How to Fix Your Warzone 2 Screen Flickering Issue

Experiencing a flickering screen while playing Call of Duty: Warzone 2 can be incredibly frustrating, disrupting your gameplay and potentially causing eye strain. The good news is that this issue is often fixable, and there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to restore a smooth gaming experience. Here’s a direct and comprehensive approach to tackling the problem:

The most common fixes for Warzone 2 screen flickering include adjusting game settings, updating drivers, checking hardware connections, and tweaking display configurations. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Enable Vertical Sync (V-Sync):
   • Open your Nvidia Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings. You can usually find this by typing its name in the Windows search bar.
   • Navigate to 3D Settings > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings.
   • Click Add and locate Call of Duty: Warzone 2 from the list.
   • Scroll down to the Vertical sync option and set it to On.
   • Save the changes and relaunch the game.

• What V-Sync Does: VSync, short for Vertical Synchronization, is a display technology used to prevent screen tearing, which can sometimes appear as flickering. It works by syncing the frame rate of your graphics card with the refresh rate of your monitor. By enabling V-Sync, you are ensuring the frame generation does not exceed the monitor refresh rate, reducing screen tearing and flickering issues.

1. Adjust Game Graphics Settings:
   • Lower your in-game graphics settings, particularly the demanding ones like texture quality, shadow quality, and anti-aliasing. High settings can push your system too hard, leading to performance instability.
   • Experiment with different display modes, like borderless windowed or full screen, as some configurations may interact better with your setup.
   • Try capping your frame rate within the game’s graphics settings. If your monitor has a refresh rate of 144Hz, capping the game at 144 FPS (or slightly below) might reduce flickering.

• How Lower Settings Help: Reducing graphics settings lightens the load on your GPU. This can prevent the game from pushing your hardware beyond its limits, reducing the likelihood of performance instability or flickering. It will also ensure your GPU does not over-heat which can be a contributing factor to screen issues.

1. Update Graphics Drivers:
   • Outdated or corrupt graphics drivers are a major cause of screen issues. Visit your GPU manufacturer’s website (Nvidia or AMD) and download the latest drivers for your specific card.
   • After updating, restart your computer to ensure the new drivers are properly installed.
   • Consider performing a clean driver install, which removes old driver data that may cause conflicts.

• Why Updated Drivers are Key: These updates often include performance optimizations and bug fixes specifically aimed at improving stability and reducing flickering. Keeping them up-to-date ensures your system is compatible with the latest game requirements.

1. Check Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate:
   • Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings.
   • Scroll down and click on Advanced display settings.
   • Make sure the refresh rate setting is compatible with your monitor’s specifications, usually 60Hz, 120Hz, or 144Hz.
   • Try setting it at a slightly lower refresh rate than your monitor’s max refresh rate, to rule out any refresh rate related issues.

• How Refresh Rate Affects Flickering: When the refresh rate is too low, the screen updates at a slower pace, which can cause a visible flickering effect. Ensuring the refresh rate matches what your monitor supports can lead to a smoother display.

1. Inspect Cables and Connections:
   • Ensure your HDMI or DisplayPort cable is securely plugged into both your monitor and your computer.
   • Try using a different cable to rule out a faulty cable causing the flickering.
   • If you have multiple ports on your monitor, try a different one.
   • Check the power cable as well as some loose connection in power supply can cause flickers.

• Why Cable Integrity Matters: A loose or damaged cable can lead to signal interruptions which result in screen flickering or other visual anomalies.

1. Verify Monitor Settings:
   • Use your monitor’s built-in menu to ensure settings like brightness, contrast, and sharpness are not causing an issue.
   • Try resetting the monitor to its default settings to see if that makes a difference.

• How Monitor Settings Play a Role: Incorrect monitor settings can sometimes cause unexpected behavior, including flickering.

1. Clear Warzone 2’s Local Data:

   • This can often resolve conflicts that are causing the issue
   • On Xbox, Go to My games & apps > See all > Games.
   • Find Warzone 2.
   • Press the Menu button on your controller.
   • Select Manage game and add-ons.
   • Click on Saved Data and then select your user profile.
   • Press Delete Saved Data to remove local game data.

