How to Fix Screen Flickering on Ubuntu
This guide offers a clean and effective workaround that doesn’t introduce performance or battery life penalties.
Screen flickering on Ubuntu can be frustrating, especially when upgrading to a new LTS release like Ubuntu 24.04. If you’re using a device with an Intel GPU, the flickering and visual glitches might make you think your display is failing. However, the issue is likely software-related, not hardware.
The problem comes from a change in the Linux kernel (version 6.8+) that affects Intel GPUs, particularly older generations (6th-8th Gen CPUs). A kernel modification intended for newer hardware inadvertently caused flickering on older systems. Fortunately, a simple modification in the GRUB bootloader settings can resolve it without impacting performance or battery life.
The fix involves disabling a specific Intel IOMMU (Input-Output Memory Management Unit) feature related to integrated graphics. This adjustment tells the kernel to skip a problematic power management setting, eliminating the flickering. This guide will show you the exact steps to disable the Intel IOMMU for Graphics on your machine.
How to Disable Intel IOMMU for Graphics on Ubuntu
Step 1: Open the GRUB Configuration File
Run the following command in the terminal and enter your password afterwards:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
This opens the GRUB configuration file in the Nano text editor. You can replace nano with your preferred editor (e.g., gedit or vim).
Step 2: Modify the Boot Parameters
Look for the line starting with "GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT". By default, it should look like this:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
Add intel_iommu=igfx_off to the existing parameters, so it becomes:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash intel_iommu=igfx_off"
This change disables the Intel IOMMU for the integrated GPU, preventing the flickering issue.
Step 3: Save and Update GRUB
After making the change:
- Press "Ctrl + X" to save and "Ctrl + O" to exit the editor (if using Nano).
- Update GRUB to apply the changes by running the command below on your terminal:
sudo update-grub
Step 4: Reboot Your System
Once your system boots back up, the flickering should be gone.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
Conclusion
Screen flickering on Ubuntu 24.04 with Intel GPUs is an annoying but fixable issue caused by a kernel-level change. The solution we’ve covered, disabling Intel IOMMU for integrated graphics via GRUB, is a clean and effective workaround that doesn’t introduce performance or battery life penalties.
While this tweak resolves the problem, keep an eye on future kernel updates. Ubuntu may eventually include an official fix in later versions (likely with kernel 6.11+). When that happens, you can safely remove the intel_iommu=igfx_off parameter from your GRUB configuration.
For most users, this method provides an immediate and stable solution. If you’re still experiencing issues, double-check for typos in the GRUB file or consider checking for updated Intel drivers.
Image Credit: Oyinebiladou Omemu/techloy.com
