How to Fix Black Flashing in Microsoft Word 2016
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Microsoft Word 2016 experiences black flashing screens, typing delays, and slow saving performance after a system update.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 2016
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Editing and saving documents in Microsoft Word 2016 after a recent Windows update.
- Observed behavior
- The Word application screen flashes black or partially turns black, accompanied by noticeable typing latency and exceptionally slow file saving times.
Before modifying application settings, ensure that your current document is saved to avoid accidental data loss, and close any running background applications to free up system resources.
Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration in Word
Turning off hardware acceleration prevents graphics rendering conflicts that often cause screen flashing and application lag.
Hardware graphics acceleration utilizes your computer's GPU to render graphics in Word. However, incompatible display drivers can cause rendering glitches like black screens. Disabling this forces Word to rely on standard software rendering.
Launch Microsoft Word 2016. Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' from the bottom of the left-hand menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Advanced' in the left-hand pane.
Scroll down the right pane until you reach the 'Display' section. Check the box next to 'Disable hardware graphics acceleration'.
Click 'OK' to save your changes, then completely close and restart Microsoft Word to apply the new display settings.
Update System Graphics Drivers
Outdated or corrupted display drivers after a Windows update can trigger display anomalies across Office applications.
Run the Microsoft Office Repair Tool
If adjusting graphics settings does not resolve the flashing, the underlying Office installation files may be corrupted.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Display Issues
If Microsoft Word 2016 continues to flash black or suffer from performance lag, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that opens and edits Word documents smoothly without heavy graphics rendering issues.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Document: Right-click your existing Word document, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office to continue working without lag or flashing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Word 2016 turn black when I type?
This behavior is typically caused by a rendering conflict between Word's hardware graphics acceleration feature and your computer's display drivers. It frequently occurs after a Windows update installs generic or incompatible display drivers.
Will disabling hardware graphics acceleration affect my computer's overall performance?
No, disabling this setting in Microsoft Word only forces the Word application to use software rendering instead of your graphics card. It will not impact the graphics performance of your operating system, games, or other applications.
What should I do if the 'Disable hardware graphics acceleration' option is missing?
In some newer builds of Office 2016 and Microsoft 365, this option has been removed from the standard user interface. If you cannot find it under File > Options > Advanced, you may need to update your graphics drivers directly or modify the Windows Registry to disable acceleration manually.
Can a Windows update cause Microsoft Office to run slowly?
Yes. Windows updates can occasionally reset system configurations or install new drivers that are not perfectly optimized for older Office versions like Word 2016, leading to symptoms like typing delays, slow file saving, or screen flashing.
