Fix the Screen Flickering Error in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is released as a hardware-intensive title, so it’s not surprising that the game has a rocky launch. A huge number of players have reported several cases of issues, one being a flickering screen problem. If you noticed any flickering screen error while running COD: Modern Warfare 2, then here are nine things you can try to fix.

[Updated August 23, 2024 – Updated links]

1. Turn On G-Sync (Nvidia User)

For PC players who are using Nvidia graphic cards, try turning on the G-Sync feature. Right-click on your desktop to open the Nvidia Control Panel. Under the Display tab, set up G-Sync and click the Enable G-SYNC/G-SYNC Compatible check box.

2. Turn On Vertical Refresh (AMD User)

If you’re an AMD GPU user, right-click on your desktop, open the AMD Radeon Settings, and click the Wait for Vertical Refresh menu to Always on.

3. Turn On V-Sync

Screen-related issues in COD: Modern Warfare 2, like screen tearing or flickering, usually happen when your monitor’s refresh rate and GPU’s frame rate are different and not in sync, causing a visual error. As you can expect, the V-Sync option in game settings will attempt to sync them by locking the game’s frame rate to 60 FPS. To turn on V-Sync, simply open the Modern Warfare 2 in-game Options menu under the Graphics options and switch the V-Sync toggle to On.

4. Check Your TV or Monitor Refresh Rate

Sure, the higher your TV or monitor’s refresh rate, the higher the FPS. However, if your hardware isn’t compatible with the high refresh rate, it could end up causing a flickering screen error instead. Therefore, you should try checking and changing the TV or monitor’s refresh rate from 120Hz or higher to 60Hz.

5. Update Your Graphic Card Driver (PC)

Updating the GPU driver might fix screen flickering problems and other visual or rendering-related errors when running COD: Modern Warfare 2. If you use Nvidia cards, you can install the latest drivers by downloading them through the GeForce Experience app or the Nvidia site. Meanwhile, AMD users would want to download their drivers from AMD official webpage. You can also manually update your driver by:

Open the Windows Start menu.
Search for Device Manager.
Search for Display adapters.
Right-click on your GPU’s name.
Select Update driver.
Wait until it finishes, then restart your PC.

6. Update COD: Modern Warfare 2

If your game failed to receive a patch or update for some reason, you can try manually updating the game by clicking the gear icon and picking the Check for Updates option if you’re on PC. Meanwhile, for console users, here’s how you can try manually updating your game:

Xbox Series X and Xbox One:

Open the My Games & Apps menu.
Look for the Manage option.
Go to Updates.
Pick Update All.
Check any updates by going to the Manage > Queue option.

PS5 and PS4:

Select COD: Modern Warfare 2 from the Home screen.
Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
Scroll down and select the ‘Check for Update’ option.
Any available updates will automatically start downloading and will be installed.

7. Verify the Integrity of COD: Modern Warfare 2 Files (PC)

Corrupted or missing game files might also cause the issue. Here’s how you can repair the game files through Battle.net:

Open the Battle.net desktop application.
Click on the COD: Modern Warfare 2 icon.
Click the gear icon next to the Play button, and choose the Scan and Repair option.
You’ll need to reinstall the game if there are any missing or corrupted files.

8. Tweak Your Graphic Settings (PC)

As I mentioned before, this game demands pretty powerful hardware. So, if you’re having visual problems, lowering your graphics settings should help. You can also follow our Modern Warfare 2 Best FPS and Performance guide if you need any pointers in this regard.

9. Give Admin Privileges to the COD: Modern Warfare 2 Executable (PC)

Giving the game’s executable file admin privileges might help bypass some update issues. Go to your COD: Modern Warfare 2 installation folder, right-click on the cod.exe, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and in the Options, check the Run this program as administrator box. Click Apply to save the changes.