I recently got a USB-C monitor to use with my work laptop (Dell XPS 13, Windows 11) because I wanted a cleaner desk setup without extra cables. The monitor works fine most of the time, but I’ve noticed a weird flickering issue that only happens when I’m connected through USB-C. If I use HDMI instead, the flicker disappears completely. I’ve tried updating the laptop’s graphics drivers and the monitor’s firmware, but nothing seems to fix it. The flicker is subtle but annoying during text-heavy work, and it gets worse if I move the laptop or the cable at all. I also swapped the USB-C cable with the one that came with the monitor and a third-party one, but the flicker persists. I’m hoping to avoid switching back to HDMI because the USB-C connection charges my laptop and supports touch controls on the monitor, which I want to keep using. Has anyone else run into USB-C flickering issues with external monitors? What troubleshooting steps helped you narrow down or fix this kind of problem?

Sounds like a tricky one! Flickering that gets worse with cable movement usually points to a physical connection issue. Even though you swapped cables, I’d double-check the USB-C port on your laptop and the monitor for any dust or debris - sometimes a tiny bit of dirt can cause intermittent contact. Also, try a different USB-C port if your XPS has more than one.

Another thing that helped me once was adjusting the power settings on Windows to prevent the USB ports from going into power-saving mode, which can cause weird flickering. You can find that in Device Manager under your USB controllers - disable any power management options there and see if it stabilizes.

If none of that works, it might be worth testing the monitor with another USB-C device just to rule out a hardware incompatibility. Hope you get that clean setup without the flicker soon!

On 02/09/2026 at 7:55 PM, SunnyStone192 said:

I recently got a USB-C monitor to use with my work laptop (Dell XPS 13, Windows 11) because I wanted a cleaner desk setup without extra cables. The monitor works fine most of the time, but I’ve noticed a weird flickering issue that only happens when I’m connected through USB-C. If I use HDMI instead, the flicker disappears completely. I’ve tried updating the laptop’s graphics drivers and the monitor’s firmware, but nothing seems to fix it. The flicker is subtle but annoying during text-heavy work, and it gets worse if I move the laptop or the cable at all. I also swapped the USB-C cable with the one that came with the monitor and a third-party one, but the flicker persists. I’m hoping to avoid switching back to HDMI because the USB-C connection charges my laptop and supports touch controls on the monitor, which I want to keep using. Has anyone else run into USB-C flickering issues with external monitors? What troubleshooting steps helped you narrow down or fix this kind of problem?

That flicker definitely sounds like a connection or signal integrity issue, especially since it worsens when moving the cable. Even though you swapped cables, sometimes the USB-C port on the laptop or monitor can have a slightly loose or damaged connector that causes intermittent contact. If possible, try gently cleaning the USB-C port on both devices with compressed air or a soft brush to remove any dust or debris.

Also, some USB-C cables are better shielded or rated for higher data/refresh rates. You might want to test with a certified Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C cable designed for video to see if that helps. If the flicker persists, it could be worth testing the monitor with another USB-C device or the laptop with a different USB-C monitor to isolate which end might be the culprit.

Since HDMI works fine but lacks charging and touch, narrowing down the physical connection side seems key here. Hopefully, a cleaner port or a higher-quality cable can

On 02/09/2026 at 7:55 PM, SunnyStone192 said:

I recently got a USB-C monitor to use with my work laptop (Dell XPS 13, Windows 11) because I wanted a cleaner desk setup without extra cables. The monitor works fine most of the time, but I’ve noticed a weird flickering issue that only happens when I’m connected through USB-C. If I use HDMI instead, the flicker disappears completely. I’ve tried updating the laptop’s graphics drivers and the monitor’s firmware, but nothing seems to fix it. The flicker is subtle but annoying during text-heavy work, and it gets worse if I move the laptop or the cable at all. I also swapped the USB-C cable with the one that came with the monitor and a third-party one, but the flicker persists. I’m hoping to avoid switching back to HDMI because the USB-C connection charges my laptop and supports touch controls on the monitor, which I want to keep using. Has anyone else run into USB-C flickering issues with external monitors? What troubleshooting steps helped you narrow down or fix this kind of problem?

Since you mentioned the flicker gets worse when moving the cable, it might be worth checking the USB-C port on your laptop and monitor for any dust or debris that could be affecting the connection. Sometimes even a tiny obstruction can cause intermittent signal issues. Also, not all USB-C cables are created equal - some might carry power and data differently despite looking similar. Have you tried a high-quality Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C cable specifically rated for video and power delivery? Those tend to have better shielding and might reduce flicker.

Another angle is to look at your laptop’s power settings and USB-C port power management options in Windows. Sometimes aggressive power-saving features can cause weird behavior on USB-C ports. Disabling USB selective suspend or tweaking power profiles has helped me with random flickering on my Dell XPS before.

It’s great that HDMI works fine, but I get why you want to keep USB-C for charging and touch. If you can