Occasional black screen when browsing the internet on either Edge or Chrome.

[Pete4742]

This laptop is less than 2 months old.

From the start, every time I open a website in Edge, occasionally, the screen goes black very briefly and then comes back.

I wondered if it was just Edge so installed Chrome but that's just the same.

Doesn't do it on anything else like Excel or Outlook.

I have run all the diagnostics in HP Support Assist - nor problem found.

I have updated all the drivers through the same app.

Windows 11 is fully up-to-date.

I have a suspicion that it is an issue with the machine but don't know.

I was using McAfee but stopped that and am now using Defender.

The issue is the same.

I believe there are a couple of remnants of McAfee which may be causing the problem but don't know how to get rid of them.

All help welcome! Pete

[Pete4742]

A little update for you, I just noticed that this support page is running in Chrome without any problems, no flashes of black screen, so was it a particular website I was on? It is noticeable particularly on worldofsolitaire.com which comes up an an https site so not understanding that.

[Kuroi_Kenshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @Pete4742,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your laptop is showing brief black screen flashes when browsing certain websites in Edge or Chrome, while other applications run fine. Let’s go through some steps to troubleshoot this issue.

Check Browser Hardware Acceleration
Sometimes, GPU-related rendering causes brief black screens.

Edge: Settings → System and performance → Turn “Use hardware acceleration when available” off → Restart Edge.

Chrome: Settings → System → Turn “Use hardware acceleration when available” off → Restart Chrome.
Test the problematic site after this change.

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Clear browsing data.

Clear Cached images and files and Cookies, then restart the browser.

Check for Remaining McAfee Components
Even after uninstalling, leftover McAfee files can interfere with browsers.

Download the McAfee Consumer Product Removal (MCPR) tool from McAfee’s website.

Run it to completely remove any remnants of McAfee.

Restart the laptop.

Update GPU Drivers Directly

Go to Device Manager → Display Adapters → Right-click your GPU → Update driver.

Alternatively, download the latest GPU driver from the manufacturer (Intel or AMD/NVIDIA depending on your laptop).

Check for Specific Site Issues

Some sites with heavy graphics, animations, or video ads may trigger rendering issues.

Test worldofsolitaire.com in Incognito mode or with extensions disabled.

If it works fine, a browser extension may be causing the black flashes.

Disable Browser Extensions

Disable all extensions in both Chrome and Edge.

Re-enable one by one to identify if any are causing the issue.

Try Browser Reset

Reset Chrome and Edge settings to default (Settings → Reset Settings → Restore settings to their original defaults).

This clears configuration conflicts that may be causing rendering issues.

Check Windows Graphics Settings

Windows 11 → Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Browse and assign Edge/Chrome to High Performance GPU (or Integrated GPU if issues persist).

Test in Another Browser

Try Firefox or Brave and see if the issue occurs.

If only Chrome/Edge are affected, it’s likely a browser-specific rendering problem.

Run Windows System File Check

Open Command Prompt as Administrator → Run:

sfc /scannow

This will check for and repair any corrupted Windows files affecting graphics or browser rendering.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Pete4742]

OK, so the first hint of switching off hardware graphics acceleration fixed the problem.

I was also amazed at the amount of McAfee junk that got removed by the tool referred to in  this response.

Just need to sort out how to stop the McAfee people bombarding me with emails asking for money!

Cheers, Pete.