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×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
- HP Community
- Desktops
- Desktop Boot and Lockup
- Hp windows 11 updating now screen flashing black and gray

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06-03-2025 12:25 PM
Hi @Daniellej90,
Welcome to the HP Support Community.
Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.
Thanks for reaching out—this flashing screen issue after a Windows 11 update is unfortunately not uncommon and is often caused by a corrupted display driver, incomplete update, or conflicting startup program.
Let’s walk through a step-by-step fix:
Step 1: Boot into Safe Mode
We’ll start by getting into Safe Mode to stop the flashing and troubleshoot safely.
- Force shut down your laptop by holding the power button for 10 seconds.
- Repeat this 3 times—on the 3rd boot, Windows should enter Recovery Mode.
- Select:
- Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart
- Then press 4 or F4 to boot into Safe Mode.
Step 2: Disable Problematic Startup Apps
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the Startup tab.
- Disable anything non-essential (especially HP Support Assistant, iCloud, OneDrive, etc.).
- Restart normally.
Step 3: Reinstall Display Drivers
- In Safe Mode, press Windows + X > Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click your GPU (e.g., AMD, Intel, or NVIDIA) > Uninstall device.
- Check and delete the driver software for this device if available.
- Restart your laptop—Windows will reinstall a basic driver.
🔄 Once stable, you can reinstall the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website.
Step 4: Run System File Checker
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Run: sfc /scannow
- Let it complete and fix any corrupted system files.
Step 5: Roll Back the Update (if needed)
If the issue started immediately after an update:
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update History.
- Click Uninstall updates.
- Remove the most recent Feature Update or Driver Update.
I hope this helps.
Take care and have a good day.
Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, as it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!
VikramTheGreat
HP Support