After updating to Mac OS Tahoe sometimes I get a slight flickering for 1-2 minutes. I use an Macbook Air M3 and I am connected to an external monitor using a Type C - Display Port cable. Before the update I didn't have any of these problems.
Did someone had this problem?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.0
I have a similar setup:
Mac Mini M4 Pro with a Dell monitor.
I'd like to share how I fixed the flickering issue.
The flickering is acknowledged by Dell and other vendors like BenQ—even with newer monitors—as something they cannot resolve on their end.
The root cause is Apple's display controller, which applies temporal dithering by default to simulate smoother gradients, even on high-quality monitors. This causes not only discomfort for sensitive users but also severe flickering in some setups, leading to eye strain and usability issues. macOS offers no built-in way to disable it permanently. That would be very nice if Apple would implement this feature.
The solution:
To disable dithering permanently on a Mac Mini M4, you can use a tool like Stillcolor to override the display controller's default behavior and set it to launch at login. Without third-party tools, macOS does not offer a built-in method to persistently disable dithering across reboots.
I have installed the tool with brew. Have a good day.
[Edited by Moderator]
Got it! Pressing Command-backtick (⌘-`) in Brave to switch windows triggers flickering, not every time but it has happened too many times to be ignored. When flickering starts, other apps flicker as well, but not all.
plotnick wrote:
What am I now suppose to do with my display that keeps flickering at the bottom and nothing I tried fixing it?
[Edited by Moderator]
We can't help without details.
What mac, what OS version, what display, how is it connected...
Also: does this happen all the time, or on specific applications?
Does it also occur if you start your Mac in Safe Mode?
See if there is any resolve with the current point update:
The current stable release of Tahoe including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 26.3
Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support
Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support
Been happening since Tahoe, I notice everytime I use the Message app with dark background and switch to Finder light background or play youtube video.
It feels like low fps flickers or auto brightness auto adjust in non-smooth way.
Apple Studio Display + MacBook Pro M1 Pro in clamshell.
similar problem here since updating to Tahoe 26.1. 14" Macbook Pro M2 MAX (32 core GPU) - Studio Display and two LG DCI 4K displays all directly connected to their own USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 port on the MacBook. The occasional flickering problem is apparent only on the Studio Display, I have not noticed any flickering on the LG displays. The Studio Display is configured as the main display. Like other reports - it's as if the brightness of the white background within in a window is being rapidly adjusted for about one second and then it stops. It seems to happen at random, several times a day.
After updating one of my Mini M2's to Tahoe, the screen flickers constantly. None of the work arounds work, such as stillcolor or changing profiles or resolutions. The flicker goes away if I put the monitor in AV, rather than PC mode. In AV mode, the entire desktop is not visible. Upgrading to Tahoe has practically bricked my Mini M2.
This issue does NOT affect my second M2 that I have connected to an actual TV. I have not connected this Mini M2 to PC monitor to do Apple's testing for them.
A similar thing happens on my M1 Studio after updating ot Tahoe, but instead of flickering, the screen turns to static for few seconds before being restored to normal.
Has not affected my iOS devices that I can tell.
MacBook Air 13" M4 (Model Mac16,12) running macOS 26.2. I’m experiencing occasional full-screen brightness “pulsing” on white backgrounds. It feels like the system briefly readjusts brightness or gamma for 1–2 seconds. It can happen when switching between Spaces, but also sometimes after staying on the same Space for a while. The effect is subtle but noticeable on white backgrounds.
Auto Brightness, True Tone, and Night Shift are all disabled. The behavior still occurs. It looks like a full-screen luminance adjustment rather than graphical artifacts (no lines, no partial flicker).
I'm experiencing flickering of video content on my MBP 13" M4 MW2U3H/A running Tahoe 26.4.1 (25E253). Video will flicker in all applications, including Safari and Apple TV (the standalone application running in the macOS environment) whenever video is commenced, expanded (e.g. from standard display in app to PiP, or back from PiP to full screen or embedded in app). Video will also flicker in the same manner if I change display refresh frequency from e.g. Promotion to 60 Hz or 59,94 or any other frequency.
Note that this is for my internal, integrated XDR display. I use the P3-1600 Nits color profile, and the issue is present with other color profiles. The flickering is never "identical", it varies but lasts typically >1 - 3 seconds. There are no peripherals present when the issue occurs and the flickering affects only the video portion of the display.
I will also occasionally experience total screen flickering on my Mac Studio M1 connected to my Apple Studio Display, but it presents itself a bit differently, and not necessarily limited to video content.
I have yet to attempt to install this third party tool referred to in the preferred reply to this situation. Has anyone experienced flickering limited to video on the display?
I have New M4 MacBook Air and yes it flickers with the built in display, especially the contacts app.
Not an external display nor cable issue.
Me too. MacBook Air 2025 - 15" M4. Flickering on built in display. Stillcolor doesn't seem to help, nor changing screen resolution. Started happening with upgrade to Tahoe. Currently running 26.1
Adding to this thread. My screen flickers for some apps. Right now only for Calendar. Flickering is around the "buttons" in the app. My thinking is that Glass is confusing the heck out of the display controller (assuming display controller means the process that 'writes' out the display). I don't have this problem with Safari.
So, tossing it out there wondering how much of this bug is about Glass.
M2 mac mini. After "upgrading" to Tahoe, one of my external 4k monitors is constantly flickering. The monitor is basically unusable.
I've tried unsuccessfully to do the following:
-Different cables from Mac Mini to monitor (USB C)
-Another power outlet for the monitor power source
-Different port on machine (USB C)
-Restarting
-Installing Stillcolor and using as directed in this discussion
-Turned off night shift
-Uninstalled any related apps for monitor control (f.lux)
Very frustrating to say the least.
If anyone has any other ideas or has gotten a solution from Apple support, please share.
I'm using an iMac 24 inch M1, 2021 with 16gm memory updated to Tahoe 26.0.1.
Since then the screen flickers terribly particularly when entering an internet search. It's very interesting and causing discomfort when using the screen. The device is also running hot.
Prior to the update it did not flicker at all - ever. And was cooler to the touch.
I am definitely seeing this with a Mac M2 mini powering an Apple Studio Display. The OS is 26.2 and Safari is the most current version. Massive flickering takes place when scrolling Facebook feeds. It gets so bad that I need to use a different browser. Also, some of the folder icons on the desktop are displaying as transparent. (tried to post a screen shot but the forum errors won't let me.) This appears to have started with the 26.2 update.
macbook pro m1 16 gb Tahoe 26.3 - UI is flickering all over the place. mostly native UI and apps are affected. this is unusable☠️ https://youtu.be/tx3JY4nJkXk https://youtu.be/u9ejpLwnlq0
https://youtube.com/shorts/8uK84VbPQPo?feature=share
Screen flickering after updating to Mac OS Tahoe
