Ubuntu Screen Blinking? Causes and Fixes

Published On - February 17, 2026

Sophia Willson blog

Few things are more frustrating than sitting down to work on your Ubuntu system and being greeted by a screen that flickers, blinks, or constantly refreshes. Whether it happens during boot, at the login screen, or while you’re in the middle of a project, screen blinking can disrupt productivity and raise concerns about hardware failure. The good news? In most cases, Ubuntu screen flickering is caused by software, drivers, or configuration issues—and it’s usually fixable with the right approach.

TL;DR: Ubuntu screen blinking is commonly caused by graphics driver issues, incorrect refresh rates, Wayland vs Xorg incompatibilities, or power management settings. Updating or reinstalling GPU drivers, switching display servers, adjusting refresh rates, or disabling certain graphical features often resolves the issue. Hardware problems are rare but possible, so testing with an external monitor can help rule that out. Most flickering problems can be fixed without reinstalling Ubuntu.

What Does “Screen Blinking” Really Mean?

Screen blinking can appear in several forms:

  • Full-screen flickering at regular or random intervals
  • Black screen flashes that last a few seconds
  • Login screen loops where the display refreshes continuously
  • Top or bottom panel flicker in GNOME
  • Brightness fluctuations that resemble blinking

Identifying the exact behavior helps narrow down the cause. For example, flickering during boot suggests driver or kernel issues, while flickering after login points more toward GNOME, Wayland, or GPU drivers.

Common Causes of Ubuntu Screen Blinking

1. Outdated or Incorrect Graphics Drivers

This is the most common cause. Ubuntu uses open-source drivers by default, but systems with NVIDIA or AMD GPUs often perform better with proprietary drivers.

Symptoms include:

  • Flickering after system updates
  • Black flashes when opening applications
  • Tearing during video playback

You can check your GPU using:

lspci | grep -i vga

Then open Software & Updates → Additional Drivers to see recommended proprietary drivers.

Switching to the recommended tested driver and rebooting often resolves blinking instantly.

2. Wayland vs Xorg Display Server Issues

Ubuntu uses Wayland by default in newer versions. While modern and secure, Wayland can cause flickering with certain GPUs—especially NVIDIA cards.

To test whether Wayland is causing the issue:

  1. Log out.
  2. Click the gear icon on the login screen.
  3. Select “Ubuntu on Xorg.”
  4. Log back in.

If the blinking stops, you’ve identified the culprit. You can permanently disable Wayland by editing:

/etc/gdm3/custom.conf

Uncomment the line:

WaylandEnable=false

Then reboot.

3. Incorrect Refresh Rate or Resolution

A mismatched refresh rate can cause visible flickering, especially on high-refresh monitors (75Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, etc.).

To adjust it:

  • Go to Settings → Displays
  • Select the correct monitor
  • Choose the recommended resolution
  • Ensure the refresh rate matches your monitor’s capability

If you’re unsure of your monitor’s supported rates, check the manufacturer’s specifications.

4. GNOME Extensions Conflicts

GNOME extensions enhance Ubuntu’s functionality, but poorly maintained or incompatible ones can cause UI flickering.

To test this:

  • Open the Extensions app
  • Disable all extensions
  • Log out and log back in

If the issue disappears, enable extensions one by one to find the problematic one.

5. Kernel Compatibility Problems

After an Ubuntu update, a new kernel may not work perfectly with your graphics hardware. Flickering that appears immediately after a system upgrade is often kernel-related.

You can test this by:

  • Restarting your computer
  • Holding Shift (or pressing Esc) during boot
  • Selecting Advanced options for Ubuntu
  • Booting from an earlier kernel version

If an older kernel fixes the problem, you can temporarily continue using it while waiting for an update.

6. Hardware Acceleration Issues in Browsers

If flickering only happens in Firefox, Chrome, or other browsers, hardware acceleration might be the cause.

To test:

  • Open browser settings
  • Search for hardware acceleration
  • Disable it
  • Restart the browser

Many users report that this simple change removes flashing during video playback or scrolling.

7. Power Management and Brightness Settings

Laptop users sometimes experience brightness pulsing that looks like blinking. This may be caused by energy-saving features.

Try disabling:

  • Auto brightness
  • Adaptive brightness in BIOS
  • Power-saving GPU modes

You can also check BIOS or UEFI settings for graphics-related power management features.

Advanced Troubleshooting Steps

If the common fixes didn’t resolve the issue, consider these deeper solutions.

1. Reinstall Graphics Drivers Manually

For NVIDIA users:

sudo apt purge nvidia*
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
sudo reboot

This removes broken installations and reinstalls the recommended driver.

2. Disable GPU Power Saving (NVIDIA)

Open NVIDIA X Server Settings and ensure:

  • “Powermizer” is set to Prefer Maximum Performance

This can stabilize flickering during GPU load transitions.

3. Check System Logs

Logs often reveal hidden driver conflicts:

dmesg | grep -i error
journalctl -b | grep -i gpu

Look for repeated messages related to GPU resets or driver crashes.

4. Test with an External Monitor

To rule out hardware issues:

  • Connect an external monitor.
  • If the external display works perfectly, your laptop screen cable or panel may be failing.
  • If both screens flicker, the issue is likely software or GPU-related.

When It’s Actually a Hardware Problem

Although rare, hardware faults do happen. Signs include:

  • Flickering across multiple operating systems
  • Artifacts (colored lines, distorted shapes)
  • Sudden screen blackouts even in BIOS

Possible causes:

  • Loose display cable inside laptop
  • Failing GPU
  • Damaged monitor panel
  • Faulty HDMI or DisplayPort cable

If flickering persists outside Ubuntu (for example, in BIOS or Windows), it’s almost certainly hardware-related.

Quick Fix Checklist

Here’s a condensed troubleshooting flow:

  1. Update your system: 
    sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
  2. Install recommended proprietary drivers.
  3. Switch from Wayland to Xorg.
  4. Adjust refresh rate and resolution.
  5. Disable GNOME extensions.
  6. Test another kernel version.
  7. Disable browser hardware acceleration.
  8. Check cables and external monitor.

Most users fix the issue by step 2 or 3.

Preventing Future Screen Flickering

Once resolved, consider these preventive steps:

  • Avoid beta drivers unless necessary
  • Keep your system updated, but avoid interrupting updates
  • Check compatibility before major Ubuntu upgrades
  • Monitor kernel changes in update logs

If your system relies heavily on proprietary GPU drivers (especially NVIDIA), waiting a few weeks after a major Ubuntu release can prevent driver compatibility headaches.

Final Thoughts

Ubuntu screen blinking can seem alarming, especially if it starts suddenly after an update. But in the vast majority of cases, it’s caused by driver conflicts, display server differences, or simple configuration mismatches—not failing hardware. By methodically testing drivers, display settings, and kernel versions, you can usually identify and resolve the issue in under an hour.

Linux gives you powerful controls over your system’s graphics stack. While that flexibility can sometimes lead to conflicts, it also means you have the tools needed to diagnose and fix screen flickering without reinstalling your operating system. With the right steps, your display can return to the stable, smooth experience Ubuntu is known for.