Issue: Microsoft Excel screen flickering/blinking issue.

Screen flickering in Excel is typically caused either by the display driver or by an incompatible/conflicting app or Office build. Since the issue occurs only in Excel, use the following steps to isolate and fix it.

1. Reset and fix the display driver

• Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver. If the flicker continues, then:
• Update or roll back the display driver:
  1. In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, then open it.
  2. Expand Display adapters.
  3. Right‑click the display adapter > Properties > Driver tab.
  4. If the issue started after a recent update, select Roll Back Driver > Yes, then restart.
  5. If rollback is not available or does not help, right‑click the adapter again and choose Update driver and follow the prompts. If needed, get the latest driver from the PC or adapter manufacturer.
  6. If the issue still persists, in Properties > Driver, select Uninstall Device, check Delete/Attempt to remove the driver software for this device, select OK, then restart so Windows reinstalls the driver. (If the delete checkbox is missing, start Windows in Safe Mode first as described in the linked article.)

2. Check for incompatible or conflicting apps Some apps can cause the screen to flicker or scramble.

• On Windows 11:
  1. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Uninstall any recently installed or updated apps that might interact with graphics or with Office (for example, screen recorders, clipboard tools, add‑ins managers), one at a time.
  3. Restart after each uninstall and test Excel.
• On Windows 10:
  1. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
  2. Uninstall suspect apps one by one, restarting and testing Excel after each.

If the app is needed, first try updating it:

• If installed from Microsoft Store, follow the steps in Get updates for apps and games in Microsoft Store.
• If installed from outside the Store, check the manufacturer’s site for an updated version.

3. Update or repair Office when Excel alone flickers

• There is a known issue where certain Office builds caused Windows to flicker or flash, especially around login, which was fixed in a later build. Updating Office to the latest version resolves this.
• If all Office apps show instability (freezing, errors, or flicker), run an Online Repair of Microsoft 365/Office from Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft 365 > Modify > Online Repair, then restart and test Excel again.

4. Check environmental factors If flickering appears only with certain workbooks or in specific environments:

• Try saving and opening the workbook locally instead of from a network share, SharePoint, or a redirected folder.
• Test Excel with a different default printer (for example, Microsoft XPS Document Writer) and see if the flicker stops, since Excel is sensitive to printer and video drivers.

If, after updating/repairing Office, fixing the display driver, and removing conflicting apps, Excel still flickers, collect details (Windows version, Office build, display adapter model, and when the issue started) and contact Microsoft Support for guided troubleshooting.

References:

• Troubleshoot screen flickering in Windows
• Known issues with Office and Windows 10
• Excel not responding, hangs, freezes or stops working