| Fix Method | Primary Action | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Disable Hardware Acceleration | Turn off “Hardware Acceleration” in Preferences | Easy |
| Clear Slack Cache | Help > Troubleshooting > Clear Cache | Easy |
| Update GPU Drivers | Install latest NVIDIA/AMD/Intel drivers | Moderate |
| Adjust Refresh Rate | Match monitor Hz with Windows/macOS settings | Moderate |
What is Slack Screen Flickering?
Slack screen flickering is a common visual glitch where the application window flashes, stutters, or turns black momentarily. This usually happens when you resize the window, switch between channels, or share your screen.
The issue typically stems from conflicts between Slack’s Electron-based framework and your computer’s Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). It is especially prevalent on systems with dual GPUs (integrated and dedicated) or high-refresh-rate monitors.
Step-by-Step Solutions
1. Disable Hardware Acceleration
This is the most effective fix. Hardware acceleration shifts the rendering load from your CPU to your GPU, which can cause flickering if the drivers are incompatible.
- Open Slack.
- Click your profile picture in the bottom left or top right corner.
- Navigate to Preferences > Advanced.
- Uncheck “Disable hardware acceleration” (or toggle it off if it’s currently on).
- Restart Slack to apply the changes.
2. Clear Slack App Cache
Corrupted temporary files can cause UI rendering issues. Clearing the cache forces Slack to reload all visual elements from scratch.
- Click the Help menu (found in the top menu bar or under the “Three Lines” icon).
- Select Troubleshooting.
- Click Clear Cache and Restart.
3. Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated drivers often fail to communicate correctly with Electron apps like Slack. Ensure your GPU is running the latest software.
For Windows users, you can use the command line to check for updates or open your GPU management software:
# To check your current graphics driver version via PowerShell
Get-WmiObject Win32_VideoController | Select-Object Name, DriverVersion4. Check Monitor Refresh Rate
If your monitor is set to a non-standard refresh rate (like 144Hz or 240Hz), Slack may struggle to sync frames. Try lowering the refresh rate to 60Hz temporarily to see if the flickering stops.
- Go to System Settings > Display.
- Select Advanced Display.
- Choose a lower refresh rate from the dropdown menu.
5. Reset Slack App Data
If the flickering persists, you may need to reset all app data. This will log you out of all workspaces but will fix deep-seated configuration errors.
- Go to Help > Troubleshooting.
- Select Reset App Data.