How To Fix Display Flashes and Upside Down Issue on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

In this article, we will discuss how to fix the issue of the display flashing and turning upside down on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. This is a common problem faced by many users and can be quite frustrating. But don’t worry, we have got you covered. Let’s dive in and see how to resolve this issue.

Understanding the Issue

The display flashing and turning upside down is usually caused by the gyroscope chip in your laptop, which is responsible for detecting the orientation of the device. Sometimes, this chip can malfunction or misinterpret the orientation, causing the display to flash or turn upside down.

Solution 1: Turn Off Auto Rotation

The first and simplest solution is to turn off the auto rotation feature. This can be done by clicking on the little icon next to the system menu in the upper right corner of your screen. This will disable the gyroscope chip’s auto rotation feature, which may resolve the issue.

Solution 2: Calibrate the Gyroscope Chip

Unfortunately, there is no direct way to calibrate the gyroscope chip in Ubuntu 18.04. However, you can try turning off auto rotation and manually adjusting the screen orientation using the Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys. This may help in aligning the display correctly.

Solution 3: Use xrandr Command

The xrandr command is a powerful tool for managing screen resolution and orientation in Linux. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open a terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
2. Run the command xrandr -q to find out the output name of your display. This command lists all the connected displays and their configurations.
3. Use the command xrandr --output {OUTPUT} --rotate normal to set the display rotation to normal. Replace {OUTPUT} with the actual output name of your display.

Here, --output specifies the output name and --rotate sets the rotation. The normal value means no rotation.

Solution 4: Blacklist the Kernel Module

If you have an HP laptop, you can try blacklisting the kernel module for the accelerometer. This can prevent the gyroscope chip from causing the display issues. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open a terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
2. Run the command sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf to edit the blacklist.conf file. This command opens the file in the nano text editor with sudo privileges.
3. Add the line blacklist hp_accel to the file and save it by pressing Ctrl + O and then Ctrl + X.

Here, blacklist is a directive that tells the kernel to not load the specified module, and hp_accel is the name of the module for the accelerometer.

Solution 5: Check for Similar Questions

If none of the above solutions work, you can search for similar questions or issues on forums like Ask Ubuntu. This can provide additional insights or alternative solutions from the community.

Conclusion

Fixing the display flashing and upside down issue on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS can be a bit tricky, but it’s definitely doable. Try the solutions mentioned above and see which one works best for you. Remember, the key is to be patient and methodical. Good luck!