iPhone Screen Flickering? 9 Proven Fixes (2026)

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iPhone screen flickering is one of the most unsettling display issues an iPhone user can experience. When iPhone screen flickering occurs, the display may flash, show trembling lines, experience rapid brightness shifts, or exhibit green or purple glitches[reference:0][reference:1]. According to Apple’s support documentation and industry reports, screen flickering can stem from software glitches, misconfigured display settings, or deeper hardware problems[reference:2][reference:3]. This guide covers every possible cause and provides clear, step-by-step fixes to resolve iPhone screen flickering on iPhone 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, SE, and earlier models.

For more iPhone troubleshooting guides, visit our iPhone & iOS Troubleshooting Hub. You can also check our guide on black screen issues, our guide on Apple logo boot loops, and our guide on touch screen problems for additional help. If you are experiencing other display issues, you may also find our guide on battery drain, our guide on camera black screen, and our guide on storage problems useful.

For additional assistance, refer to Apple’s official support page and check the server status at DownDetector.

Featured Snippet: To resolve iPhone screen flickering, start with a force restart: press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. If that does not work, turn off Auto-Brightness (Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size) and True Tone (Settings > Display & Brightness). For iPhone 17 and later models, enable the Disable PWM toggle in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size to reduce flickering at low brightness[reference:4]. For persistent issues, update iOS, reset all settings, or check for hardware damage.

Why iPhone Screen Flickering Occurs

Several factors can cause the screen to flicker. According to Apple’s troubleshooting guides and industry experts, the issue is often related to software glitches, display settings, or hardware problems[reference:5].

Here are the most common reasons why iPhone screen flickering happens:

  • Software Glitches: Temporary system errors or app conflicts can cause the display to flicker. In fact, about 63% of flickering cases resolve after a restart or entering Safe Mode[reference:6].
  • Pulse Width Modulation (PWM): OLED displays use PWM to control brightness. At low brightness levels, this rapid flickering can become visible to sensitive users[reference:7][reference:8]. iPhone 17 and later models include a toggle to disable PWM[reference:9].
  • Auto-Brightness and True Tone: These features can cause the display to adjust brightness rapidly, leading to flickering[reference:10][reference:11].
  • Outdated iOS: Apple frequently releases updates to fix display-related bugs. An outdated iOS version can cause iPhone screen flickering[reference:12].
  • Always-On Display: Keeping parts of the OLED screen active can strain the display and cause flickering[reference:13].
  • Hardware Damage: Physical damage from drops, water exposure, or a failing battery can cause screen flickering[reference:14][reference:15][reference:16].

💡 Quick Tip: Start with a force restart—this resolves iPhone screen flickering caused by temporary software glitches for most users.

Method 1: Force Restart Your iPhone

A force restart is the quickest and most effective first step to resolve iPhone screen flickering. It clears temporary memory and resets the display driver without erasing any data[reference:17][reference:18].

On iPhone 8 and later (including iPhone SE 2nd/3rd generation and all Face ID models):

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Press and hold the Side (Power) button until you see the Apple logo[reference:19].
  4. Release the button and wait for your iPhone to restart.

On iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus:

  1. Press and hold both the Side button and the Volume Down button simultaneously.
  2. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo.

On iPhone 6s and earlier (including iPhone SE 1st generation):

  1. Press and hold both the Home button and the Side (or Top) button simultaneously.
  2. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo.

✅ Expected Result: A force restart often resolves iPhone screen flickering immediately. If the flickering stops, the issue was a temporary software glitch.

Method 2: Turn Off Auto-Brightness and True Tone

Auto-Brightness and True Tone can cause the display to adjust brightness rapidly, leading to iPhone screen flickering. Disabling these features is a simple and effective fix[reference:20][reference:21].

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Go to Display & Brightness.
  3. Toggle True Tone to the off position[reference:22].
  4. Go to Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
  5. Scroll down and toggle Auto-Brightness to the off position[reference:23].
  6. Test if the flickering has stopped.

✅ Expected Result: Turning off Auto-Brightness and True Tone resolves iPhone screen flickering caused by rapid brightness adjustments.

Method 3: Adjust Reduce White Point

OLED displays use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to adjust brightness, which can cause flickering at low brightness levels. Enabling Reduce White Point can help minimize this effect[reference:24].

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Tap Display & Text Size.
  4. Toggle Reduce White Point to the on position[reference:25].
  5. Use the slider to adjust the intensity of bright colors[reference:26].
  6. If the flickering persists, try adjusting the intensity to a lower percentage—keeping it above 25% can sometimes prevent flickering[reference:27].

✅ Expected Result: Enabling Reduce White Point often resolves iPhone screen flickering caused by PWM at low brightness.

Method 4: Enable Reduce Transparency

iOS’s transparent UI elements can sometimes cause the display to flicker, especially at low brightness. Enabling Reduce Transparency can resolve iPhone screen flickering caused by UI rendering issues[reference:28].

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Tap Display & Text Size.
  4. Toggle Reduce Transparency to the on position[reference:29].
  5. Test if the flickering has stopped.

✅ Expected Result: Enabling Reduce Transparency resolves iPhone screen flickering caused by transparent UI elements.

