Seems like The Grinch came early this year, leaving you with a message:
“Merry Green Screen on your laptop.”
Go figure.
But you know what else is synonymous with green?
Hope.
And that’s my message to you today:
A list of proven fixes to get the Grinchy green off your laptop.
Continue reading to discover:
- How to update your graphics card driver.
- 9 proven ways to fix a green screen on your laptop.
- When you should consider reinstalling your Windows program.
- And so much more…
Why is my laptop screen Green?
Your laptop screen’s green because of a loose or faulty cable connection. Dirty cables can also create display issues. Another reason for a green screen’s a worn-out video card. Other times, it may be running outdated driver software. Lastly, the root cause could be a damaged LCD screen or hardware.
How to fix a Green screen on your laptop? 9 ways
#1: Clean and inspect your laptop cables
And I mean…
Every. Single. Cable.
Because here’s why your cables could be the main culprit:
If dust and debris manage to get inside a cable, it affects the connection with your laptop.
Specifically, that loose connection leads to your screen flickering or flashing green.
Sound familiar?
In fact, screen flickering issues happen in LG, Samsung, Vizio, TCL, and Sony TVs too.
One of the major culprits? Loose and dirty cables.
So, what do you need to clean a cable, though?
Wet wipes? Nah.
All you need is a dry cloth for removing any dirt and dust.
In addition, a cotton bud can be useful for cleaning hard-to-reach areas inside your cables.
From here, plug the cable back into your laptop.
And make sure it’s a tight fit.
#2: Power cycle your laptop
As laptops age, it’s common to experience a few problems here and there.
In most cases, an old laptop usually reveals software issues down the line.
However, that’s not always the case.
Sometimes, it could be a hardware problem, like…
- Your graphics card’s worn down.
- The motherboard needs to be replaced.
- Laptop battery can’t produce enough power.
This isn’t the first laptop I’ve had that experienced display issues.
Back then, my Lenovo laptop displayed a black screen out of the blue.
And as it turns out, it was an LCD display hardware issue.
That aside, if we’re dealing with a software problem or glitch, the solution’s simple:
Power cycle your laptop.
Put simply, it’s a simple matter of resetting your laptop to clear any temporary glitches or bugs.
How do you do it?
Easy. Just…
- Turn off your laptop.
- Unplug it from its power source.
- Wait for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Plug your laptop back into the power outlet.
#3: Replace your laptop cables
Now, if you notice the same green screen issue, it may mean your cable’s faulty.
If you have a spare laptop, try plugging your cables into its ports.
Should the same green screen appear, that’s good news.
Why? Because all you need to do to fix your issue is:
Replace your USB or HDMI cable.
#4: Let your laptop cool down
It sounds simple, but let me give you 1 good reason why you need to:
Your laptop’s overheating.
Now, how does that happen?
There are several reasons, such as:
- Running too many applications in the background.
- Dirt and debris in your laptop’s cooling fans, which lead to overheating.
- Leaving a heavy program turned on for too long like video editing software.
So, when was the last time you had your laptop cleaned?
Because when there’s too much dust sitting on your laptop fans, it’s more likely to overheat.
Apart from that, running too many applications or programs at once isn’t a good practice either.
How so?
Put it this way.
Your laptop’s a machine that also has its limits.
The more applications you force it to run, the more work your laptop has to do.
And in effect, too much work = higher temperatures.
Keep that up and your laptop’s processor will undoubtedly overheat.
So, what can you do?
Shut down your laptop and set it aside for a couple of hours.
Then, turn it back on after it’s cooled down.
#5: Update your driver
Aside from loose connections and overheating, outdated drivers also cause a green screen.
After all, this is a problem that’s affecting your laptop’s display.
So it’s only safe to say that an outdated video driver can cause your graphics card to, well…
Become less functional.
In fact, this happened to me a few years back.
Running a video game that requires high specs on outdated software simply doesn’t work.
Why?
Because your graphics card needs specific requirements to run the game smoothly.
Which you’ll find in a driver update.
Without it, your laptop’s graphics card ends up running the game with video resolution issues.
So, let’s go ahead and update your driver:
- Hit the Windows icon and “X” on your keyboard.
- A pop-up menu should appear.
