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User Query: Since the last few hours, I have been trying to play a video, but the screen keeps flickering, flashing, and displaying unstable visuals throughout playback. The issue occurs with multiple video files that makes it difficult to watch or edit them properly. I am unsure whether the problem is caused by video corruption, software issues, codecs, or hardware settings. How can I fix this video flickering issue effectively?
You also might have found that a few videos have visible flashing, pulsing, bands, or brightness instability during recording or playback. Yes, it’s a video flickering issue. It is an unwanted, repeated variation in a video’s brightness, color, or displayed image over time.
Since videos are a great way to convey your message, brand personality, thoughts, etc., to the audience, but flickering in video disrupts them all. However, you can fix flickering video with a few manual methods and troubleshooting tips.
Why Does Video Flickering Issue Occur?
Several factors can cause video flickering issues, some of which are outlined below:
- Background lights or bulbs.
- Inconveniences in equipment.
- Loose display connections and cord issues.
- Improper camera setting (frame, ISO, etc.)
- Corrupted or damaged video files.
- Outdated or incompatible video drivers.
- Conflicting video format, driver settings, or codecs.
Read More: Fix Video Hardware Graphic Card Error
How to Fix Video Flickering Issue in Video?
Well, there are not many ways in which you can fix the flickering issue, but the possible fixes include:
Way 1: Try Another Media Player
Media player conflict is common because different media have different codec support. When you face a video flickering issue, switch to another media player and check for the playback. Also, you can download and install the required codecs to fix the flickering video.
Way 2: Resolve Format Incompatibility Issue
Sometimes the existing video formats conflict with the media player or devices. So, try to change the video format to solve such compatibility issues. Use the VLC media player to change the video format and fix this issue. However, it often works; if the flickering video persists, follow the next step.
Way 3: Turn Off Auto Refresh Rate
Sudden variation in the monitor’s display refresh rate or a mismatch with the video’s frame rate affects the visuals and might cause blurriness. So, turn off the variable refresh rate or lower its value to fix video flickering issues. Here are the steps to follow:
- Right-click on the home screen and select Display Settings.
- Go to Advanced Display Settings, then move to the Monitor
- In Monitor Setting, select the lowest refresh rate, click Apply, then OK.

Way 4: Update Graphics Drivers to the Latest Version
Outdated display graphics drivers are also problematic for visuals. Update it instantly to fix the flickering issue.
- Open Control Panel, then select Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters and right-click on your display graphics card.
- Select Update driver and choose Search automatically for drivers.

Once updated, play your video file.
Way 5: Repair your Video File
To repair minor video file issues, you can use VLC Media or the FFmpeg command line tool for free. But if they fail or you want wider format support, bulk video repair with quality intact, using Kernel Video Repair can be a wise option. It supports all videos, along with any camera-recorded video, like dashcam, 360-degree cam, DSLR, etc., with wider file formats and video quality.
How to Stop Video Flickering Issue Early?
If you are concerned about your video for the flickering issue, do follow these methods before you start recording:
Way 1: Test Your Equipments
Be it lighting or the device-specific component, like a loose cord connection, check them through and make sure they are working before you record the video. Additionally, prefer to record video in natural lighting to avoid the flickering issues in the video.
Way 2: Set Appropriate Frame Rate
Since the camera is the prime component while recording, the misconfiguration can lead to faded or low-quality video. Therefore, check your camera settings and adjust the frame rate to avoid the video flickering issue and improve video quality. However, different regions or scenes have different frame requirements.
Way 3: Adjust Camera Settings
When going for recording, do follow the below camera settings beforehand:
- Aperture: Be it blurred or the narrow shots and sharper focus, choose wider and narrower apertures depending on the scene you’re recording.
- Shutter Speed: You must set the shutter speed value to twice the frame rate to avoid the video flickering issue, like set 1/120 for 60 FPS.
- ISO: To reduce the noise in the footage, set the ISO to the lowest level. Also, try to balance the ISO for lighting when needed.
- White Balance: Set white balance in your camera to as per the Kelvin and natural level, like:
- Daylight / Sunlight: ~5500K to 5600K
- Cloudy / Shade: ~6000K to 7000K
- Indoor / Tungsten (Warm Bulbs): ~2800K to 3200K
- Fluorescent: ~4000K to 5000K
Read More: How to fix TikTok videos not playing
Concluding Words on How to Fix Flickering in Video
Be it device-specific issues or file-related issues, you now know how to fix the flickering issue in videos with the above-mentioned methods and techniques. However, you can also follow the device-specific settings to prevent video flickering issues beforehand. Along with these, damage or corruption in video files is common and needs to be resolved instantly. Counter any corruption issues and repair the video file instantly with the Kernel Video Repair. Take the free trial today.
