The Forest Screen Flickering or Tearing Issue on PC: Endnight Games Ltd has made a significant impact in the gaming industry with the launch of The Forest in 2014, a survival horror title that continues to thrive in the marketplace.
The game has garnered an impressive number of positive reviews on Steam for its PC version, highlighting its enduring popularity. However, following a recent update, some players have reported encountering various issues, including screen flickering and tearing.
If you find yourself facing similar problems, there’s no need to panic. We’ve compiled a comprehensive troubleshooting guide that can assist you in resolving these issues.
Screen flickering, tearing, and freezing have been persistent challenges for PC gamers over the years, and encountering them can be frustrating regardless of the game. Fortunately, there are effective solutions available to address these common concerns.
Fix: The Forest Screen Flickering or Tearing Issue on PC
If you’re experiencing screen flickering or tearing while playing multiplayer modes—whether during certain sessions or at specific checkpoints—it’s important to first verify that your internet connection is stable.
Additionally, the graphics settings within the game might also be contributing to these issues. Some players have reported that screen shimmering can occur during cutscenes as well.
It’s advisable to check the V-Sync settings for The Forest, as this feature can cause problems in various PC titles. To address these issues effectively, consider following all recommended troubleshooting steps until a resolution is found. Now, let’s dive into the solutions.
1. Enable V-Sync in Nvidia Control Panel
To minimize graphical glitches while playing The Forest, it is advisable to enable the Vertical Sync feature in the Nvidia Control Panel, provided you are using an Nvidia graphics card.
- To get started, open the Nvidia Control Panel from your Start menu. If you don’t have it installed, you can easily download it from the Microsoft Store.
- Once you’re in the Nvidia Control Panel, navigate to the ‘3D Settings’ section and select ‘Manage 3D settings.’ From there, click on the ‘Program Settings’ tab. You will see an option to ‘Add’ a program; click on it and look for ‘The Forest’ in the list of installed programs on your computer.
- If the game does not appear in the list, click on ‘Browse’ to locate the directory where The Forest is installed. Find the Forest folder and select the Forest.exe application to add it to the list.
- Next, scroll down to the ‘Vertical sync’ option, click on it, and choose ‘On’ to activate V-Sync for The Forest. This setting ensures that the game runs with Vertical Sync enabled at all times.
After making these changes, restart your computer to implement the new settings. You can then launch the game to verify whether the graphical issues have been resolved.
2. Try Lowering In-Game Graphics Settings
To address frame drops or stuttering issues during gameplay, consider adjusting the graphical settings on your PC or console. Begin by reducing the in-game graphics options for The Forest.
Specifically, you might want to disable certain display features, including texture quality, shadow effects, vertical synchronization (v-sync), and anti-aliasing. Making these adjustments can enhance your frames per second (FPS) and lead to a smoother gaming experience.
3. Update GPU Drivers
If you haven’t updated the graphics driver on your Windows computer recently, it’s important to install the latest version. Follow these steps to check for and apply any available updates:
- 1. Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously to open the Quick Link Menu.
- 2. Select “Device Manager” from the options presented.
- 3. Locate and expand the “Display adapters” section by double-clicking on it.
- 4. Right-click on your active graphics card.
- 5. Choose “Update driver” and then select “Search automatically for drivers.”
- 6. If an update is found, your system will download and install it automatically.
After the installation is complete, make sure to restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
4. Close Unnecessary Background Tasks
To optimize your PC’s performance while playing The Forest, it’s advisable to close any unnecessary background applications that may be consuming system resources. However, ensure that essential processes such as The Forest, Steam, and other vital system tasks remain active. To manage your background tasks effectively, follow these steps:
- 1. Open Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously.
- 2. Navigate to the Processes tab.
- 3. Identify the task you wish to terminate and select it.
- 4. Click on “End Task” to close it. Repeat this process for any additional tasks you want to stop.
After you’ve finished managing your background tasks, restart your computer to apply the changes. This step is crucial to help alleviate any screen flickering or tearing issues you may be experiencing in The Forest.
5. Check Your Internet Connection
It’s important to verify the status of your internet connection on your computer to ensure optimal performance. Slow internet speeds or unreliable connections can interfere with game launches and data retrieval from servers.
To troubleshoot, consider switching from a wired (Ethernet) connection to a wireless (Wi-Fi) one to see if that resolves any connectivity issues.
If you encounter problems with your IP address or DNS settings, using Google’s DNS can be a helpful solution. This can help mitigate issues such as lag, rubberbanding, and stuttering, which often stem from slow internet connections.
6. Update The Forest
An outdated version of The Forest can lead to various bugs and gameplay issues. To ensure a smoother experience, it’s advisable to update your game. Follow these steps to check for and install the latest patch:
- 1. Launch the Steam client.
- 2. Navigate to your Library.
- 3. Select The Forest from the list on the left side.
The system will automatically look for any available updates. If an update is found, click on the “Update” button to proceed.
The installation process may take a few moments, after which you can exit the Steam client.
For best results, restart your computer to complete the changes, and then you can launch the game once more.
7. Verify Integrity of Game Files
In the event that you encounter problems with your game files, such as corruption or missing data, follow these steps to efficiently diagnose the issue:
- 1. Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate The Forest in your list of installed games and right-click on it.
- 3. Select Properties from the context menu, then proceed to the Local Files tab.
- 4. Click on the option to Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- 5. Allow the process to complete, which may take some time depending on your system.
- 6. Once verification is finished, restart your computer to finalize any changes.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your game files are in good condition and resolve any underlying issues.
8. Set High Performance in Power Options
If your Windows system is currently set to Balanced mode in the Power Options, consider switching to High Performance for enhanced performance. Keep in mind that this setting may lead to increased power or battery consumption. Here’s how to make the change:
- 1. Open the Start Menu and type “Control Panel,” then select it from the search results.
- 2. Navigate to “Hardware and Sound” and then click on “Power Options.”
- 3. Choose the “High Performance” option to activate it.
- 4. Once you have made the change, close the window and perform a complete shutdown of your computer. To do this, go to the Start Menu, select “Power,” and then click “Shut Down.”
- 5. After your computer has shut down, you can turn it back on.
This adjustment will help optimize your system’s performance while using more power.
9. Set High Priority in Task Manager
To ensure that your game runs smoothly and receives the necessary system resources, you can adjust its priority level in the Task Manager. Follow these steps:
- 1. Right-click on the Start Menu and choose “Task Manager” from the list.
- 2. Navigate to the “Processes” tab and locate the entry for the Forest game.
- 3. Right-click on the game’s task and select “Set Priority,” then choose “High.”
- 4. Exit the Task Manager.
Once you have made these adjustments, launch the Forest game again to see if the crashing issue has been resolved.
10. Update Windows
Keeping your Windows operating system up to date is crucial for both everyday users and gamers. Regular updates help minimize system errors, ensure compatibility, and prevent crashes. Additionally, the latest updates often come with new features, enhancements, and important security fixes. Here’s how to update your Windows OS:
- 1. Press the Windows key + I to access the Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to Update & Security and then click on Check for updates within the Windows Update section.
- 3. If a feature update is available, click on Download and install.
- 4. The update process may take some time, so be patient.
- 5. After the update is complete, restart your computer to finalize the installation.
That’s all there is to it! We hope you found this guide useful. If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.