How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

So, you just opened your laptop for work, and you notice that there are vertical or horizontal lines on laptop screen. Your display is not working properly and it shows abnormal colors. What do you do now? Do not worry, these display issues are more common and can be fixed with a few quick & easy steps. This problem may be caused by both hardware or software-related issues and hence, determining that is imperative to solving it. All the solutions listed in this guide have been duly tested out. Use the accompanied snapshots as your guiding stones to fix vertical or horizontal lines on computer monitor screen.

How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

How to Fix Horizontal/Vertical Lines on Windows 10 Laptop or Monitor Screen

Random lines can start appearing on your system owing to multiple reasons, such as:

  • Defective Hardware – Every display monitor requires a different installation technique and associated hardware such as cables and GPU. If your ribbon cables are disconnected, or your display monitor is incompatible with the system, horizontal lines on the monitor screen may appear.
  • Outdated/ Incompatible Driver – All the display-related settings such as display screen, graphics, effects, are produced by the installed graphics card. Hence, if the graphics card driver is outdated or incompatible with the operating system, then you may face the said issue.
  • Incorrect Display Settings – If an incompatible screen resolution is used with your display monitor, then this problem may occur.
  • Issues in Windows OS – If you are using a malware-ridden operating system, or if the integral files of Windows 10 responsible for graphic production are affected or not working properly, then you may face the said issue.

Pro Tip: In order to determine the primary reason behind this problem, restart your computer and enter BIOS Settings. Read our article on How to Enter BIOS on Windows 10 here. If the lines still appear on your screen, then it is a hardware-related issue. If you don’t, then it is a software-related issue.

Method 1: Resolve Hardware Issues

Checking the hardware equipment is crucial to fix horizontal or vertical lines on computer monitor screen.

1. Make sure that the monitors and cables are compatible with each other. Read here to learn about Most Popular Computer Cable Types.

vga cable

2. Clean the screen gently with cotton balls.

3. Look for cracks in the screen.

4. Get ribbon cables checked by a technician.

Method 2: Adjust Screen Resolution

Start by adjusting screen resolution to avoid friction between the Monitor and Windows operating system, as follows:

1. Right-click on an Empty space on the Desktop and click on Display Settings, as shown.

Right Click on an empty space on the desktop and click on Display Settings | How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

2. Click on the Display Resolution drop-down menu under Scale and Layout Settings.

3. Here, select the resolution marked as Recommended and restart your PC.

Display Resolution dark theme

Also Read: Fix Screen Resolution changes by itself

Method 3: Run Windows Troubleshooter

Option 1: Run Video Playback Troubleshooter

On certain occasions, users complained of fluctuations or lines on monitor or laptop screen while watching or streaming videos. The built-in Windows troubleshooter can be greatly helpful in diagnosing this problem.

1. Press Windows + I keys simultaneously to launch Windows Settings.

2. Click on Update & Security, as shown.

Click on Update and Security | How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

3. Now, click on Troubleshoot in the left pane. Then, select Additional troubleshooters in the right pane.

Click on Troubleshoot. Then, select Additional troubleshooters in the right pane.

4. Scroll down to select Video Playback and click Run the troubleshooter.

Scroll down to select Video Playback and click on Run the troubleshooter.

Option 2: Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

If the problem is more widespread and not limited to videos, then running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter is your best bet.
1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to launch the Run dialog box.

2. Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and click on OK, as shown.

type in command msdt.exe id DeviceDiagnostic in Run command box and select OK

3. Here click on the Advanced option, as depicted below.

click on Advanced option in Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

4. Check the box marked Apply repairs automatically and click on Next.

check apply repairs automatically option in hardware and devices troubleshooter and click on Next

5. Once the process is completed, restart your PC and check if the issue is resolved.

Method 4: Run DISM Scan

DISM is essential for fixing issues in Component-Based Servicing or CBS. If you are facing problems with Windows Display files, then this could fix lines on laptop screen issue.

1. Type & search cmd. Click on Run as administrator to launch Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

launch control panel run as administrator from windows search bar. How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

2. Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth as shown and hit Enter.

dism scanhealth command

3. After the first scan is complete, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command.

dism restore health command

4. Restart your Windows computer once done. If this doesn’t fix the problem, try the upcoming solutions.

Also Read: Fix DISM Host Servicing Process High CPU Usage

Method 5: Update Graphics Drivers

As mentioned before, graphics cards are the visual force of your system. Hence, any malfunction in the same can cause multiple display issues. Here’s how to fix horizontal lines on the laptop screen by updating the Graphics Drivers:

1. Press the Windows key and type Device Manager. Then, click on Open, as shown.

Type Device Manager in the search bar and click Open. How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

2. Here, double-click on Display adapters to expand it.

3. Right-click on the display driver (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce 940 MX) and select Update driver, as depicted.

Right-click on your driver and select Update driver

4. Now, select Search automatically for drivers.

Now select Search automatically for drivers

5A. Your driver will update to the latest version.

5B. If your driver is already up-to-date, then you will see the following message:

If your driver is already up-to-date, then you will see the following screen

6. Finally, click on Close and restart your PC.

Method 6: Roll Back Driver Updates

Certain updates which your graphics card driver receives might be buggy or incompatible with your system. In such cases, downgrading the graphics card driver can work too.

1. Go to Device Manager > Display adapters, as earlier.

2. Right-click on display driver (e.g. Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620) and select Properties.

right click on intel display driver and select properties in device manager. How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

3. Switch to the Driver tab and click on Roll Back Driver, as shown.

go to details tab and click on roll back drivers in driver properties window. How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

4. Restart your system and confirm that the lines do not appear anymore.

Also Read: How to Tell If Your Graphics Card is Dying

Method 7: Update Windows

If none of the above methods worked for you, then try updating your Windows to fix lines on laptop screen.

1. Launch Settings app by searching for it in the Windows Search bar.

Launch Settings through the Search Menu.

2. Here, click on Update and Security.

Click on Update and Security. How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

3. Next, click on Windows Update from the left pane.

On this Screen, look for the options of Windows Update on the Left pane 

4. Next, click on Check for Updates from the right pane.

Next, click on Check for Updates. How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen

5A. Download the updates if any available. Click on Restart now to install these.

5B. Or else, the screen will display You’re up to date, as depicted below.

windows update you're up to date. how to fix lines on laptop screen

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It must be very frustrating when horizontal or vertical lines appear on computer monitor screen. We hope that with the help of these coherent solutions, you could learn how to fix lines on laptop screen. Drop your queries or suggestions in the comments section below.

1 thought on “How to Fix Lines on Laptop Screen”

  1. Avatar photo
    Winod Murlidhar Dhamnekar

    Hi,
    Pete Mitchell,
    Thanks. Your method number 3 with option 2 solved my “Vertical lines on Laptop screen” problem.

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