No matter how long the device has been in use, the screen can flicker even on a new smartphone or tablet. Many users face this problem. The malfunction can occur suddenly, it’s not necessary to expose the device to mechanical impact. Sometimes it also happens that the display is flickering with white, red, or blue. It’s possible that this is a software failure, but we can not exclude the presence of a hardware failure.

The operating system in this situation doesn’t play a role – it can be either iOS or Android. However, today we’ll focus on the latter. The way to solve the problem is strictly dependent on the nature of the failure. What should the user do when faced with the fact that the screen of the device flickers? Below we’ll answer this question in detail.

What can cause such a malfunction

All malfunctions manifested by color changes or other types of image defects can be either software or hardware. Dust, along with water, is considered the main enemy of technology. Its accumulation inside the device, between the sensor and the glass, leads to malfunctions of the smartphone/tablet. Cleaning will require a special tool and experience to perform such work.

Other possible causes:

• As a result of the damaging impact on the device, the loop was damaged.
• The moisture inside the device.
• Calibration of the display is required.

The screen can start flickering not only because of a hardware malfunction. Errors in the operating system, and app conflicts can also signal the presence in this way. To begin with, try to restart the device, update the operating system, or reset to factory defaults.

Try also uninstalling any recently installed apps that may have interfered with the normal operation of the device. A meaningful action may lead to a solution to the situation. Moreover, try not to disassemble the tablet and make repairs yourself. Such a venture ends up aggravating the breakdown and even more money wasted by users.

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What kinds of flicker can there be

Since a smartphone or tablet is quite a complex device, the results of various conflicts can be different. As a result, it will still be flickering, but if you look closely, they have a difference in behavior. Here are some types of flickering:

• Stripes or ripples all over the screen. The defect may become almost invisible when brightness is reduced, or may not disappear with similar changes. You may also see color inversion and changes in backlight intensity in some areas—the direction of interference: vertical, horizontal, and mixed. 
• Fading of a particular area. The problem appears in a specific area of the screen or changes the location of the entire perimeter. The sensor response to touch is maintained or disappears. 
• Complete shutdown of the screen. The display turns off in a random sequence but still responds to commands by touch.

If your smartphone screen flickers, it may be caused by more than just technical problems. System functionality can also cause image problems. In this case, an Android update can solve the problem. So first, check if all OS components and apps are up-to-date. If not, install the necessary updates and reboot the device.

How to fix Android screen flickering if it’s damaged

The most common cause of Android device flickering is a breakdown of the screen itself. Usually, this breakage occurs in two cases:

• Strong physical damage (for example, a person dropping the device on the ground or putting it carelessly on the table). Determining the cause of this breakage is very easy – you should see cracks, small dents, or other glass defects on the display.
• Prolonged contact of the device with water (for example, a person dropped the device in a pool or river). Flashing in this case often begins not at once – at first the device works properly for a while and only then the malfunction begins to appear.

To solve this problem it’s recommended to replace the damaged display. Repairing the old monitor is a rather time-consuming operation, and a person without experience will be quite difficult to perform it on their own. Therefore, the best way to restore the functionality of the device would be to go to the service center, where the master will pick up a suitable display and perform its replacement.

What should you do if the reason is a faulty battery

It happens that the system of the device has nothing to do with the flickering display, but it’s all about the battery. Often this happens because the battery has lost its capacity after working for many years.

To check this, simply connect your smartphone to its charger and look at the screen. If there are no more flickers, then it’s in the weak power of the battery. In that case, you should do the following:

• If the battery is removable, you can buy a replacement that specifically fits the questioned device.
• If the battery is integrated into the case, you can try to take your device to the service center (preferably an official one from the manufacturer).

There’s a chance that the battery can be replaced. Otherwise, you’ll have to buy a new phone or tablet.

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What about software bug

First, you have to make sure that you have the brightness control set correctly. Almost all devices have an automatic brightness control option, and sometimes it can fail, so it’s recommended to set the brightness to the most comfortable level for you to work comfortably and for the time being postpone the problem until visiting a specialist so that they have considered the cause in the possible failure of the software.

However, there are moments when the smartphone screen may behave normally when not in use, but as soon as you touch it, it begins to overflow with all kinds of colors. The problem may be the following:

• Screen update.
• Window update.
• Hardware updates.

In order to fix this:

• Select “Settings” on your phone.
• Press “Additional Settings.” (the tab name may differ depending on what model and manufacturer you have)

• At the bottom, find the “Developer options” tab.

• Find the “Drawing” section.

• Press “Show surface updates”.

• In the window that appears disable all of the above functions.

The phone may also flicker due to hidden software glitches, OS clogging, and virus activity. The user is recommended to clean the device, and roll it back to the factory settings.

And that’s pretty much all you need to know in order to fix your Android screen flickering. Try not to make any physical interventions into your device – leave it to the specialists. Otherwise, you can only make things worse and damage your smartphone or tablet even more.