If you’ve ever been working on a crucial edit in Photoshop only to have your screen start flickering like a horror movie jump scare, I feel your pain. Nothing disrupts your creative flow quite like your software throwing a visual tantrum.
After spending hours troubleshooting this exact issue on my aging workstation, I discovered a surprisingly simple fix that works in almost every case. Let me save you the frustration.
The Flickering Culprit: Older GPUs vs. Modern Photoshop
The screen flickering in Photoshop typically happens when using older graphics cards (pre-2016) with newer versions of Photoshop. Adobe continually updates its software to leverage modern GPU capabilities, which can leave older hardware struggling to keep up.
These flickering issues often manifest as:
- Random screen flashing during editing
- Tools or panels that flicker when you hover over them
- The entire Photoshop window strobing when making adjustments
- Display glitches when zooming or panning
The 99% Solution: Enable “Older GPU Mode”
The quickest and most effective fix for this problem is surprisingly straightforward:
- Open Photoshop
- Go to Edit > Preferences > Technology Previews (or Photoshop > Preferences > Technology Previews on Mac)
- Check the box for “Older GPU Mode (pre 2016)”
- Restart Photoshop
This simple setting tells Photoshop to use more compatible rendering methods that work better with aging graphics hardware. In my experience and testing, this resolves the flickering issue for about 99% of users experiencing this problem.
If That Doesn’t Work: Additional Troubleshooting Steps
While the Older GPU Mode setting is usually the solution, some situations might require additional fixes:
Update Your Graphics Drivers
Outdated drivers are often culprits for graphics-related issues:
- Visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)
- Download and install the latest drivers for your specific card model
- Restart your computer and test Photoshop again
Adjust Performance Settings
If you’re still experiencing issues, try scaling back Photoshop’s hardware acceleration:
- Go to Edit > Preferences > Performance
- Under Graphics Processor Settings, change the Drawing Mode to “Basic”
- Alternatively, try unchecking “Use Graphics Processor” entirely (note: this will disable GPU acceleration)
Check Your Display Connections
Sometimes the issue isn’t software-related at all:
- Ensure your monitor cables are securely connected
- Try a different display cable if available
- If using multiple monitors, test with just one to isolate the problem
The Bottom Line
If Photoshop’s screen flickering is driving you to the edge of sanity, the Older GPU Mode setting should be your first stop. This single checkbox has saved countless hours of frustration for photographers and designers working with aging hardware.
While upgrading your graphics card would certainly solve the problem too, this software solution lets you extend the useful life of your current setup without spending a dime. Sometimes the simplest fixes are the most satisfying.
Have you encountered this flickering issue? Did the Older GPU Mode solve it for you? Let me know in the comments below!
