COD Black Ops 3 Screen Flickering or Tearing Issue on PC: Released in 2015, Call of Duty: Black Ops III remains a standout title in the realm of multiplayer zombie action first-person shooters, developed by Treyarch and published by Activision.
As a follow-up to 2012’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II, this game has captured the attention of players worldwide. However, following a recent update, some users have reported experiencing screen flickering or tearing issues while playing on PC.
If you are encountering similar problems, this guide will provide you with steps to help resolve the issue. Screen flickering and tearing in PC games can often stem from conflicts between the game and other software, or from specific in-game graphics settings.
Common culprits include problems with vertical synchronization, outdated graphics drivers, missing or corrupted game files, or an unpatched version of the game. By identifying and addressing these factors, you can enhance your gaming experience.
Fix: COD Black Ops 3 Screen Flickering or Tearing Issue on PC
It’s important to note that if you frequently experience screen flickering or tearing while playing in multiplayer mode or during particular sessions, consider exiting the game and starting a new session to see if the problem persists.
Various factors, such as internet connectivity issues, unnecessary background applications, power settings on your device, or application priority conflicts, can contribute to these problems.
Reports from some players indicate that the flickering or tearing often occurs during cutscenes or results in screen shimmering. Fortunately, we have compiled several potential solutions that may help alleviate these issues. Let’s explore those options.
1. Enable V-Sync in Nvidia Control Panel
To minimize graphical glitches in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, it’s advisable to enable the Vertical Sync (V-Sync) feature through the Nvidia Control Panel, provided you are using an Nvidia graphics card.
- To begin, access the Nvidia Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu. If it’s not already installed, you can easily download it from the Microsoft Store.
- Once the Control Panel is open, navigate to the “3D Settings” section and select “Manage 3D Settings.” Within this menu, go to “Program Settings,” where you will click on “Add” to find Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 in the list of installed programs on your computer.
- If the game does not appear in the list, you can manually add it. Click “Browse” and navigate to the folder where Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is installed. Locate the executable file (CallofDutyModernWarfareII.exe) within that directory and select it to add the game.
- Next, scroll down to find the option for Vertical Sync. Click on it and set it to “On” to ensure that V-Sync is activated whenever you launch the game.
After making these adjustments, restart your computer to apply the changes. Launch Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 to see if the graphical issues have been resolved.
2. Try Lowering In-Game Graphics Settings
To begin with, consider adjusting the graphics settings on your PC or console to see if this alleviates any frame rate drops or stuttering problems. Disable certain visual features in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, such as texture quality, shadow effects, vertical sync, and anti-aliasing. Doing so can enhance the frame rate and overall gameplay performance, leading to a smoother gaming experience.
3. Update GPU Drivers
If you haven’t yet updated the graphics driver on your Windows computer, it’s important to install the latest version. Here’s how you can check for updates:
- 1. Open the Quick Link Menu by pressing the Win+X keys.
- 2. From the menu, select Device Manager.
- 3. Expand the Display adapters section by double-clicking it.
- 4. Locate your graphics card, right-click on it, and choose Update driver.
- 5. Select the option to Search automatically for drivers.
If an update is available, your system will automatically download and install it. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
In the event that no updates are found, it’s advisable to visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer. There, you can manually download the latest driver version by searching for your specific graphics card model using the provided links.
4. Close Unnecessary Background Tasks
To optimize your PC’s performance while playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, it’s advisable to terminate any unnecessary background processes that may be consuming system resources. It’s important to keep essential applications like Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 and Steam running. Follow these steps to manage background tasks:
- 1. Open Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously.
- 2. Navigate to the Processes tab.
- 3. Identify and select any non-essential tasks you wish to close.
- 4. Click on “End Task” for each selected process. Be sure to do this for each task individually.
After you have finished closing the unwanted processes, restart your computer to apply the changes. This should help you determine whether the screen flickering or tearing issues in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 have been resolved.
5. Check Your Internet Connection
It’s important to verify your PC’s internet connection to ensure it’s functioning properly. Slow speeds or inconsistent connectivity can lead to problems when launching games or retrieving data from servers. Consider switching your connection from wired (Ethernet) to wireless (Wi-Fi) as a way to troubleshoot potential network issues.
