If your phone screen flickers randomly, flashes, dims by itself, or shows horizontal/vertical flickering lines, you are not alone. Screen flickering is one of the most common display-related issues on Android phones, and it can be caused by both software glitches and hardware problems. In this complete guide, you will learn every reason why your screen flickers and how to fix it step by step.
These methods work on all Android devices including Samsung, Xiaomi, Redmi, Motorola, Poco, Realme, Oppo, Vivo, Google Pixel, and more.
Why Your Phone Screen Flickers
Before fixing the problem, it helps to understand what causes screen flickering:
- Software bugs after updates
- Adaptive brightness malfunction
- Low screen refresh rate
- Overheating of the phone
- Battery or power instability
- Loose display connector
- Damaged screen or LCD
- Apps forcing brightness or refresh rate changes
- Hardware aging after years of usage
The good news is that most flickering issues start from the software side, and you can fix them from home.
Fix 1: Restart Your Phone
A simple restart often fixes temporary glitches causing flickering.
Steps:
- Hold the Power button
- Tap Restart
After rebooting, check if the flickering stops.
Fix 2: Turn Off Adaptive Brightness
The automatic brightness system sometimes becomes unstable and causes flickering when the phone tries to adjust brightness rapidly.
Turn it off:
- Settings → Display → Adaptive Brightness
- Toggle it OFF
If flickering stops, keep it off permanently.
Fix 3: Increase Screen Brightness
Low brightness can cause flickering, especially on AMOLED screens when the device lowers voltage to the display.
- Turn brightness to at least 50%
If flickering disappears, the issue is voltage instability at low brightness.
Fix 4: Change Screen Refresh Rate
If your phone supports 90 Hz or 120 Hz refresh rates, switching to a different refresh rate often stabilizes the display.
Steps:
- Settings → Display → Motion smoothness / Refresh Rate
- Switch from 60 ↔ 90/120 Hz
Try both settings and see which one removes flickering.
Fix 5: Disable Night Mode or Blue Light Filter
These modes may conflict with brightness algorithms and cause flickering on some devices.
- Settings → Display → Night mode / Blue light filter → Turn OFF
Fix 6: Turn Off “Auto Screen Dimming” Features
Some devices have power-saving features that lower screen brightness suddenly to reduce temperature or battery usage.
- Disable Power Saving Mode
- Disable overheating protection modes if available
Fix 7: Clear System Cache
Corrupted system cache can cause display glitches, including flickering.
Steps:
- Turn off your phone
- Hold Volume Up + Power
- Select Wipe Cache Partition
This does NOT delete your data. It just refreshes system cache.
Fix 8: Enable Safe Mode
A third-party app may be causing the flickering by forcing brightness or refresh rate changes.
Enable Safe Mode:
- Hold Power button
- Tap & hold “Power Off”
- Select Safe Mode
If flickering stops in Safe Mode, uninstall recently installed apps.
Fix 9: Check for System Updates
Display issues often happen after buggy updates. Manufacturers release patches quickly to fix these bugs.
- Settings → Software Update → Download and Install
Install all available updates.
Fix 10: Cool Down the Phone
Overheating can cause temporary display flickering, especially during gaming or charging.
Fixes:
- Remove the phone case
- Stop gaming for 10–15 minutes
- Keep the phone away from heat sources
Fix 11: Reset Display Settings
Incorrect display configurations sometimes cause flickering.
- Settings → Display → Reset settings
Fix 12: Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If software corruption is deep, only a factory reset may permanently fix flickering.
Backup your data first.
- Settings → General Management → Reset → Factory Data Reset
Fix 13: Screen Connector Might Be Loose
If flickering happens only when you shake or tap the phone lightly, the internal display connector may be loose.
You may need a repair technician to reseat or replace the connector.
Fix 14: Damaged Display or OLED Panel
If your phone has been dropped, bent, or exposed to water, the display panel might be damaged.
Signs of hardware-related flickering:
- Flickering even in screenshots
- Flickering in specific areas only
- Flickering increases over days
- Screen shows lines or shadows
This requires display replacement.
Conclusion
Screen flickering can be caused by both software and hardware issues. Most users fix it by disabling adaptive brightness, adjusting refresh rate, clearing cache, or updating software. If none of those work, the problem may be hardware-related and require repair.
Use the steps in this guide to identify your exact issue and apply the right fix. In most cases, the flickering stops completely without needing screen replacement.