Fix: Android 14 Screen Flickering Problem After Update

Android 14 is almost around the corner for the public release before settling down the developer beta build and common bugs. Currently, the Google developers are testing out its features and performances with the developer beta program and the public beta is imminent. It initially releases for the eligible Google Pixel, Samsung, OnePlus, etc. models as a first priority. However, it looks like users aren’t happy enough as of now due to the Android 14 screen flickering problem after the update.

Whether you’re installing the final developer beta build or the public beta build of Android 14 OS on your smartphone irrespective of the manufacturer, the overall design elements and improved features can be a key factor. However, having a stable and bug-free user experience is the utmost priority for any Android user. Now, multiple reports claim that the occasional screen flickering or shimmering issue started appearing on Android devices after installing the latest Android 14 OS update.

Fix: Android 14 Screen Flickering Problem After Update

Well, we’re assuming that most of the Android 14 users are currently having the developer preview build which can be a source of the screen flickering issue. The chances are high that Google will fix such an issue with the next public beta build as time goes on. Still, if you’re one of the unfortunate users to encounter the screen flickering issue with the Android 14 update then don’t fret. Luckily, here we’ve shared with you a couple of potential workarounds that should come in handy. So, without further ado, let’s jump into it.

1. Force Restart the Device

You should always try force restarting your Android device to refresh system glitches or temporary cache data issues. To do so:

• Press and hold the Power + Volume Down buttons for a few seconds.
• Once the screen turns off, release the buttons, and wait for the boot.
• After the device boots up, try checking the screen flickering issue again.

2. Check for Software Updates

The second thing you should do is simply check for the available software updates on your Android 14 handset by following the steps below. This method literally helps in fixing temporary system glitches or cache data issues up to some extent.

• Open your device’s Settings app.
• Tap on System > Hit System update.
• Tap on Check for software updates.
• If you find the update notification, just follow the steps on-screen to proceed.
• Wait for the update process to complete as it may take a couple of minutes.
• Ensure to free up some internal storage space. A stable internet connection is also required.
• Once the software update is done, your device will automatically reboot to the system.

These days Google directly pushes system updates or security patch updates to the eligible devices via Play System Update. You can also check the following steps to do that.

• Open your device’s Settings app.
• Tap on Security & Privacy > Hit Updates.
  • For security updates, tap on Security Update.
  • For Google Play System updates, tap on Google Play System Update.
• Now, make sure to follow the steps on the screen to complete the process.
• Once done, restart the handset to apply changes.

3. Disable Hardware Overlays

Sometimes only rebooting the device or updating the system software doesn’t come in handy. In that case, modifying a couple of features inside the Developer Options menu can also be useful. By default, the Developer Options menu is hidden in the device Settings menu. As the name suggests, Developer Options is only meant to be used for advanced users and Android app developers to test out additional features. Inside the Developer Options menu, an option called ‘disable hardware overlays’ comes turned off.

You’ll need to follow the steps below to manually disable hardware overlays to prevent screen flickering on Android devices because if the option is turned on then every time a user touches the screen, it’ll flicker.

• Navigate to the Settings menu on your phone.
• Scroll down and open About Phone > Tap on Build Number continuously for 7 times.
• Now, you can see a pop-up that says ‘You are now a developer’.
• Then go back to the main settings menu and search for Developer Options.
• Open Developer Options > Turn On the Enable surface updates toggle.
• Finally, Turn On the Disable HW overlays option to fix your flickering screen.

4. Try Disabling Adaptive Brightness

Another thing you should do is disable the adaptive brightness option on the device by following the steps below to cross-check if the screen still flickers or not. Multiple reports did claim that this method helped a couple of users.

• Go to Settings > Tap on Display.
• Turn Off the Adaptive Brightness toggle.

5. Close All Background Apps

Make sure to close all background running apps by opening the recent interface and tapping on Clear All (Close All). After closing all apps, just reboot the device to apply changes immediately. This trick can also help in several ways.

6. Turn Off the Blue Light or Night Light Filter

In case, you’re using any kind of built-in or third-party blue light filter (night light filter) on your Android 14 device then make sure to turn it off temporarily. Then turn on the device screen in a dark room to check if the bare eyes can notice the screen flickering or not. You can also start recording the video footage of the device’s screen for a few seconds to cross-check the flickering issue. To do this:

• Open the Settings menu > Tap on Display.
• Go to Night Light and Turn it Off.

If you’re using a Samsung Galaxy device then do the following:

• Open the Settings app > Tap on Display.
• Turn Off the Blue Light filter.

7. Reboot Your Device in Safe Mode

A couple of background running applications or their services might encounter the screen flickering issue on your Android 14 OS. It’s better to restart the device in Safe Mode to analyze whether the screen flickering persists or not. It’ll also help in fixing several issues with performance conflicts. To do so:

• Press and hold the Power button until you the Power Menu.
• Here tap and hold the Restart option to get Safe Mode.
• Tap on Safe Mode and hit OK to boot into it.
• Now, your device will reboot in safe mode, and you can investigate the issue deeply.

Once you find the rogue application, just restart the device normally as you do, and then uninstall the rogue app immediately.

8. Install All Pending App Updates

It’s also a better idea to install all pending application updates one by one to avoid any kind of compatibility issues with the Android 14 system. To do that:

• Open the Google Play Store > Tap on the Profile icon at the top right corner.
• Go to Manage Apps and Games > Tap on Updates.
• Here you can find all the pending updates for the installed applications.
• Just hit Update All and wait for it to complete.
• Once done, make sure to restart the device to apply changes.

9. Try Uninstalling Suspicious Applications

You should also try uninstalling suspicious applications that are already installed on your Android 14 device or you have recently installed. Sometimes third-party suspicious or malware-infused applications can also trigger multiple issues with the device performance and system. Just find out recently installed suspicious apps or games and uninstall them individually. Once done, restart the device.

10. Wipe the Cache Partition

The chances are high that somehow the on-device software cache partition gets corrupted due to too much gathered data of installed applications and visited websites, etc. So, wiping out the cache partition on the device from the stock recovery menu will help a lot.

• Switch Off your Android 14 device.
• Press the Volume Up + Power Key simultaneously for a few seconds until the device vibrates.
• It’ll open the Stock Recovery Mode.
• Now, go to the Wipe cache partition option using the Power Up/Down key.
• Then press the Power key to select it.
• Next, it’ll ask you to confirm wiping the cache partition.
• Use the Power key again to select Yes and confirm it.
• Wiping the cache partition will done, and you can go back to the recovery menu.
• Finally, select Reboot System Now to boot into the system.

11. Run a Virus or Malware Scan

We’ll also suggest you install a reliable and free-to-use virus scanning application on your Android 14 device for a full-depth scan. Make sure to run a full scan of the internal storage and installed programs to check if any kind of virus/malware is infected or not. There are so many popular and free virus protection apps available on Play Store that you can use easily. So, give it a try.

12. Perform a Factory Reset

If none of the workarounds come in handy then make sure to perform a factory reset method on your Android 14 device by following the steps below to go back to the factory defaults. This method will help the device system and settings to the default mode which can easily fix screen flickering or other performance issues. To do that:

• Open the Settings app > Go to System.
• Choose Reset options > Tap on Erase all data (factory reset).
• Now, tap on Erase all data > Enter your device PIN.
• Confirm by selecting the Erase all data option.
• Wait for the device to complete the factory reset method.
• Once done, the handset will automatically boot into the system.
• Go through the initial setup process to enter the home screen.
• This should fix the Android 14 screen flickering problem after the update.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.