Update Your Graphics Drivers
This is often the most effective fix I come across — flickering screens or brightness jumping around is usually caused by outdated or incompatible graphics drivers throwing a tantrum. Honestly, it’s not just a fluke; I’ve seen drivers cause some pretty strange display behaviour more times than I can count. The tricky part is knowing where to find the right updates, as it can feel like hunting for hidden treasure. First, open Device Manager — though, depending on your version of Windows, it’s tucked away somewhere sneaky. Look for “Display Adapters”, expand it, then right-click your graphics card and select “Update Driver”. A word of warning: Windows might find an update for you, but often it’s not the latest version. Better bet? Head straight to the manufacturer’s website—whether it’s NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel—and grab the newest drivers from there. This tip made a noticeable difference for me, especially when flickering was relentless. Sometimes, Windows auto-updates just don’t cut it, so you’ll need to download the driver manually, run the installer, and give your PC a restart. Sure, it’s a bit of a chore, but totally worth it to stop the brightness from chasing its tail or flickering out. Just remember to check after reboot — occasionally, you might have to reinstall or redo the process if it’s still acting up.
Disable Adaptive Brightness
If updating the drivers doesn’t sort things out, Windows’ own settings might be the culprit. The ambient light sensor (or so it says) automatically adjusts your brightness based on the environment. Nice idea in theory, but in practice, it can be super annoying—especially if you’re in a space where the lighting keeps changing, or you move around a lot. To turn this off, press Windows + I to open Settings. Then navigate to System > Display. Find the section called “Brightness and colour”. You should see a toggle labelled “Change brightness automatically when lighting changes” — or something similar. Sometimes, this option’s tucked away in Additional display settings or a sub-menu, so you might need to do a bit of hunting. Turning it off will let you manually control your brightness without Windows interfering. Just slide the brightness to your preferred level and forget about it. For me, this was a game-changer — even after updating drivers, Windows kept adjusting brightness on its own. Once I disabled auto-brightness, my screen stayed consistent — just the way it’s supposed to.
Turn Off Intel Display Power Saving Technology
If your PC has an Intel CPU with integrated graphics, there’s a sneaky little feature called Display Power Saving Technology. It’s designed to save power by messing around with your brightness — which can cause flickering and inconsistent display. By default, it’s usually enabled, and honestly, it’s frustrating when all you want is a steady screen. To disable it, look for the Intel UHD Graphics Control Panel, or install the Intel Graphics Command Center from the Microsoft Store if you haven’t already. Once open (it might be in the system tray or your start menu), go to the Display or Power tab. Find the Display Power Saving Technology option and turn it off. Clicking that toggle made a huge difference for me. It’s like Intel’s trying to save power at the expense of a stable display — I’d rather have consistent brightness than flickering all day. These settings can be sneaky to find, so a bit of digging is often needed.
Turn Off Battery Saving Options for AMD and Intel Graphics
If you’re using AMD graphics or system-wide power-saving features, similar issues can pop up. On AMD cards, open up Radeon Software. (Previously called Adrenalin Edition.) It usually has settings that adjust your display brightness depending on whether you’re plugged in or on battery. Sometimes, it dims the screen automatically when unplugged without you realising. To fix this, right-click on your desktop, select AMD Radeon Software, then go to Gaming > Display. Look for options like “Vivid” or “Brightness Enhancer” and turn them off. You might also find similar controls under the Display or Power menus within that app. The same applies if you’re using Intel graphics — open up the Intel Graphics Command Center (search from the Start menu or right-click your desktop), then check under System > Power > Battery Settings for features like “Display Power Savings” and disable them. These settings can hide in unexpected spots and change with driver updates, but disabling them usually does the trick. I had quite a few go-around moments before I finally nailed my screen’s brightness issues.
Let’s be honest — fixing screen brightness flickering in Windows 11 isn’t a walk in the park. Drivers, hidden settings, BIOS tweaks — all of them can play a part. Sometimes, you need to reboot a few times or revisit settings after updates. But once everything’s set up properly, it’s a huge relief. I hope these tips save you some hassle because dealing with a flickering or inconsistent display is beyond frustrating, whether you’re working or just relaxing. Every PC has its quirks, and Windows’ endless tweaks don’t make life easier. With a bit of patience and the right adjustments, you can finally get a stable, predictable screen again.
Hope this helps — it took me ages to figure it out myself. Just a quick checklist to double-check:
- Make sure your graphics drivers are fully up to date from the manufacturer’s website.
- Disable adaptive brightness in Settings.
- Turn off any Intel Graphics Power Saving features.
- If using AMD, check Radeon Software for brightness and display options.
- Reboot after each change — sometimes that’s all it takes for things to settle down.
Fingers crossed this saves someone a weekend of frustration. Good luck!