2. Monitor Hardware Temperatures:

   • Use monitoring software to check if your GPU or CPU is overheating. If they reach critical temperatures, they can cause graphical glitches.
   • Ensure your computer has adequate ventilation and that fans are functioning correctly.

• Why Overheating Matters: When hardware components overheat, their performance can degrade, leading to instability and graphical anomalies.

1. Check for Background Applications:

   • Close any unnecessary applications running in the background that might be using system resources. This can reduce the load on your hardware and improve stability.

2. Windows Update:

• Outdated Windows system files can also cause compatibility issues with your video drivers. Make sure that your version of Windows is up to date.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the source of your Warzone 2 screen flickering. If the problem persists after trying these solutions, it may be a hardware-related issue, and you may need to seek professional help.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why does my screen flicker only in Warzone 2?

If flickering occurs only in Warzone 2, it’s most likely a game-specific issue, stemming from bugs, compatibility problems, or hardware strain when the game is running. It is important to remember that Warzone 2 is a graphically demanding game and requires suitable resources.

2. Can a bad HDMI cable cause screen flickering?

Yes, a faulty HDMI or DisplayPort cable can definitely cause screen flickering due to signal interruptions. Try replacing the cable as a first troubleshooting step.

3. Does a low refresh rate cause flickering?

Yes, a low refresh rate can cause a noticeable flickering effect. Aim for at least 75Hz, or better yet 120Hz or 144Hz, for smoother visuals, if your monitor supports it.

4. What does screen tearing look like, and how is it related to flickering?

Screen tearing appears as horizontal lines that displace the image. It can sometimes be related to screen flickering if it is extreme. Enabling VSync helps to prevent screen tearing by synchronizing the frame rate of your graphics card with the refresh rate of your monitor.

5. Can my computer’s RAM cause screen flickering?

While less common, faulty or incorrectly installed RAM can cause system instability, leading to screen flickering. Check for compatibility and perform a memory test to rule this out.

6. Will a virus cause my screen to flicker?

While a virus or trojan could affect screen functions, it is unlikely. Flickering is most likely a graphics card/driver or monitor problem.

7. Why is my monitor flickering in fullscreen mode?

Screen flickering in fullscreen mode might be due to a display driver issue or an incompatibility with specific applications. Try running the game in borderless windowed mode to see if it helps.

8. How do I adjust my screen resolution?

Go to Display settings in Windows. There, you can change the screen resolution and scaling options. Experiment with lower resolutions to see if it helps with the flicker.

9. Is it bad to keep my monitor at 144Hz?

No, it is not bad. In fact, a refresh rate of 144Hz or higher provides a much smoother experience than the standard 60Hz. However, ensure your hardware can handle the high frame rate.

10. What is screen stuttering, and is it the same as flickering?

Screen stuttering refers to irregular delays between the GPU and the display, causing a jerky or uneven appearance. While it is different from flickering, they both can indicate a problem with the way your PC is rendering the game, which may be related to hardware strain.

11. Can outdated drivers cause flickering?

Yes, outdated or corrupt graphics drivers are a common culprit for screen flickering. Always ensure your drivers are up-to-date and perform a clean install to avoid conflicts.

12. Is it okay to use the same DisplayPort cable for a long period of time?

While DisplayPort cables are fairly durable, a faulty DisplayPort cable could still cause issues. If your monitor is flickering, it’s a good idea to swap to a different cable to rule out any issues with cable.

13. What does V-Sync do?

VSync (Vertical Synchronization) synchronizes your graphics card’s frame rate output with your monitor’s refresh rate, which prevents screen tearing and can help reduce flickering.

14. Why is the bottom of my monitor glitching?

A glitch in the bottom of your monitor might be due to a damaged cable, loose connection, or even driver issues. Try a new cable and ensure drivers are updated. Also, try running the game in a windowed mode to check if the glitch goes away.

15. Can running a game in high quality graphics cause issues like screen flickers?

Yes, high graphics settings can overwork your system, leading to instability, overheating, and ultimately issues like screen flickering. Lowering graphics settings can reduce this load. If this is the only fix that seems to work, you might have to consider upgrading some components, like the graphics card.