Method 5: Disable the PWM Feature (iPhone 17 and Later)

iPhone 17 and later models include a dedicated toggle to disable Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), which can cause flickering at low brightness[reference:30][reference:31]. Enabling this feature can provide a smoother display output[reference:32].

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Tap Display & Text Size.
  4. Find the Disable PWM toggle and turn it on[reference:33].
  5. Test if the flickering at low brightness has stopped[reference:34].

✅ Expected Result: Enabling the Disable PWM toggle resolves iPhone screen flickering on iPhone 17 and later models.

Method 6: Turn Off Always-On Display

Always-On Display keeps parts of the OLED screen active even when the phone is idle. This constant operation can sometimes strain the display and cause iPhone screen flickering[reference:35].

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Display & Brightness.
  3. Tap Always On Display.
  4. Toggle Always On Display to the off position[reference:36].
  5. Test if the flickering has stopped.

✅ Expected Result: Turning off Always-On Display resolves iPhone screen flickering caused by display strain.

Method 7: Check for Problematic Apps

If iPhone screen flickering occurs only when you open a specific app, that app may be the cause. Common reasons include outdated app versions, poor coding, or hardware incompatibility[reference:37].

  1. Identify if the flickering happens in a specific app.
  2. If yes, go to the App Store and check for updates for that app[reference:38].
  3. If updating does not resolve the issue, uninstall and reinstall the app[reference:39].
  4. If the flickering stops after uninstalling the app, you have identified the culprit.

✅ Expected Result: Updating or uninstalling a problematic app resolves iPhone screen flickering caused by app conflicts.

Method 8: Update iOS

Outdated iOS versions can contain bugs that cause iPhone screen flickering. Apple regularly releases updates that fix display-related issues[reference:40].

  1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update[reference:41].
  2. If an update is available, tap Download and Install[reference:42].
  3. Enter your passcode if prompted and follow the on-screen instructions[reference:43].
  4. After the update completes, restart your iPhone and test if the flickering is resolved[reference:44].

✅ Expected Result: Updating iOS resolves iPhone screen flickering caused by known software bugs.

Method 9: Reset All Settings

If iPhone screen flickering persists, resetting all settings can clear corrupted system preferences that may be causing the issue. This resets permissions, network settings, and general system configurations back to normal without erasing your personal data[reference:45].

⚠️ Important Warning: Resetting all settings will erase saved Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth pairings, and VPN configurations. Your personal data (photos, messages, apps) will not be affected.

  1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  2. Tap Reset.
  3. Select Reset All Settings.
  4. Enter your passcode if prompted and confirm.
  5. Your iPhone will restart. After restarting, test if the flickering is resolved.

✅ Expected Result: Resetting all settings resolves iPhone screen flickering caused by corrupted system preferences.

Conclusion: Resolving This Screen Flickering Issue

When iPhone screen flickering occurs, start with the simplest fixes: a force restart, disabling Auto-Brightness and True Tone, and adjusting Reduce White Point. Most cases of this error resolve with these steps. If the problem persists, enable Reduce Transparency, or for iPhone 17 and later models, disable the PWM feature. For more stubborn cases, turn off Always-On Display, check for problematic apps, update iOS, or reset all settings. If none of these software fixes work, hardware damage may be the cause[reference:46]. If your iPhone has recently taken a hard fall or been exposed to liquid, contact Apple Support for diagnosis[reference:47]. By following this guide, you can resolve iPhone screen flickering and restore a stable display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my iPhone screen flickering?

iPhone screen flickering is usually caused by software glitches, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) at low brightness, Auto-Brightness or True Tone settings, outdated iOS, or hardware damage. Start with a force restart to eliminate temporary software issues.

How do I fix iPhone screen flickering at low brightness?

For iPhone 17 and later, enable the Disable PWM toggle in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size[reference:48]. For older models, enable Reduce White Point in the same settings menu[reference:49]. Also, try turning off Auto-Brightness and True Tone[reference:50].

Does the PWM toggle work on all iPhones?

No. The Disable PWM toggle is only available on iPhone 17 and later models[reference:51]. Older iPhone models do not have this feature. For older devices, use Reduce White Point or other display adjustments.

Can Auto-Brightness cause iPhone screen flickering?

Yes. Auto-Brightness can cause rapid brightness adjustments that lead to iPhone screen flickering[reference:52]. Turn it off in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size to test if this resolves the issue[reference:53].

Can a specific app cause iPhone screen flickering?

Yes. If iPhone screen flickering occurs only when you open a specific app, the app may be the cause[reference:54]. Update the app in the App Store, or uninstall and reinstall it[reference:55][reference:56].

Will resetting all settings fix iPhone screen flickering?

Yes, resetting all settings can resolve iPhone screen flickering caused by corrupted system preferences[reference:57]. It resets permissions, network settings, and system configurations without deleting your personal data.

Is iPhone screen flickering a sign of hardware damage?

It can be. If software fixes do not resolve iPhone screen flickering, hardware issues such as a damaged display, loose connector, or failing battery may be the cause[reference:58]. Contact Apple Support if your iPhone has experienced a drop or water exposure[reference:59].

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