Question:

How to fix the monitor flickering issue when playing games on Xbox Series X?

I recently purchased a Msi G274QPF monitor that supports 1440p and 120Hz refresh rate. I use it to play Call of Duty: Warzone on my Xbox Series X console. However, every time I launch the game, switch to the Xbox dashboard, or receive any notifications, my monitor goes black for a few seconds and then comes back on. This is very annoying and disruptive to my gaming experience. What could be the reason for this problem and how can I solve it? Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer:

If you are a proud owner of an Xbox Series X and a high-end monitor, you might have encountered a frustrating issue: your monitor flickers or goes black for a few seconds when you play certain games, switch to the dashboard, or receive notifications. This can ruin your immersion and enjoyment of the game, and make you wonder if there is something wrong with your hardware. Don’t worry, you are not alone. Many Xbox Series X users have reported this problem, and there are some possible solutions that you can try.

What causes the monitor flickering issue?

The monitor flickering issue is most likely caused by a mismatch between the video output settings of your Xbox Series X and the capabilities of your monitor. The Xbox Series X supports various resolutions and refresh rates, such as 4K at 60Hz, 1440p at 120Hz, and 1080p at 120Hz. However, not all monitors can handle these settings, especially if they use HDMI 2.0 ports instead of HDMI 2.1 ports. HDMI 2.0 ports have a limited bandwidth of 18 Gbps, which means they cannot support 4K at 120Hz or 1440p at 120Hz with HDR enabled. If you try to use these settings, your monitor might not be able to display the signal properly, resulting in flickering, black screens, or loss of audio.

How to fix the monitor flickering issue?

The simplest way to fix the monitor flickering issue is to adjust the video output settings of your Xbox Series X to match the capabilities of your monitor. You can do this by following these steps:

• Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
• Select Profile & system > Settings > General > TV & display options.
• Under Resolution, select the highest resolution that your monitor supports, such as 4K UHD, 1440p, or 1080p.
• Under Refresh rate, select the highest refresh rate that your monitor supports, such as 120Hz or 60Hz.
• Under Video modes, uncheck the boxes for Allow 4K, Allow HDR10, and Allow Dolby Vision if your monitor does not support them.
• Press the B button to go back to the previous screen.
• Select Video fidelity & overscan.
• Under Color depth, select 24 bits per pixel (8-bit) or 30 bits per pixel (10-bit) depending on your monitor’s specifications.
• Under Color space, select Standard (Recommended).
• Press the B button to go back to the previous screen.
• Select Calibrate TV and follow the instructions to optimize the picture quality of your monitor.

After adjusting these settings, you should be able to play games on your Xbox Series X without any flickering or black screens. However, keep in mind that you might not be able to enjoy the full potential of your console, such as 4K resolution, HDR, or Dolby Vision, if your monitor does not support them. If you want to experience these features, you might need to upgrade your monitor to one that has an HDMI 2.1 port and supports these modes.

Conclusion

The

monitor flickering issue when playing games on Xbox Series X is a common problem that can be fixed by adjusting the video output settings of your console. By doing so, you can ensure that your monitor can display the signal correctly and avoid any disruptions to your gaming experience. However, if you want to enjoy the best graphics and performance that your console can offer, you might need to invest in a monitor that has an HDMI 2.1 port and supports 4K, 120Hz, HDR, and Dolby Vision. We hope this article was helpful and informative. Happy gaming!