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Screen flashingUpdated 2 days ago

Method #1

If you're experiencing an occasional flash on your screen or digital marquee, follow these steps to ensure your settings are correct:

  1. Press the WIN key on your keyboard (located left of the spacebar).
  2. Open Settings (gear icon).
  3. On the left side menu, select "System".
  4. Scroll down to find the "Advanced Display" option under "related settings".
  5. Find the "Choose a refresh rate" option at the bottom. Set this to 59.94 Hz.

If your screen won't stay on long enough for you to change the setting described above, you can try one of the other methods below.


Method #2

🟢 Step 1: Try the Official Troubleshooting Steps First

Before making any changes, follow the instructions in the official Polycade article linked below:

🔗 Screen flashing - Polycade Help Center

It explains how to check your display’s refresh rate and adjust it to 59.94 Hz.

If your problem isn’t solved after these steps, go to Step 2 below.

🛠️ Step 2: Fix the Problem in Safe Mode

1️⃣ Go into Safe Mode

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard.

  2. Click the Power icon.

  3. Hold Shift and click Restart.

  4. When the blue menu appears, choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings.

  5. Click Restart.

  6. On the next screen, press 4 for Safe Mode.

Note: Your computer may look different in Safe Mode—this is normal.

2️⃣ Delete Graphics Display Settings in the Registry

  1. Press Windows + R.

  2. Type regedit and hit Enter.

  3. If prompted, click Yes.

  4. In Registry Editor, go to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration

  1. Click on Configuration, right-click, and choose Delete.

  2. Close Registry Editor.

3️⃣ Reinstall Graphics Drivers

  1. Press Windows + X and pick Device Manager.

  2. Under Display adapters, right-click your graphics card.

  3. Choose Uninstall device (+ check “Delete the driver software” if prompted).

  4. Restart your computer (leave Safe Mode).

Windows will reinstall the driver automatically after the reboot.

✅ Step 3: Check the Result

  • Your screen should stop flashing.

  • Display settings will use the right refresh rate.

🔔 Important Tips

  • Back up the registry before deleting or changing anything.

  • If the problem continues, check display connections or hardware.



Method #3

NOTE: The following method requires the use of a third party software that we are not able to verify for security risks. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

1. Download this software: https://tools.taubenkorb.at/change-screen-resolution/

2. Open windows command prompt by pressing WIN+R on your keyboard, then typing "cmd" into the prompt and pressing ENTER

3. In the cmd prompt, type:

cd Downloads

4. Next, type:

.\ChangeScreenResolution.exe /w=1920 /h=1080 /f=59

5. Note: If you are experiencing the flashing issue with your digital marquee, then it's possible you'll need to try this command a few times. The reason is that with each flash, your marquee is getting disconnected. When it comes back on, it's connected. The command must be executed when the marquee is on. 

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