Vscode: VSCode causes my screen flicker when running on 4k external monitor

[blastmann]

• VSCode Version: 1.19.1
• OS Version: macOS 10.13.2

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Start VS Code, keep the window on focus
2. Copy and paste a large number of texts
3. The whole screen will flicker (not only VS Code)

Does this issue occur when all extensions are disabled?: Yes

Etc:

• Occurs when all plugins are disabled
• Does not occur when window is not in focus
• Occurs on external 4k display at 3360x1890
• "editor.disableTranslate3d": true not work

[blastmann]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkjwA79ebW4

FYI, the video above shows the details about this issue.

[bpasero]

Does it reproduce if you run "code --disable-gpu"?

[blastmann]

No. It's working now. Thanks. @bpasero

[bergmeister]

I have a similar problem that happens only on a particular Azure VM (no high-res, only 2 HD monitors). The problem happens also in the latest Insider build. I have tried code --disable-gpu but no luck. For some reason, I do not have the setting editor.disableTranslate3d...

[drewlustro]

Also have this problem :|

[bergmeister]

The problem could be solved at the end and it turned out to be a bug in the latest Citrix Virtual host software (I am using a thin client to connect to my dev VM in Azure)

[dylantf]

I've been getting this as well for as long as I've had my 4k monitor (about 1 year) and have just dealt with it. The whole screen flickers to a strange black screen with green lines whenever i switch tabs inside vscode, which is pretty frequent so it's definitely annoying.

Starting with the --disable-gpu flag resolves the screen flickering, but the app itself still flickers black momentarily. Still an upgrade, I guess...

I'm on macOS 10.13.4 and VSCode 1.22.2.

It seems fine on my 1080p monitor (no scaling) and on Windows (any monitor/scaling).

[capaj]

I have a similar issue, but the flickering is much more severe. I run on

and I my flickering is recorded here, sorry about my phone camera being out of focus so much:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peHqRBlXUM4

atom doesn't have any issues whatsoever even when in 4k. When I make the window smaller, flickering goes away, but that's not a solution. I tried running with code --disable-gpu but that only makes flickering faster-it does help a bit-I don't get whole blocks of content disappearing. I still get the flickering with it.

EDIT: code --ignore-gpu-blacklist fixed it! Finally! I was beginning to think I need to go back to Atom.

[unapieer]

Version 1.23.0 (1.23.0)
OS Version: macOS 10.12.6

HI,

I am little bit of a noob.
I am in VS Code, where/how do I enter code --ignore-gpu-blacklist ?

Sorry to sound out of touch.

[bergmeister]

@unapieer On the command line, the command code opens VSCode because the binary is called code, therefore it is an argument on how to open/start VSCode in the first place.

[capaj]

it would be really nice if that flag was enabled by default so that we wouldn't have to pass it every time.

[bergmeister]

Without being a VSCode expert, I would say, it does not make sense to disadvantage most of the users with not using the GPU only to account for a few people. A user setting would make more sense IMHO.

[kavehv]

I'm running into the same issue. I'm not sure what changed, but it just started happening randomly on 10.13.4 and 5 with VSCode 1.23.1 on the 3008x1692 scaled setting on Dell P2715q (4k) monitor driven by my 2015 Macbook Pro (with AMD GPU).

[johnelm]

--ignore-gpu-blacklist fixes it here. It doesn't show in the CLI help text, but it works. The flashing was intolerable, very happy to have it solved.

( --disable-gpu didn't help (it _does_ appear in the help text) ).

I'm on macOS 10.13.2

[drewlustro]

😭 Still happens w/ code --ignore-gpu-blacklist

[JaredSartin]

Mine just started doing it too... Mac 10.13.3 and 1.23.1 VSC

EDIT: Only way to solve is to set scaling on my external monitor to none. Scaled it flickers.

[johnelm]

oops, I should have been specific about my OS level - I'm at 10.13.2 ( and --ignore-gpu-blacklist is solving the issue for me ). I've updated my earlier post to include this.

[JaredSartin]

Running code . --high-dpi-support=1 seems to fix it as per #45492

[drewlustro]

Just took the time to download VSCode Insiders Version 1.24.0-insider and tried the following:

| Action | CLI | Result |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Launch normally | code-insiders | ❌ flickers |
| DPI flag | code-insiders --hi-dpi-support=1 | ❌ flickers |
| GPU blacklist flag | code-insiders --disable-gpu-blacklist | ❌ flickers |
| Open laptop clamshell
in frustration; only use 4K monitor | code-insiders | ✅ FUCKING WORKS |

macOS 10.13.4 - Radeon Pro 560 4GB

[tryangul]

code-insiders works here as well
macOS 10.12.6 - Intel HD 530

[vgeddes]

FYI There are also bleeding edge "exploration" builds available - these use Electron 2.0 and a newer Chrome: #45542

I'm now using the exploration build together with --disable-gpu-blacklist for a flicker and artifact free experience.

[bpasero]

@blastmann (or anyone) do you still see this in our insiders release? You can give our preview releases a try from: https://code.visualstudio.com/insiders/

[blastmann]

@bpasero The newest insider release seems working good now. I can't reproduce this issue.