SOLVED: Screen Flickers When Moving Mouse

Experiencing a screen flicker every time you move your mouse can be frustrating and even alarming. Whether you’re working, gaming, or just browsing, this issue disrupts productivity and can strain your eyes. Fortunately, it’s often tied to simple software or hardware glitches. we’ll walk you through all the possible causes and proven fixes to resolve the problem.

Common Causes of Screen Flickering When Moving the Mouse

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s understand why this happens in the first place. Flickering can occur due to:

• Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers
• Conflicting display or mouse settings
• Display refresh rate issues
• Third-party software interference
• Hardware acceleration settings

Understanding these root causes will help you apply the right fix quickly.

How to Resolve It

Fix 1: Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

An outdated or corrupt graphics driver is a primary cause of screen flickering.

How to Update Your Graphics Driver:

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click your GPU and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.

If the issue persists, try reinstalling the driver:

How to Reinstall:

1. In Device Manager, right-click your GPU and choose Uninstall device.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Windows will reinstall the correct driver automatically.

Fix 2: Adjust the Display Refresh Rate

A refresh rate mismatch can trigger flickering during mouse movement.

Steps to Change Refresh Rate:

1. Go to Settings > System > Display.
2. Click Advanced display settings.
3. Under Choose a refresh rate, select a different option like 60Hz or 75Hz.
4. Apply the changes and test the mouse movement.

Fix 3: Turn Off Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration can cause graphical inconsistencies depending on your GPU and drivers.

Disable Hardware Acceleration in Windows:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Display > Graphics.
3. Scroll down and click Change default graphics settings.
4. Turn off Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.

Also, if you’re seeing flickering in specific apps like Chrome or Discord:

Disable It in Chrome:

1. Go to chrome://settings/system.
2. Toggle off Use hardware acceleration when available.

Fix 4: Check Mouse Driver and Settings

The mouse itself might be the culprit if it has outdated firmware or conflicting software.

What to Do:

1. Go to Device Manager > Mice and other pointing devices.
2. Right-click on your mouse driver and select the Update driver.
3. You can also try using a different USB port or another mouse to check for hardware faults.

Bonus Tip:

If you’re using third-party mouse software like Logitech Options or Razer Synapse, consider updating or temporarily disabling it to rule out software conflicts.

Fix 5: Scan for Malware and System Errors

Sometimes, malware or system file corruption interferes with display performance, especially during input actions like moving the mouse.

Recommended Fix:

Use a reliable tool like Fortect. It offers an all-in-one PC repair and malware removal solution. Fortect automatically scans your system for threats and system integrity issues, helping you eliminate background problems that may cause screen flickering.

Download Fortect now for a complete system scan and peace of mind.

Fix 6: Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot helps identify if a third-party application or service is causing the flicker.

How to Clean Boot:

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
2. Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.
3. Head to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
4. Disable all startup apps.
5. Restart your PC.

If the issue stops, re-enable services one by one to find the culprit.

Fix 7: Check the Monitor and Cable

If you’re using an external display, the issue might be physical.

• Ensure your HDMI or DisplayPort cable is firmly connected.
• Try swapping out the cable.
• Test with a different monitor to rule out screen hardware problems.
• Consider using a different display output port on your graphics card.

Still having issues? Try Fortect, a simple tool that scans your system, fixes glitches, and helps things run smoother.

Final Thoughts

Screen flickering when moving the mouse is usually solvable with the right steps. Whether it’s updating drivers, tweaking settings, or scanning your PC for issues, one of these methods should work. If the problem continues, consider reaching out to a technician or replacing outdated hardware.

Don’t let minor bugs interrupt your workflow, stay on top of system maintenance, and always keep your drivers and software up to date.