What to Do If Your Laptop Screen Flickers or Goes Black Randomly

If your laptop screen keeps flickering or suddenly goes black while you’re working, it’s usually a hardware or driver issue — not a lost cause.

At Tech & Games Hartlepool, we often repair laptops that customers thought were beyond saving.
From loose display cables to failing screens, most flickering issues can be fixed the same day without replacing your entire device.

Let’s walk you through the causes and easy fixes before it gets worse.

Step 1: Check for Loose Display Cables

If your laptop flickers when you move the lid, the display cable may be loose or damaged.

Try this:

• Open and close the lid slowly — does the screen cut out or flash?
• If yes, the cable connecting the screen to the motherboard is likely worn out.

Bring it in — our technicians can reseat or replace the display cable safely (no need to replace the whole screen).

Step 2: Update or Roll Back Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupt display drivers often cause random flickering or black screens.

Fix it this way:

• On Windows, open Device Manager → Display Adapters
  
• Right-click your graphics card → choose Update driver
  
• If the problem started after a recent update, select Roll back driver
  

 Reboot and check if the flicker is gone.

 Tip: At Tech & Games, we also perform driver cleanups and reinstallations to remove hidden conflicts that cause visual issues.

Step 3: Adjust Display Refresh Rate

Sometimes your screen refresh rate doesn’t match the monitor or graphics card capability.

To fix this:

• Right-click on the desktop → Display Settings → Advanced Display Settings
  
• Choose a refresh rate supported by your laptop screen (usually 60Hz)
  

This small tweak can instantly stabilize flickering screens.

Step 4: Test with an External Monitor

Connect your laptop to a TV or external display using HDMI.

If the external screen works fine, it’s a clear sign that:
Your laptop screen or cable is faulty — not the graphics card.

If the external screen also flickers, it’s likely a software or GPU issue that we can diagnose in-store using professional tools.

Step 5: Screen Replacement (When Fixes Don’t Work)

If your laptop screen still flickers, fades, or goes black after these fixes, it’s time to consider a screen replacement.

 At Tech & Games Hartlepool, we offer:

•  Same-day screen replacements for most laptop brands
  
•  Free diagnosis before any repair
  
•  6-month warranty on all screen repairs
  

We replace screens for HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, Asus, Apple, and more — all right here in Hartlepool.

When to Visit Tech & Games Hartlepool

Don’t keep using a flickering or black screen — it can lead to complete display failure.

📍 Visit our Hartlepool repair shop for a quick check-up.
We’ll inspect your laptop for loose cables, bad screens, or GPU faults — and fix it the same day in most cases.

📞 Call us: +44 1429 233870
📍 Address: 119 York Rd, Hartlepool, UK, TS26 9DL

FAQs: Laptop Screen Flickering Fix

Q1. Why does my laptop screen flicker or go black randomly?
It’s usually caused by loose display cables, outdated drivers, or a faulty screen. A technician can pinpoint the issue quickly.

Q2. Can I fix a flickering laptop screen at home?
You can try updating drivers and checking lid movement, but if the flicker continues, bring it in — it may need cable reseating or a new screen.

Q3. How much does it cost to fix a flickering laptop screen in Hartlepool?
Screen or cable repairs typically range from £45–£95, depending on the laptop model and parts required. Diagnosis is free at Tech & Games.

Q4. Do you offer same-day screen replacement?
Yes! Most common laptop screens are in stock, and we can replace them the same day in our Hartlepool repair centre.

Q5. My laptop screen goes black but the power light stays on — what does that mean?
That usually indicates a backlight or GPU issue. It’s fixable — we can test both components in minutes to find the cause.