Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing? Fix It in [8 Steps]

Check if the refresh rate matches the capabilities of your monitor

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Key notes

  • The Windows 11 keeps refreshing issue occurs due to outdated drivers, corrupted system files, or malware infection.
  • To fix it, update graphics drivers, disable dynamic refresh rate, run SFC & DISM scan, or scan your PC for malware.
Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing (1)

If you’ve been struggling with a screen that keeps refreshing on your Windows 11, interrupting your workflow, and causing annoyance, this guide can help!

We will discuss the root causes of the problem and provide you with a simple yet effective solution to overcome this issue.

Why does the Windows 11 screen keep refreshing?

There could be several factors that can contribute to the issue of a Windows 11 screen constantly refreshing. Here are some common reasons:

  • Outdated graphics driver – If the graphics driver is not functioning properly or doesn’t support the specific hardware or Windows 11, it can result in screen flickering or constant refreshes.
  • Software conflicts – Certain software applications or processes running in the background may interfere with the screen refresh rate, causing it to refresh continuously.
  • Corrupted system filesDamaged system files can cause all sorts of issues on your computer, including this one. Try running an SFC scan to fix the issue.
  • Malware infection – Malware or viruses can disrupt system processes, including those related to screen rendering, leading to screen refresh problems. Try running an antivirus tool.
  • Dynamic refresh rate – This feature can sometimes cause screen flickering or refreshing issues if it doesn’t work optimally with the hardware or software configuration.

Now that you know the probable causes, let us move to the troubleshooting methods to fix it accordingly.

What can I do if Windows 11 screen keeps refreshing?

Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:

Once you have gone through these, let us check out the detailed solutions.

1. Restart Windows File Explorer

  1. Press Shift +  Ctrl + Esc to open the Task Manager.Restart Windows Explorer Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing
  2. Go to the Processes tab, locate, and right-click Windows Explorer. then select Restart.

If also the Taskbar is missing, it’s a clear sign that this issue is related to File Explorer, and restarting it should also fix the screen refreshing problem.

2. Run SFC & DISM scans

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and click Run as administrator.CMD elevated Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing
  2. Type the following command to repair system files and press Enter: sfc /scannowSFCSCANNOW CMD
  3. Wait for the command to execute; once done, copy & paste the following command to restore OS image files and hit Enter: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthRestore health
  4. The process will complete in some time. Once done, restart your computer to let the changes take effect.

On the other hand, if you’re not sure about proceeding with the manual steps, we suggest you try a specialized repair app.

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run console.Services RUn command Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing
  2. Type services.msc and click OK to open the Services app.
  3. Locate and double-click the Windows Error Reporting Service to open its Properties.Windows Error Reporting
  4. Go to Start-up type and select Disabled.
  5. Under Service status, ensure it says Stopped or click Stop.Service disabled
  6. Click Apply, then OK to confirm the changes.
  7. Now locate Problem Reports and Solutions Control Panel Support service and double-click it.
  8. Go to Start-up type and select Disabled.
  9. Under Service status, ensure it says Stopped or click Stop.Service disabled 2
  10. Click Apply, then OK to confirm the changes.

4. Update the graphics driver

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.Device Manager Run command Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing?
  2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
  3. Go to Display adapters and click it to expand.
  4. Right-click the graphics driver and choose Update driver.Graphics Driver update
  5. Click Search automatically for drivers.Update driver 2
  6. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

You can also opt for an automatic driver updater to detect all outdated or malfunctioning drivers and select the latest updates within minutes.

โ‡’ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

5. Restart your computer in Safe Mode

  1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Go to System, then click Recovery.System - Recovery Windows 11 Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing?
  3. Locate Advanced startup and click Restart.Recovery Advanced Startup
  4. The computer will reboot, and on the Choose an option page, select Troubleshoot.Choose an option - Troubleshoot
  5. Select Advanced options.Advanced options
  6. Now choose the Startup Settings option.Startup Settings
  7. Click Restart once your computer starts and choose the option for Enable Safe Mode.Enable safe mode

Now when your PC boots into safe mode, you can narrow down the reason for the issue so that you can fix the screen keeps refreshing problem.

6. Delete the icon and thumbnail cache

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd, and click Run as administrator.CMD elevated Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing
  2. Copy & paste the following command and hit Enter: cd %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorercmd_Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing?
  3. Type the following command to see all the contents and press Enter: dir
  4. Copy & paste the following command to terminate Windows Explorer and hit Enter: taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
  5. Type the following command one by one and press Enter after every command:
    • attrib -h iconcache_*.db
      del /f iconcache_*.db
      attrib -h thumbcache_*.db
      del /f thumbcache_*.db
  6. Close the Command Prompt window.

7. Modify your desktop settings

  1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Go to Personalization, and click Background.Background - Personalize Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing?
  3. Go to Personalize your background; if your background is a picture, change it to Solid color from the drop-down.Solid color
  4. If it is Slideshow, for Change picture every,  select 1 day or 6 hoursChange picture every.

It would also help to check if the monitor refresh rate matches the performance of your monitor. Windows 11 also has a Dynamic Refresh Rate option that you can try to toggle on and off to see if it fixes the issue.

8. Tweak the Power Plan

  1. Press the Windows key, type control panel, and click Open.Control Panel start menu Windows 11 Screen Keeps Refreshing?
  2. Select Category for View as and click System and Security.System and security1
  3. Click Power options.Power options
  4. Now click High Performance.High Performance

By following the steps outlined here, you can troubleshoot and fix the problem of your Windows 11 screen repeatedly refreshing. If these steps didn’t work for you, you might have to perform a clean installation of Windows to fix it.

If you are facing similar issues, like the desktop keeps refreshing on Windows 10, we recommend you check out this informative guide to find easy solutions.

Please feel free to give us any information, tips, and your experience with the subject in the comments section below.

More about the topics: display, screen, Windows 11

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