Hollow Knight Screen Flickering or Tearing Issue: How to FIX

Hollow Knight Screen Flickering or Tearing Issue: Hollow Knight is celebrated for its stunning art style, smooth animations, and captivating gameplay. However, screen flickering or tearing issues can seriously detract from this experience, causing visual distractions and making gameplay uncomfortable or even unplayable. These issues can occur on PC as well as on consoles like PS4, PS5, and Xbox.

Screen flickering typically appears as rapid flashing or blinking of the display, while screen tearing happens when parts of the screen display different frames simultaneously, causing a “tear” or split effect. Both are frustrating but usually fixable with the right approach.

If you’re struggling with screen flickering or tearing in Hollow Knight, this guide will explain why it happens and provide detailed, effective solutions to restore smooth, beautiful visuals.

Understanding Screen Flickering and Tearing

What is Screen Flickering?

Screen flickering happens when the image on your screen rapidly flashes or blinks. It can be caused by:

Display refresh rate mismatches
Loose or faulty cables
GPU driver problems
Incorrect in-game or system settings
Hardware issues like a faulty monitor or graphics card

What is Screen Tearing?

Screen tearing occurs when the GPU’s frame output and the monitor’s refresh rate are out of sync, causing the image to split with parts of two or more frames shown simultaneously. This results in a horizontal tearing effect, especially noticeable during fast motion.

Causes of Screen Flickering or Tearing in Hollow Knight

Some common reasons why Hollow Knight may flicker or tear include:

V-Sync disabled or improperly configured
Monitor refresh rate not matching game settings
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers
Incompatible graphics settings or resolution
GPU or monitor hardware faults
Background applications interfering with graphics output
Faulty or loose HDMI/DisplayPort cables
Power-saving modes throttling GPU performance

How to Fix Hollow Knight Screen Flickering or Tearing: Step-by-Step

1. Enable V-Sync in Hollow Knight

Vertical Synchronization (V-Sync) synchronizes your game’s frame rate with your monitor’s refresh rate, preventing tearing.

Open Hollow Knight.
Go to Options → Video → V-Sync.
Enable V-Sync and apply changes.
Restart the game and test if tearing is resolved.

Note: Enabling V-Sync can sometimes introduce input lag or reduce FPS, but it usually eliminates tearing.

2. Match Game Resolution and Monitor Refresh Rate

Incorrect resolution or refresh rate settings can cause flickering:

Right-click desktop → Display settings → Scroll to Advanced display settings.
Check your monitor’s native resolution and refresh rate (usually 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, etc.).
Open Hollow Knight → Options → Video Settings → Set resolution to your monitor’s native resolution.
Ensure your refresh rate matches in Windows and in-game.

3. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers cause various graphical issues, including flickering and tearing.

Visit your GPU manufacturer’s website:
- NVIDIA
- AMD
- Intel
Download and install the latest drivers for your graphics card.
Restart your PC and retest Hollow Knight.

4. Use GPU Control Panel Settings to Enable V-Sync or G-Sync/FreeSync

Modern GPUs have advanced synchronization technologies:

For NVIDIA users:

Open NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D Settings → Program Settings.
Select Hollow Knight.
Find Vertical sync and set it to On.
If you have a G-Sync compatible monitor, ensure G-Sync is enabled under Display → Set up G-SYNC.

For AMD users:

Open AMD Radeon Software.
Navigate to Display → Enable FreeSync if supported.
In Graphics settings, set Wait for Vertical Refresh to Always On or an appropriate mode for Hollow Knight.

5. Check and Replace Video Cables

Faulty or loose HDMI/DisplayPort cables often cause flickering:

Power off your system.
Check that cables are securely connected on both ends.
Try a different cable or port.
Use high-quality cables rated for your monitor’s resolution and refresh rate.

6. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations and Run Hollow Knight as Administrator

Fullscreen optimizations in Windows can cause flickering or tearing:

Navigate to the Hollow Knight executable file (HollowKnight.exe).
Right-click → Properties → Compatibility tab.
Check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
Check Run this program as administrator.
Apply changes and launch the game.

