checker ( SFC) is a Windows 10 built-in utility that allows you to scan system files and restore the ones that are corrupted. 

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4. Use a third-party uninstaller tool

If you managed to identify the problematic app, it is best to use professional tools to make sure you completely remove it from your PC, including any stubborn leftovers that might cause issues later on.

This tool is your best bet when dealing with problematic apps that simply won’t be deleted as it eliminates any remnants and takes care of the uninstall process end-to-end.

It even brings bonus features to the table such as a pro-level clean-up tool meant to sanitize your PC and keep it working properly.

The best part is that you will get to test its excellent capacities as extensively as you like before making the purchase thanks to its incredible 60-day money-back guarantee.

It has a lightweight portable version available that does not require installation and you can also benefit from professional technical assistance free of charge.

⇒ Get Revo Uninstaller

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5. Run DISM

1. Click on the Start and Enter Command prompt in the Search box.
2. In the list of results, swipe down on or right-click Command Prompt, and then tap or click Run as administrator.
3. In the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type the following commands. Press the Enter key after each command:
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Checkhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
4. To close the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type Exit, and then press Enter.

If the issue persists, you can run the DISM tool to check the system’s health and will try to restore the files. The tool might take 15-20 minutes to finish running, so do not cancel it in the middle of the process.

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Looking for a way to disable Taskbar transparency in Windows 10? Check this out!

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6. Check if the flashing taskbar appears in Safe mode

1. Search for Settings from the taskbar and select it from the search results.
2. Select Update & security and click on Recovery.
3. Go to Advanced Startup and select Restart now.
4. After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
5. Select a startup setting as Safe Mode by pressing the corresponding number.

We do suggest you to check if the flickering of the icons occurs in Safe mode. Follow the steps above to start Windows 10 in Safe mode.

If you notice that your taskbar is not responding anymore, resolve this problem simply by following the steps on our comprehensive guide.

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7. Create a new user account

1. Open the Settings app and choose Accounts.
2. Go to Family & other users from the left pane.
3. Click on Add someone else to this PC.
4. To skip the Microsoft sign-in information, click on the I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
5. If you don’t want to create an account, click on Add a user without a Microsoft account.
6. Complete the name and the password for the new user.
7. After the user is created, click on the Change account type, and make it an Administrator.

Some users confirmed that creating a new user account solved this problem. So, if nothing else worked so far, go ahead and create a new user account. 

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If the issue persists, you should investigate if the issue has anything to do with an upgraded or a new version of web applications, such as Chrome. Incompatible updates affected this application.

Let us know if the solutions listed above helped you fix the problem. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.