Genshin Impact Screen Flickering or Tearing Issue: Screen flickering and screen tearing in Genshin Impact usually point to a graphics-setting mismatch, a driver problem, corrupted game files, or software conflict rather than a single bug in the game itself.
HoYoverse’s own help articles recommend checking device compatibility, lowering graphics settings, enabling V-Sync, updating graphics drivers, verifying game files, and testing for conflicts such as antivirus or background apps. Microsoft also notes that flickering in Windows is commonly caused by a display driver issue or an incompatible app.
The good news is that this problem is often fixable without reinstalling your whole PC or replacing hardware. In most cases, the fastest path is to start with the in-game display options, then move to driver repair, file verification, and finally Windows-level troubleshooting if the problem is still there.
What usually causes the issue
In Genshin Impact, graphical glitches can come from device incompatibility, incorrect settings, or software conflicts. HoYoverse specifically lists these as common causes and recommends checking whether the device is officially supported and meets the minimum requirements. On Windows, flickering can also happen when a display driver is unstable or when another app interferes with rendering.
For tearing, the most important setting is V-Sync. HoYoverse says enabling Vertical Synchronization can stabilize frame rate and reduce screen tearing, which makes it one of the first options worth trying. They also recommend lowering FPS from 60 to 30 when needed, because a lower and steadier frame rate can be easier for the system and display to maintain.
Step 1: Turn on V-Sync
Open Paimon Menu > Settings > Graphics and enable V-Sync. HoYoverse explicitly recommends this for screen tearing because it helps sync frame output with the display and reduce visible tearing. If V-Sync is already on and the game still feels unstable, keep it on for now and continue with the next steps rather than turning it off and on repeatedly.
This is the best first fix because tearing is often most visible when the GPU renders frames faster than the monitor can show them. By enabling V-Sync, you are asking the game to present frames in a more controlled way, which often improves the look of motion even if the raw FPS number drops a little. HoYoverse treats this as a standard troubleshooting step for frame-rate instability and tearing.
Step 2: Lower the graphics load
If the flickering or tearing continues, reduce the game’s graphics settings. HoYoverse recommends lowering Graphics Quality, and the performance article also suggests reducing options such as Shadow Quality and Special Effects. If your PC is struggling to keep up, lighter settings can reduce frame pacing issues that often look like tearing or flicker on-screen.
A practical approach is to first set Graphics Quality to Medium or lower, then reduce Shadow Quality, Texture Quality, and any heavy effects if the issue remains. HoYoverse’s official guidance is consistent here: lowering the graphics load can help with crashing, lagging, freezing, and visual glitches.
Step 3: Try Compatible Mode
HoYoverse also recommends enabling Compatible Mode from Settings > Other Settings when you are seeing graphical glitches, including screen tearing. They say the game should be restarted after enabling it so the change takes effect. This option can help when the issue is caused by hardware compatibility or rendering conflicts.
This step matters because some display issues are not solved by lowering normal graphics sliders alone. Compatible Mode is specifically mentioned by HoYoverse as a fix for graphical glitches, so it is one of the most relevant Genshin-specific options to test after V-Sync.
Step 4: Reduce FPS from 60 to 30
If your screen still flickers, lower the in-game FPS setting from 60 to 30. HoYoverse includes this as an official fix for graphical glitches, and it can also improve stability on older systems or integrated graphics. Lower FPS often means fewer frame timing spikes, which can reduce tearing and make the image feel steadier.
This is especially useful on laptops or systems with integrated graphics, where frame delivery can fluctuate under load. Intel’s support documentation for Genshin Impact on integrated graphics also advises checking whether the system meets the requirements, keeping drivers updated, and lowering graphics settings if problems continue.
Step 5: Update your graphics driver and DirectX
Outdated graphics drivers are one of the most common reasons for flickering in Windows, and Microsoft recommends updating, rolling back, or uninstalling the display driver depending on the cause. HoYoverse likewise recommends keeping your graphics card driver updated, and their graphical-glitch article also says to ensure DirectX is updated to the latest version.
If the issue started right after a driver update, a rollback can sometimes be better than another update. Microsoft says flickering can be caused by a display driver issue or an incompatible app, so it is worth testing whether the screen flickers system-wide or only inside Genshin Impact.
Step 6: Reset the graphics driver on Windows
If the flickering is severe, try the Windows graphics-driver reset shortcut: Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. Microsoft says this can sometimes fix flickering by resetting the graphics driver without a full reboot. It is a fast, low-risk step that is worth trying before you move on to more time-consuming fixes.
If that does not help, restart the PC and see whether the issue disappears. Microsoft also advises checking whether Task Manager flickers along with everything else; if it does, the driver is more likely to be the problem, while flickering confined to the app may suggest an incompatible application.
