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How to Stop Screen Flickering and Freezing in Microsoft Office
Question details
The user is experiencing screen flickering, blinking, and freezing issues while using Microsoft Office applications.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Working on documents or navigating the interface in Office apps, leading to sudden screen flashes or unresponsiveness.
- Observed behavior
- The screen rapidly flickers or the application freezes entirely, which can stem from corrupted files, driver issues, or incompatible software.
Save your progress and close all running Microsoft Office applications to ensure that background processes do not interfere with the repair or driver update procedures.
Repair Microsoft Office via Control Panel
Run the built-in Office repair tool to fix corrupted installation files that may be causing the application to flicker or freeze.
Often, screen flickering isolated to Office applications happens because core program files have been damaged. The Windows Control Panel provides a straightforward way to scan and replace these missing or corrupted files automatically.
Press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel', and press Enter. Navigate to 'Programs' and click on 'Programs and Features'.
Scroll through the list of installed applications until you find Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365. Right-click on it and select 'Change'.
When prompted, select 'Online Repair' for a comprehensive fix (or 'Quick Repair' if you have no internet connection). Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your computer once completed.
Troubleshoot Display Drivers and Incompatible Apps
Determine if the flickering is a system-wide issue by checking the Task Manager, and update or roll back your display drivers accordingly.
Switch to WPS Office for a Stable and Smooth Experience
If repairing Microsoft Office or tweaking system drivers fails to solve the constant freezing and flickering, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly stable environment that minimizes hardware strain while maintaining flawless compatibility with all your existing documents.
- 1. Download the Installer: Navigate to the official WPS Office website and download the free installation file for Windows.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded file and follow the quick setup wizard to install the software on your PC.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Microsoft Office files directly to resume your work without any screen flickering.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if an incompatible application is causing Office to flicker?
If your Task Manager flickers alongside Office, an incompatible app could be the culprit. Commonly known incompatible applications include certain third-party antivirus software, iCloud, or specific audio/video enhancement utilities. Try temporarily disabling recently installed software to isolate the issue.
Will running an Online Repair delete my Word documents or Excel sheets?
No, repairing Microsoft Office via the Control Panel only targets the application's executable files and registry keys. Your personal files, documents, and settings will remain untouched and safe.
What is hardware graphics acceleration and does it cause screen flickering?
Hardware graphics acceleration offloads graphics processing from the CPU to the GPU. While it improves performance, buggy display drivers can cause compatibility issues, leading to screen flickering. Disabling it in older Office versions via File > Options > Advanced can sometimes fix the issue.
Why does my screen only flicker when I type in Microsoft Word?
If the flickering occurs strictly during typing or scrolling within a single application like Word, it typically indicates corrupted cache files or a conflicting Add-in. You can test this by running Word in Safe Mode (hold the Ctrl key while launching Word) to see if the flickering stops.
