What’s causing my second monitor to flicker and how do I stop it?

If your second monitor is flickering, there are several potential causes and corresponding solutions you can try to resolve the issue:

Potential Causes

1. Loose or Faulty Cables: A common cause of flickering is a loose or malfunctioning cable.
2. Mismatched Frame Rates: Different frame rates between the monitors can cause flickering.
3. Driver Issues: Corrupted, outdated, or incompatible graphics drivers can lead to flickering.
4. Display Settings: Incorrect display settings, such as resolution and refresh rate, may cause the issue.
5. Hardware Issues: Problems with the monitor itself or the graphics card.

Solutions

1. Check the Cables:
   • Ensure all cables are securely connected.
   • Try using a different HDMI or DisplayPort cable to see if the issue persists
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2. Configure Display Settings:
   • Right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings”.
   • Scroll down and click on “Advanced display settings”.
   • Ensure both monitors are set to the same refresh rate (at least 60Hz).
   • Adjust the resolution settings if necessary.
3. Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers:
   • Uninstall the current graphics drivers using a tool like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).
   • Download and install the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website (Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD).
   • Perform a clean installation to remove old driver references.
4. Check Frame Rates:
   • Open Settings with Win + I.
   • Go to System > Display > Advanced display settings.
   • Click on “Display adapter properties” and navigate to the “Monitor” tab to ensure the screen refresh rate is set correctly.
5. Test with a Different Monitor or System:
   • Connect the second monitor to a different computer to see if the issue persists.
   • Alternatively, connect a different monitor to your current setup to determine if the problem is with the monitor or the system
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6. Adjust Power Settings:
   • Ensure that the power settings are configured to provide consistent power to the monitor.
   • Avoid using power-saving modes that might affect the display.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be necessary to contact the monitor or graphics card manufacturer for further assistance.