Who hasn't experienced this: you're deep in work, eyes glued to your screen, when suddenly… horizontal lines appear out of nowhere. The screen is then covered in neatly parallel streaks, like some kind of supernatural message. Guaranteed to send shivers down your spine!
But rest assured, these horizontal lines, while perhaps alarming, are generally harmless; a simple maneuver is usually enough to resolve this problem, which can have various causes. Several actions are possible in such a situation, and one of them will likely get you out of this minor turbulence.
So, how do you fix horizontal lines on a PC screen? Here are 5 steps to follow.
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Turn off your PC screen and turn it back on
When an electrical device shows signs of malfunction, the solution is often as simple as this: turn it off and on again. We're then surprised to find that the problem has disappeared. This is particularly true with computer monitors; while the appearance of horizontal lines might lead us to imagine the worst, a few minutes of respite can be enough to fix the problem.
A PC monitor is packed with tiny components and extremely sensitive circuits: even slight overheating can impair its operation. Simply letting it cool down will restore it to a stable state.
Check the wiring
It is important that your screen is connected with the correct cables: check that you have not used an analog cable for image transmission (which is digital).
Regarding the connection itself, carefully check that each cable is properly connected to its port. It's not uncommon for the problem to be related to an incorrect connection; cables can loosen slightly if they are inadvertently pulled. The transfer of digital data, or of electrical current (if it's the power supply cable), will then be reduced. In this situation, horizontal lines may indeed appear on the screen.
Check the condition of the cables; bent or damaged pins can interfere with the connection. It's obvious, but it's not necessarily the first thing you think of when you see lines appear on the screen, so it's worth mentioning. This part of the cable (the pins) is extremely fragile; it tends to bend easily with the slightest pressure. Damaged contact points or a damaged cable can therefore affect the screen display. In this regard, it's a good idea to replace aging cables.
Adjust the resolution or try another source
An inappropriate resolution (too high or too low) can affect image display. In this situation, simply adjusting the resolution will resolve the horizontal line issue on the screen.
To pinpoint the source of the malfunction, you can also try a different connection: connect the monitor to a laptop or game console and see if the problem persists. If it does, you'll at least have confirmation that the issue is indeed with the monitor.
Adjust the refresh rate
Also called the refresh rate, the refresh rate indicates how many times per second the display is updated; in other words, it's the speed at which the computer refreshes the image. This rate is a frequency expressed in hertz (Hz); a rate of 75 Hz means the image is refreshed 75 times per second. The higher the rate, the smoother the image on the screen.
If you connect your laptop to the monitor, it is essential that both have the same refresh rate. Otherwise, the image may start to flicker and display horizontal lines.
Update your graphics card driver
Outdated software can sometimes cause image problems, particularly horizontal lines on the screen. Updating your graphics card driver may be necessary. These drivers are essential for your PC's components to function within the operating system. An outdated driver or an incorrect installation can lead to malfunctions on your PC. If the previous steps haven't resolved the issue, the solution may lie there.
As you can see, horizontal lines on the screen can have many different causes. Most often, it's due to faulty or defective cables; they are fragile and wear out quite easily. Keep this in mind if your display is acting up, and check them first before moving on to other troubleshooting steps. If the problem isn't with the cables, use another source to determine if it's coming from the monitor or the PC. Resolution, updating your graphics card driver, and the refresh rate should also be considered when trying to fix horizontal lines on the screen. If none of these steps provide a solution, there's a good chance your graphics card is faulty. In that case, you'll need to replace it.
If you are experiencing a pink screen of death , you can check out this link to find out how to fix it.