Step 7: Verify the integrity of the game files
HoYoverse recommends verifying game files through the launcher or the in-game resource integrity check. In their support guidance, file verification is one of the standard fixes for crashes, lag, freezing, and graphical glitches. Corrupted or incomplete files can easily create artifacts that look like tearing, flashing, or weird rendering behavior.
On PC, this is a particularly useful step because it repairs damage without requiring a full reinstall. If the problem started after an update, file verification should be near the top of your checklist.
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Step 8: Close background apps and check for software conflicts
HoYoverse recommends closing unnecessary applications running in the background, and their troubleshooting pages also mention that software conflicts can contribute to graphical issues. Browser tabs, overlays, streaming tools, recorders, and other heavy background apps can all compete with the game for resources.
Antivirus software can also interfere in some cases. HoYoverse says to temporarily disable antivirus software to test for conflicts and, if the issue persists, to note the antivirus name and version when contacting support. This is a good diagnostic step, not a permanent recommendation, because the goal is to isolate whether a security tool is affecting rendering or file access.
Step 9: Restart the game completely
A full restart can help if the issue came from a temporary rendering glitch or a stuck process. HoYoverse recommends completely closing the game and waiting a few minutes before restarting it in its performance troubleshooting guide. That may sound simple, but it can clear a bad session and restore normal graphics behavior.
For the best result, close the game, close the launcher too, then reopen everything fresh. If you are testing multiple fixes, change only one or two settings at a time so you can tell which change actually helped. That makes troubleshooting much easier and avoids guessing.
Step 10: Check your system and display setup
HoYoverse advises confirming that the device meets the game’s supported list and minimum requirements before chasing deeper fixes. If your system is right on the edge of the game’s demands, screen artifacts may appear only during heavy scenes, fast camera movement, or busy combat effects.
Microsoft also points out that screen flickering can come from the display driver or an incompatible app, so it is worth testing whether the issue happens only in Genshin Impact or across the entire desktop. If the whole system flickers, Windows-level display troubleshooting is the better path. If only the game flickers, then the problem is more likely tied to game settings, files, or a game-specific conflict.
Step 11: Test on another device if possible
HoYoverse recommends trying the game on another device if available to determine whether the issue is specific to the original machine’s hardware or software. That test can save time because it tells you whether you should focus on Windows, drivers, or the PC itself.
If the game runs cleanly on another device, the cause is probably local to the first PC: driver state, display settings, background software, or corrupted files. If the issue follows the same account or appears on multiple devices, then you have narrowed the problem to a broader game, account, or environment issue.
Step 12: Gather the right information if you need support
If nothing works, HoYoverse asks for a few specific details when you contact support: your UID, a screenshot or video of the issue, your device model and operating system, and for PC users, your processor, graphics card, RAM, the time of the issue, and the names/versions of any antivirus software installed. They also request log files such as output_log.txt, mihoyocrash files, and driverError.log when troubleshooting PC problems.
That information matters because flickering and tearing can be caused by many different layers at once. A video can show exactly when the problem happens, and the log files help support teams check whether the game, the driver, or another component is failing. HoYoverse notes that some log files reset when the game is restarted, so they need to be saved while the problem is actually happening.
Best order to try the fixes
The fastest order is usually this: turn on V-Sync, lower graphics settings, enable Compatible Mode, reduce FPS to 30, update graphics drivers, reset the graphics driver with Win + Ctrl + Shift + B, verify game files, close background apps, and then test for antivirus or hardware conflicts. That order follows the same logic used in HoYoverse and Microsoft support: begin with the most likely in-game causes, then move outward to drivers and Windows-level issues.
If the problem is only screen tearing, V-Sync and FPS reduction are often enough. If it is true flickering across the whole screen, the stronger suspects are the display driver or another incompatible app, which is exactly the pattern Microsoft highlights for Windows.
FAQs
1) Why does Genshin Impact screen tearing happen?
Screen tearing in Genshin Impact usually appears when frame output and the display are not staying in step. HoYoverse specifically recommends enabling V-Sync and, if needed, lowering FPS to reduce tearing and improve stability.
2) Will Compatible Mode reduce flickering?
It often can. HoYoverse lists Compatible Mode as a fix for graphical glitches, and they recommend restarting the game after enabling it so the setting takes effect properly.
3) What should I do if the screen still flickers after all fixes?
If the issue remains, HoYoverse recommends collecting your UID, device details, screenshot or video evidence, PC specs, and the relevant log files, then contacting support. Microsoft also advises checking whether the flicker points to a display driver problem or an incompatible app, which can help narrow the cause before escalation.