- Select “Device Manager.”
- Scroll down and click on “Display adapters.”
- Right-click your graphics card and tap “Update driver.”
#6: Run an antivirus scan
Viruses.
Annoying little tech critters with the sole purpose of making your life harder.
And a green screen is 1 sign that your laptop might be infected.
Notice how I said…“might.”
Because you shouldn’t always assume a virus or malware infected your laptop.
If you did, you might believe that your laptop’s a goner.
But to tell you the truth, not all viruses mean your issue’s a lost cause.
Instead, here’s what you wanna do:
Consider the possibility and run antivirus software to check for dangerous viruses.
If your software finds a threat, it’ll eliminate the virus right off the bat.
However, you might be wondering…
“Should I use my default antivirus software or get a new one?”
Want my tech advice?
Do both.
Your default antivirus software can help, but it’s not as powerful as a dedicated program.
With that, here are some great antivirus programs I recommend:
#7: Disconnect your peripherals
Here’s a less obvious reason your screen suddenly turned green:
Your peripherals are causing display issues due to a loose or damaged connection.
“What does that mean?”
Peripherals are devices used to put in or get information out of a computer.
In fact, you use them every day when you’re on your laptop.
Some of these include the following:
Now, here’s the problem.
If these devices are faulty, they can create display issues on your laptop.
Specifically, your Windows system can’t establish a proper connection.
Luckily, fixing this problem doesn’t take you even 30 seconds to do.
Because it’s as simple as:
Disconnecting any peripheral from your laptop.
Then, check your screen if there’s a green flickering or flashing color.
If the issue goes away, it means your peripheral’s damaged.
And, of course, you know what the best solution for this issue is, right?
Exactly. You’ll have to replace the damaged peripheral.
#8: Uninstall corrupted apps
If the green screen only appears when you launch an app, it’s not your laptop’s fault.
For example.
If your laptop’s green screen only shows up when you launch Netflix, then…
- The application has a corrupt file that’s causing the issue.
- Netflix has a bug or glitch, which creates display errors on your screen.
What can you do from here, then?
To remove the corrupted file or glitch, you’ll have to uninstall the app and reinstall it again.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Head to your laptop’s settings menu.
- Select “Apps.”
- Scroll down to the app you want to uninstall.
- Click on the 3-dot icon beside the app name.
- Hit “Uninstall.”
- Restart your laptop.
- Reinstall the app.
#9: Reinstall your Windows
You’ve made it this far, so don’t give up just yet.
When nothing seems to solve your laptop’s green screen issue, a reinstallation’s needed.
Specifically, reinstalling your Windows program.
And that means erasing all your data and saved applications on your laptop.
Sounds scary?
Well, if it means removing the green screen once and for all, it’s a small sacrifice.
Wouldn’t you agree?
To get started, here’s what you wanna do:
- Go to your laptop’s settings menu.
- Tap on “System.”
- Click on “Recovery.”
- Under “Recovery options,” select “Reset PC.”
- From here, choose the reset option you want to proceed with.
- Wait for your Windows to initiate the reinstallation.
- Set your laptop aside and wait for the entire process to finish.
- After the reinstallation, check if the green screen’s still there.
#Bonus: Contact your technician
Despite all the effort, your laptop still believes it should rock that green screen color.
And when that happens, it means you’re dealing with a damaged hardware component.
This might be any of the following:
- Your LCD screen’s damaged.
- Motherboard or hardware driver issue.
- Graphics card or processor malfunction.
The best way to specifically tell which hardware component’s causing the issue?
Contact a licensed technician to inspect your unit.
Now, take note.
Don’t just bring your laptop to any repair shop.
At best, the technician should also be familiar with your laptop brand.
For instance.
If you’re using an ASUS laptop, you wouldn’t take it to a Lenovo store, right?
Although most laptops have similar specs, that doesn’t mean the hardware’s all the same.
Not to mention, fixing these issues can vary too, depending on your laptop’s make and model.
Finally, gauge the costs and expenses of repairing your laptop vs. buying a new one.
If the repair cost’s too expensive, you should consider getting a new laptop instead.
In most cases though, the average expense of a screen replacement’s between $100 to $300.
Then again, it also depends on how extensive the damage is.