7. Adjust Power Settings for Maximum Performance

Windows power-saving modes can throttle GPU performance causing flickering:

Open Control Panel → Power Options.
Select High Performance power plan.
Disable CPU and GPU power-saving features if available in your system BIOS or manufacturer software.

8. Close Background Programs and Disable Overlays

Programs like Discord, Steam Overlay, or recording software can interfere:

Close unnecessary background apps.
Disable Steam Overlay:
- Open Steam → Library → Right-click Hollow Knight → Properties → uncheck Enable Steam Overlay while in-game.
Disable Discord Overlay in User Settings → Overlay.
Restart your system and test.

9. Test Different Display Modes

Switch between Fullscreen, Windowed, and Borderless modes:

In Hollow Knight, go to Options → Video Settings.
Toggle between modes and check for flickering or tearing improvements.

10. Check Monitor Settings and Firmware Updates

Access your monitor’s on-screen display menu.
Reset to factory defaults.
Disable dynamic contrast or any motion smoothing features.
Check the manufacturer’s website for firmware updates for your monitor.

11. Reinstall Hollow Knight

If nothing else works, corrupted game files might cause issues:

Backup save data located at:

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight
Uninstall the game.
Delete leftover files in the save directory.
Reinstall via Steam or your platform.
Restore save files.

12. Console-Specific Fixes

If you experience flickering on PS4, PS5, or Xbox:

Restart the console completely (power cycle).
Check for system software updates.
Ensure TV or monitor firmware is up to date.
Change the video output settings (resolution and refresh rate) in the console settings.
Try using a different HDMI port or cable.

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FAQs About Hollow Knight Screen Flickering or Tearing Issue

Q1: What causes screen flickering or tearing in Hollow Knight?
A: Flickering and tearing can be caused by mismatched refresh rates, disabled V-Sync, outdated drivers, faulty cables, or hardware issues.

Q2: Does enabling V-Sync always fix tearing?
A: V-Sync usually prevents tearing by syncing frames with your monitor’s refresh rate but can introduce input lag in some cases.

Q3: Can my monitor cause flickering?
A: Yes, faulty or incompatible monitors, loose cables, or incorrect refresh rates can cause flickering.

Q4: Is G-Sync or FreeSync better than V-Sync?
A: G-Sync (NVIDIA) and FreeSync (AMD) offer adaptive synchronization with less input lag and tearing, providing a smoother experience if supported.

Q5: Why does flickering happen only in Hollow Knight but not other games?
A: It may be related to specific graphics settings, resolution, or how the game interacts with your GPU and monitor drivers.

Q6: Can disabling fullscreen optimizations help?
A: Yes, it can resolve conflicts between Windows and the game’s rendering pipeline, reducing flickering.

Q7: What’s the best refresh rate setting for Hollow Knight?
A: Use your monitor’s native refresh rate (usually 60Hz or higher). Matching game and Windows refresh rates is key.

Q8: Why does flickering sometimes occur randomly?
A: It may be caused by overheating, unstable GPU drivers, or hardware degradation.

Q9: How do I update my monitor’s firmware?
A: Check the manufacturer’s website for updates and instructions. Firmware updates often improve compatibility and fix bugs.

Q10: Can power-saving modes cause flickering?
A: Yes, throttling GPU or CPU performance to save power can cause unstable frame delivery and flickering.

Conclusion

Screen flickering and tearing in Hollow Knight can seriously affect your immersion and enjoyment. However, most issues stem from mismatched refresh rates, disabled V-Sync, outdated drivers, or hardware faults—all fixable with the steps outlined above.

By enabling V-Sync, updating your graphics drivers, verifying cable integrity, adjusting power and display settings, and managing overlays, you can restore smooth, tear-free gameplay. For console players, keeping system and TV firmware updated and adjusting output settings are key.

If issues persist after these fixes, consider testing with a different monitor or consulting your hardware manufacturer for support.

If you need help troubleshooting your specific setup or want personalized advice, just share your system details and setup!