What to try if your Surface screen is flickering, distorted, or has other display issues

Applies To
Surface Pro Surface Laptop Surface Go Surface Studio Surface Book

If the built-in screen on your Surface looks distorted, has static, is flickering, or has lines running through the screen, you can try a few things to get it working again.

Troubleshooting options

Select a link below for the troubleshooting or service options for the screen issue you're seeing.

Screen that's flickering

Garbled or distorted picture

Shows small bright white spots on Surface screen.

Screen discoloration, brightness or dimming

Shows out-of-focus Surface screen (scrambled).

Screen scramble

Shows vertical and horizontal lines running through a Surface screen.

Screen with lines through it

Shows blue spots on Surface screen that should have a plain grey background.

Screen with artifacts (mura)

Shows a bright dead pixel on a screen.

Screen with a dead or stuck pixel

Shows a yellow or brown at the edges of the Surface screen.

Screen with yellow or brown banding

Note

If the screen brightness is changing unexpectedly as the content being displayed changes, see Adaptive brightness and contrast on Surface devices.

Need more help?

Technical support

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For technical support, open the Surface app, describe your problem and select Get Help.

Community support

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Communities can help you ask questions, and hear from experts with rich knowledge. Ask the Community.

Other support

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If you can't use your Surface or have a question about something else, open Get Help to get other support online.

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