Office Performance Issues

How to Fix Screen Flickering and Black Bars in Excel

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users experience graphical glitches, such as screen flickering in Microsoft Excel and black bars in Windows File Explorer, often related to display driver conflicts.

Product: Microsoft Excel, Windows
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Working on spreadsheets or navigating files on a computer equipped with multiple graphics adapters (e.g., integrated Intel UHD and dedicated NVIDIA).
Observed behavior: The Excel interface flickers rapidly during use, and black visual bars appear across the screen or within File Explorer.

Before you start

Before modifying your display drivers, save all open Excel workbooks and close important applications to prevent data loss if your screen temporarily flashes black during the update process.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Windows and Graphics Drivers

Keeping your operating system and graphics drivers up to date is the most effective way to eliminate rendering bugs and screen flickering.

Outdated drivers frequently cause compatibility issues with hardware acceleration in Office applications. Updating ensures your system has the latest bug fixes from the manufacturer.

Check for Windows Updates

Open the Windows Settings app (Win + I), navigate to 'Windows Update', and click 'Check for updates'. Install any pending system updates and restart your computer.

Update Dedicated Graphics Driver

If you are using an NVIDIA graphics card, open the NVIDIA GeForce Experience application. Go to the 'Drivers' tab and download the latest Game Ready or Studio driver available for your system.

Update Integrated Graphics Driver

Open Device Manager, expand 'Display adapters', right-click your integrated graphics (e.g., Intel UHD Graphics), and select 'Update driver'. Choose to search automatically for drivers.

Solution 2

Manage Graphics Adapters in Device Manager

If you have a dual-GPU setup, temporarily disabling one adapter can help isolate the cause of the black bars and flickering.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Smooth, Flicker-Free Spreadsheets with WPS Office

If Microsoft Excel continues to struggle with screen flickering or performance bugs due to graphics conflicts on your hardware, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly optimized, lightweight productivity suite that runs smoothly even on systems with complex graphics configurations.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing .xlsx files directly without any formatting loss.

Lightweight architecture minimizes graphics card conflicts and rendering bugs.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv).Free to download and use with a highly familiar, intuitive user interface.All-in-one suite allows you to manage documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in a single window.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Excel screen flicker when I scroll?

Screen flickering during scrolling in Excel is usually caused by Hardware Graphics Acceleration conflicts. The application struggles to render the interface through your graphics card, which can often be fixed by updating your display drivers.

Can disabling the integrated GPU cause other issues?

Yes, disabling your integrated graphics card can disable certain system features, such as the ability to adjust laptop screen brightness or connect to external monitors through specific HDMI or DisplayPort outputs.

How do I update my NVIDIA drivers properly?

You can update NVIDIA drivers by downloading the official GeForce Experience application from NVIDIA's website, navigating to the Drivers tab, and selecting 'Check for Updates' to install the latest version tailored to your specific GPU.

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