Introduction:
A Gateway laptop’s screen flickering can be a very annoying problem, particularly if it only happens while the laptop is unplugged. There are a number of potential causes for this issue, such as power management settings, software bugs, or hardware problems. This comprehensive guide will take you step-by-step through the process of identifying and fixing screen flickering on your Gateway laptop that occurs when it is running on battery power.

Identify the Symptoms
It’s critical to comprehend the nature of the screen flickering problem before beginning any troubleshooting:
When the screen flickers, take note: Is this a regular occurrence when the laptop is powered by batteries, or does it happen occasionally?
Take note of the flickering pattern: Does the flickering happen all the time, only sometimes, or in conjunction with other issues like artifacting or the screen freezing?
Ascertain whether certain regions of the screen or the complete screen are flickering.
Update Graphics Drivers
Screen flickering problems are frequently caused by outdated or corrupted graphics drivers. To upgrade your graphics drivers, use these steps:
From the menu, choose “Device Manager” by pressing the Windows key + X.
“Display adapters” should be expanded.
To update your graphics card, right-click on it and choose “Update driver.”
Select the option to look for updated driver software automatically.
To finish the driver update procedure, adhere to the on-screen directions.
Check to see whether the screen flickering continues after restarting your laptop.
Adjust Power Management Settings
When the screen flickers after unplugging, power management settings may be the cause. See if changing these settings fixes the problem:
Utilizing the Windows key + X shortcut, choose “Power Options” from the menu.
Next to the power plan you have chosen, click “Change plan settings”.
Select “Change advanced power settings.”
To avoid harsh power-saving efforts, expand the “Display” category and set the “On battery” options for “Dimmed display brightness” and “Turn off display after” to settings that don’t allow them to happen.
To save the modifications, click “Apply” and then “OK”.
Try restarting your laptop and see if the flashing still occurs while it is powered by the battery.
Disable Adaptive Brightness
Adaptive Brightness is a feature of Windows that automatically modifies screen brightness according to surrounding light levels. But occasionally, this feature may result in problems with the screen flickering. Here’s how to turn it off:
Utilizing the Windows key + X shortcut, choose “Power Options” from the menu.
Next to the power plan you have chosen, click “Change plan settings”.
Select “Change advanced power settings.”
Find the “Enable adaptive brightness” option by expanding the “Display” category. Turn the “Plugged in” and “On battery” settings to “Off.” To save the modifications, click “Apply” and then “OK”.
Check to see whether the screen flickering continues after restarting your laptop.
Check for Physical Damage or Loose Connections
Screen flickering can also result from loose connections between the motherboard and display cable or physical damage to the display panel. Take the following actions to check for physical damage:
Turn off your laptop and unplug all of your accessories.
Check the laptop’s display panel carefully for any indications of dents, cracks, or other damage.
Examine the display cable connectors on your laptop, if you can, for any damage or looseness.
Make sure all cables are firmly reconnected and seated correctly.
Turn on your laptop and see if the flashing is still there.
Perform a Battery Calibration
Inaccurate battery calibration occasionally results in power-related problems, such as screen flickering when the device is unplugged. Here’s how to adjust the battery on your laptop:
Switch off your laptop’s power and insert the power adapter. Permit the battery to reach its full charging state.
After the laptop is completely charged, unplug the power supply and let it operate entirely on battery power until it hits a low charge point (around 5–10%).
After reconnecting the power adapter, let the battery fully charge to 100% again.
To reset the battery, repeat this cycle of complete drain and one or two recharges.
Once the laptop has been calibrated, restart it and see if the flickering still occurs while it is powered by the battery.
Conclusion:
When your Gateway laptop is powered by batteries, you may efficiently identify and fix screen flickering problems by following the methodical procedure described in this tutorial. Methodical troubleshooting techniques can assist you in determining the underlying cause of the issue and putting the required fixes in place, regardless of whether the issue is caused by out-of-date drivers, power management settings, physical damage, or battery calibration. If the problem still doesn’t go away after you try fixing it, you might think about calling Gateway customer service or a qualified expert for additional help. You can use your Gateway laptop to get a flicker-free, seamless computing experience if you are persistent and patient.
FAQ's
Check if you are on the Balanced Power Plan (or Optimized for Performance), that the Battery saver is off and what the Maximum Processor State is on battery, if that is set to <70% that could cause some screen flickering when the adapter is unplugged, change that
Check your Windows settings, System, Display, Advanced display options. The refresh there can be 60 Hz or higher (e.g. 165Hz on mine). When you unplug the cable and that value changes (may need to go Back and then Advanced display options to see the change), that is what is causing the brief flash.
Electrical fluctuations can cause monitor flickering. Ensure that your monitor is connected to a stable power outlet or use a surge protector. Unstable power supply can disrupt the performance of your monitor and lead to flickering issues.
No. Your battery provides power for your entire system. Powering the screen takes less energy than the CPU, and if your battery was having problems your laptop would simply not turn on or turn on and off completely. So the screen flickering is not due to the battery.
Depending on what caused the issue, the cost to fix a flickering screen can be very different. Repair costs for broken or loose video cables could range from $50 to $100. Repair costs could be higher, ranging from $100 to $300 or more. If the issue is the result of a failed graphics card or backlight.