How to Fix Screen Tearing on Intel Graphics
Screen tearing is the appearance of horizontal sections of the screen momentarily offset from each other when two sequential frames are rendered in the same refresh cycle.
Example of Screen Tearing
Screen tearing mostly occurs when you are watching videos online, playing video games, or dragging an object across your screen. You may notice that a part of the screen is torn apart in one or two sections. This happens when the source video is not in sync with the refresh rate of your monitor.
The solution below should elimate screen tearing on your device if you have an Intel Graphics Controller inside. Use the command below to make sure you have an Intel Graphics Controller.
The solution below should elimate screen tearing on your device if you have an Intel Graphics Controller inside. Use the command below to make sure you have an Intel Graphics Controller.
Show Graphics Card Information
To display the information of your graphics card, open your Terminal and type the follow command below (then press Enter or Return).
inxi -G
To display the information of your graphics card, open your Terminal and type the follow command below (then press Enter or Return).
inxi -G
*** I am using the nano text editor in my solutions below. If you do not have nano installed and you would like to install it, then open your
Terminal and enter the following (then press Enter or Return):
sudo apt-get install nano
IMPORTANT: Sudo part is meant for running this command as a root user, so you may be prompted to enter a password in case you
are not logged into as a root user at the moment.
Terminal and enter the following (then press Enter or Return):
sudo apt-get install nano
IMPORTANT: Sudo part is meant for running this command as a root user, so you may be prompted to enter a password in case you
are not logged into as a root user at the moment.
Fixing Screen Tearing
* Create a new configuration directory /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/
You can create this new directory using the Terminal. In your Terminal type the following (then press Enter or Return):
sudo mkdir -p /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/
* Use your favorite text editor to create a configuration file called 20-intel.conf. I am using nano in the example below.
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
* Put the information below inside the 20-intel.conf file and then save and exit the file by pressing the ctrl button and the X key,
then press the y key, and then press Enter..
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection
* Reboot your system for the new configuration to take effect.
* Create a new configuration directory /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/
You can create this new directory using the Terminal. In your Terminal type the following (then press Enter or Return):
sudo mkdir -p /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/
* Use your favorite text editor to create a configuration file called 20-intel.conf. I am using nano in the example below.
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
* Put the information below inside the 20-intel.conf file and then save and exit the file by pressing the ctrl button and the X key,
then press the y key, and then press Enter..
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection
* Reboot your system for the new configuration to take effect.
Press ctrl & X
Press the y key
Press the Enter key
If you still notice some screen tearing after preforming the steps above, then you'll need to edit the 20-intel.conf file to include an
extra option. Use your text editor to edit the 20-intel.conf file to include the AccelMethod option and then reboot your system.
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "AccelMethod" "uxa"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection
If you still notice screen tearing you'll need to edit the 20-intel.conf file to include another option. Use your text editor to edit the 20-intel.conf file to include the TrippleBuffer option and then reboot your system.
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "AccelMethod" "uxa"
Option "TearFree" "true"
Option "TripleBuffer" "true"
EndSection
Hopefully, one of these 20-intel.conf files will fix your screen tearing problem. The first method fixed mine.
If for some reason you still have screen tearing then you'll need to edit the etc/enviroment file.
* Open your Terminal and enter sudo nano /etc/environment and then press Enter or Return
* Add the folling lines:
CLUTTER_PAINT=disable-clipped-redraws:disable-culling
CLUTTER_VBLANK=True
* Then save and exit the file by pressing the ctrl button and the X key, then press the y key, and then press Enter.
extra option. Use your text editor to edit the 20-intel.conf file to include the AccelMethod option and then reboot your system.
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "AccelMethod" "uxa"
Option "TearFree" "true"
EndSection
If you still notice screen tearing you'll need to edit the 20-intel.conf file to include another option. Use your text editor to edit the 20-intel.conf file to include the TrippleBuffer option and then reboot your system.
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
Section "Device"
Identifier "Intel Graphics"
Driver "intel"
Option "AccelMethod" "uxa"
Option "TearFree" "true"
Option "TripleBuffer" "true"
EndSection
Hopefully, one of these 20-intel.conf files will fix your screen tearing problem. The first method fixed mine.
If for some reason you still have screen tearing then you'll need to edit the etc/enviroment file.
* Open your Terminal and enter sudo nano /etc/environment and then press Enter or Return
* Add the folling lines:
CLUTTER_PAINT=disable-clipped-redraws:disable-culling
CLUTTER_VBLANK=True
* Then save and exit the file by pressing the ctrl button and the X key, then press the y key, and then press Enter.
Press ctrl & X
Press the y key
Press the Enter key
How to fix Screen Tearing in Chrome/Chromium/Opera Browsers
If you continue to have screen tearing problems in Google Chrome or Chromium browsers perform the following steps below:
1. Turn on your browser's hardware acceleration. Enter the following in the Chrome Browser's Address Bar:
chrome://settings/
Turn on "Use hardware acceleration when available"
2. Turn off or disable Smooth Scrolling. Enter the following in the Chrome Browser's Address Bar:
chrome://flags/
chrome://flags/
In the Search flags bar type smooth and locate the feature called Smooth Scrolling.
Change the setting from Default to Disabled.
3. Turn on or enable the following flag Override software rendering list. Enter the following in the Chrome Browser's Address Bar:
chrome://flags/
Then change the option to Enabled and the restart your browser.
You should no longer have screen tearing in your Chrome and Cromium browsers. This fix also works for the Opera browser. Use opera://flags instead of chrome://flags/ if you are using Opera.
You should no longer have screen tearing in your Chrome and Cromium browsers. This fix also works for the Opera browser. Use opera://flags instead of chrome://flags/ if you are using Opera.
How to Fix Screen Tearing on Intel Graphic Controllers
May 31, 2018
Below are some videos from YouTube that will allow you to test for screen tearing and blurring.
WARNING: The Following Videos Contain Flashing Images
Tearing & Blurring Test
Tearing Test @60fps
Vsync Tearing Test