How to Fix Cursor Blinking in Windows?

A cursor or mouse pointer is usually a nonblinking solid arrow or similar shape when working in Windows 10. In Microsoft Word like applications, the cursor becomes a vertical bar that blinks to indicate where you are working in the document.

But a cursor that is blinking/flashes rapidly or flickers may indicate some problem with the mouse or mouse drivers, video problems or Anti-virus Software and Other Issues. This blinking cursor is quite annoying and makes day to day operation of the computer very difficult. This error can drive any PC user nuts.

The majority among the pool of Windows 10 users who have been affected by this issue are people who have a fingerprint scanner attached to their system. All of the other affected users were suffering from this problem because of third-party software or driver, but the culprit behind this issue, in almost all cases, was found to be an input device or a third-party application or driver paired with an input device.

Many Windows 10 users complained about the cursor blinking in Windows 10. Thankfully this problem can be fixed and here it is how:

What causes the Cursor to Blink?

After receiving several reports from users and doing our experiments, we concluded that the issue occurred due to several different reasons. Some of the reasons why you might experience this problem are but not limited to:

Solution 1: Restart the Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is the file manager used by Windows 10.  It allows users to manage files, folders and network connections, as well as search for files and related components. Windows Explorer has also grown to support new features unrelated to file management such as playing audio and videos and launching programs, etc. The desktop and the taskbar also form part of Windows Explorer. The look, feel and functionalities of Windows Explorer have been enhanced with each version of Windows and starting with Windows 8.0, Windows Explorer has been called File Explorer.

Several times restarting the Windows Explorer can solve the problem

1. Right-click on Taskbar and click on Task Manager
2. On Task Manager, Right Click on Windows Explorer and Click on End Task

   

3. On Task Manager, Click on File Menu and Click on New Task

   

4. In New Task Window, Type explorer.exe and click ok/

   

And your problem will be solved. If not, move to the next solution

Solution 2: Updating Mouse and Keyboard Drivers

The mouse driver and keyboard driver may be causing your cursor to flicker. Check the driver versions you have installed for your hardware and make sure they are the most recent versions. Check manufacturer’s websites for information about hardware and software conflicts with programs that you are running. Wireless mice or keyboards can have USB conflicts that may make your cursor flicker.

If you are using wireless products, your cursor may flicker erratically when the batteries in the mouse or keyboard are low.

1. Press Windows Logo key + X to open the WinX Menu.
2. Click on Device Manager.
3. Expand the Mice and other pointing devices
4. Right-click on each entry under your computer’s Mice and other pointing devices and click on Update Driver.

   

5. Restart your computer, and there should no longer be flickering in your mouse pointer and your mouse pointer should be entirely usable.

Solution 3: VIDEO DRIVER ISSUES

Video driver problems can manifest in a variety of ways, one of which is causing the cursor to flicker or disappear altogether. Check to make sure that you have the latest version of the video card drivers needed for your hardware and operating system. The video card manufacturer’s website is a good place to start for troubleshooting problems and usually has downloadable video drivers and a FAQ section. The operating system manufacturer’s website or online computer forums are good sources for finding out about known problems with video cards and your operating system. Microsoft’s DirectX drivers are updated periodically and you should ensure you have the latest version compatible with your hardware and software.

1. Press Windows Logo key + X to open the WinX Menu.
2. Click on Device Manager.
3. Expand the Sound Video and Game Controller
4. Right-click on Video on your computer’s Sound and Video and Game Controller and click on Update. Do the same with Display adapters.

   

5. Restart your computer, and there should no longer be a flickering in your mouse pointer and your mouse pointer should be entirely usable.

Solution 4: Disabling HP Simple Pass Feature

For HP users with biometric devices on their computers, the culprit is an HP application for biometric devices known as HP SimplePass.
HP SimplePass facilitates the use of a biometric device with an HP computer and also allows users to control what their biometric device does. However, the application just doesn’t pair very well with Windows 10, consequently giving rise to this issue. If you are an HP user experiencing from this problem and you have HP SimplePass installed, all you need to do itofix this issue is disable one of HP SimplePass’s features. To do so, you need to:

1. Launch HP SimplePass.
2. Click on the Settings button (denoted by a gear) in the top-right side of the window.
3. Uncheck LaunchSite under Personal settings.

   

4. Click on OK.

That is it.

Disabling this feature of HP SimplePass still leaves the HP utility entirely usable, but if you don’t use it and don’t even plan on using it, it would probably be best if you uninstalled it entirely to prevent any further issues in the future.

Solution 5: Disabling Biometric Devices

Old drivers of Biometric Devices have compatibility issues with Windows 10 and If you have any computer that has a biometric device and are suffering from this issue, one of the best methods that you can use to resolve it is to simply disable your biometric device. Yes, disabling your biometric device will leave it unusable, but you decide what’s better – an unusable biometric device or an unusable mouse pointer. To disable your computer’s biometric device, you need to:

1. Press Windows Logo key + X to open the WinX Menu.
2. Click on Device Manager.
3. Expand the Biometric devices

   

4. Right-click on your computer’s biometric device and click on Disable.

Restart your computer, and there should no longer be a blue flashing loading circle next to your mouse pointer and your mouse pointer should be entirely usable.

Solution 6: Disabling Antivirus software and other tips

A flickering cursor in an Internet browser can be caused by issues related to CSS coding or scripts that run within the browser. To troubleshoot a coding problem, try visiting a website that does not run CSS or scripts to see if the problem goes away.

1. Anti-virus software can also interfere with the driver software and cause the cursor to flicker. Check the manufacturer’s as well as anti-virus website for information about product issues and troubleshooting.
2. Moreover, it is a good idea to scan your system for anti-malware by the updated Anti-virus.
3. If your computer is busy with many programs running or is actively saving files to the hard drive or reading a CD or DVD, the cursor may flicker temporarily while the system is active.