Additionally, if you’re experiencing difficulties with your IP address or DNS settings, using Google’s DNS servers on your PC may help alleviate problems such as rubberbanding, stuttering, or lag, which can often result from a slow internet connection.
6. Update Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
An outdated version of a game can often lead to various bugs and performance issues. To ensure a smoother experience in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, it’s advisable to update your game by following these steps. If an update is available, be sure to install the latest patch.
**For Steam Users:
- 1. Launch the Steam client.
- 2. Navigate to your Library and select Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 from the list on the left.
- 3. Steam will automatically check for any available updates. If an update is found, click on the ‘Update’ button.
- 4. Allow some time for the update to download and install, then exit the Steam client.
- 5. To finalize the process, restart your computer before attempting to launch the game again.
**For Battle.net Users:
- 1. Open the Battle.net (Blizzard) launcher.
- 2. Click on the Blizzard logo located in the top left corner.
- 3. Select ‘Settings’ and then go to ‘Game Install/Update.’
- 4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and enable the option for applying the latest updates and downloading future patch data for games you’ve recently played.
- 5. Click ‘Done’ to confirm your changes, then restart the Battle.net launcher to ensure the updates are applied.
- 6. The game should now automatically update to the latest version available.
By following these steps, you can maintain optimal performance and enjoy a better gameplay experience.
7. Verify Integrity of Game Files
In the event that you encounter problems with your game files—such as corruption or missing data—it is advisable to follow these steps to diagnose and resolve the issue.
**For Steam Users:
- 1. Start by opening the Steam application and navigating to your Library.
- 2. Locate Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 in your list of installed games, right-click on it.
- 3. Select Properties, then proceed to the Local Files tab.
- 4. Click on the option labeled Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- 5. Allow the verification process to finish, which may take some time.
- 6. After it completes, restart your computer.
**For Battle.net Users:
- 1. Launch the Battle.net client on your computer.
- 2. Select the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 title from your game list.
- 3. Click on OPTIONS (the gear icon) and then select Scan and Repair.
- 4. Initiate the scan by clicking Begin Scan and wait for it to finish.
- 5. Once the process is complete, close the Battle.net launcher and restart your PC.
After following these instructions, check to see if the screen flickering or tearing issues in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 have been resolved on your system.
8. Set High Performance in Power Options
If your Windows system is currently operating in Balanced mode within Power Options, consider switching to High-Performance mode for enhanced performance. Keep in mind that this setting may lead to increased power consumption, which could affect battery life. To change your power settings, follow these steps:
- 1. Open the Start Menu and type “Control Panel,” then select it from the search results.
- 2. Navigate to “Hardware and Sound,” then choose “Power Options.”
- 3. Select “High Performance” to activate this mode.
- 4. After making this change, be sure to close the window and shut down your computer completely. To do this, click on the Start Menu, go to “Power,” and then select “Shut Down.”
- 5. Once your computer has powered off, you can proceed to recharge it.
By making this adjustment, you can optimize your system’s performance for demanding tasks.
9. Set High Priority in Task Manager
To optimize the performance of your game in Windows, you can adjust its priority level through the Task Manager. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Right-click on the Start Menu and choose Task Manager from the list.
- 2. Navigate to the Processes tab, then locate the task for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.
- 3. Right-click on the game’s task and select “Set Priority,” then choose “High” from the options.
- 4. After making this adjustment, close the Task Manager.
Now, launch Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 to see if the crashing issue has been resolved.
10. Update Windows
Keeping your Windows Operating System up to date is crucial for both PC users and gamers. Regular updates help minimize system errors, enhance compatibility, and reduce the likelihood of crashes. Additionally, the latest updates often bring new features, performance enhancements, and vital security fixes. Here’s how you can update your system:
- 1. Press the Win + I keys to access the Windows Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to the Update & Security section and click on it. Then, look for the Windows Update area and select “Check for updates.”
- 3. If a feature update is available, choose the option to “Download and Install.”
- 4. The update process may take some time, so be patient.
- 5. Once the installation is finished, restart your computer to complete the update process.
That’s all there is to it! We hope this guide has been useful for you. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.