Outlook 365 flickering and flashing – Explanation Guide

The flickering and flashing of the Outlook 365 screen points to a graphics issue. We have noticed it happening all over the screen, in different applications and browsers. In this case, the Outlook 365 flickering and flashing is making it annoying to read emails. This post will guide you to fix the problem using various solutions.

Why does the Office flickering issue happen?

The most common reason for this issue is corrupt Office files or Outlook Add-ins. This is followed by Outlook using too much GPU for unknown reasons. The driver issue is on the minimal side because the drivers are usually updated to the latest version unless you have blocked it.

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Outlook 365 flickering and flashing

There are four reported ways to fix the Outlook 365 flickering and flashing issue:

  • Disable all unnecessary Outlook add-ins.
  • Change Outlook Display Settings
  • Update Graphics Driver
  • Repair Office

These solutions require that you have updated Microsoft Edge to the latest version and have an admin account.

Disable all unnecessary Outlook add-ins

If you’re experiencing problems with Outlook, it’s possible that a third-party add-in or extension is to blame. These programs can enhance your experience, but if something goes wrong after updating or installing one of them, it could cause an issue.

  • Open Outlook and wait for the sync to complete
  • Then go to File > Options > Add-ins.
  • Disable all of them, and restart Outlook.
  • If this works, you will need to enable them individually and determine if the issue is resolved.

Another way to check for Outlook problems is to open it in Safe mode. In Safe mode, add-ons will not load and Outlook functions will be limited. Try using Outlook for some time and see if the problem persists.

Change Outlook Display Settings

You can disable the high-performance Outlook setting from the Graphics section in Windows. Windows usually decide which mode to use, but you can also set it to choose Power saving mode or let Windows decide. Since Hardware acceleration is not part of Outlook anymore, you can set this.

Settings>Display, Graphics. Select the Office app, and then click on the “Options” button. Then select “Power saving,” and save the change. If you can’t find the Office app, you can add it. First, click on the drop-down for Add an app, choose Microsoft Apps, then click on Browser. This will display the list of available apps on the PC.

Repair Office

One of the best ways to fix flickering in Microsoft Office is to repair the program. If the issue is limited to Outlook Office and not happening elsewhere, it might be because of a corrupt file.

  • Open Windows Settings (Win + I)
  • Navigate to Apps > Apps & features > Office
  • Click on the Repair button to start repairing Office installation.

There is another way to repair Office; by using the old Control panel. To do this, navigate to Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall or Change. Select Microsoft Office and then click on the Change button. You will be given the option to repair it right away. There are two options available when using this method; Quick Repair and Online Repair. The latter will take more time but will do a much better job.

If this doesn’t work, you can try uninstalling and then reinstalling the program. This process will ensure that all files are fresh and free of corruption.

How do I turn off graphics acceleration in Office 365?

Not all the applications in Microsoft Office have graphics acceleration or hardware acceleration. However, the option is available in older Office versions for all the apps.

How do I run a repair on Office 365?

You can repair Microsoft Office or any Office application from Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & Features > Office. Go to the Advanced options and then choose to repair. You can also repair using the Control Panel method.

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