Tab bar flickering randomly on both stable and preview version #18883

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opened 2026-01-31 06:27:07 +00:00 by claunia · 33 comments
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Originally created by @poqdavid on GitHub (Nov 13, 2022).

Windows Terminal version

1.16.2642.0

Windows build number

10.0.22621.0

Other Software

No response

Steps to reproduce

Just by normal usage but also sometimes it's triggered more when the app loses and gains focus

Expected Behavior

Expecting the tab bar not to flicker

Actual Behavior

Windows Terminal tab bar flickers randomly
WindowsTerminal_2022-11-12_17-14-47

Originally created by @poqdavid on GitHub (Nov 13, 2022). ### Windows Terminal version 1.16.2642.0 ### Windows build number 10.0.22621.0 ### Other Software _No response_ ### Steps to reproduce Just by normal usage but also sometimes it's triggered more when the app loses and gains focus ### Expected Behavior Expecting the tab bar not to flicker ### Actual Behavior Windows Terminal tab bar flickers randomly ![WindowsTerminal_2022-11-12_17-14-47](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/9592210/201533459-31924762-03d8-4f63-a5cd-81d728953039.gif)
claunia added the Issue-BugNeeds-Tag-FixTracking-External labels 2026-01-31 06:27:07 +00:00
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@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Nov 13, 2022):

Also want to add that all drivers are updated and this happens with both iGPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU
and wanted to mention I have both Stable and Preview versions installed

@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Nov 13, 2022): Also want to add that all drivers are updated and this happens with both iGPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU and wanted to mention I have both Stable and Preview versions installed
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@237dmitry commented on GitHub (Nov 14, 2022):

Is this only in pwsh? What if run it with -noprofile or temporary reset the prompt function function prompt { "PS $pwd> " }

@237dmitry commented on GitHub (Nov 14, 2022): Is this only in pwsh? What if run it with `-noprofile` or temporary reset the prompt function `function prompt { "PS $pwd> " }`
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@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Nov 14, 2022):

This just looks like a bug with acrylic itself. Can you file feedback via the Feedback Hub? I don't know what the area path for that might be... maybe Composition? Effects? Not sure if those are real paths.

I suspect this might get better with #13935. The "flickering" you see looks like the titlebar showing through, even though it shouldn't be. I bet when we hide the titlebar in that PR, this will go away

@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Nov 14, 2022): This just looks like a bug with acrylic itself. Can you file feedback via the Feedback Hub? I don't know what the area path for that might be... maybe Composition? Effects? Not sure if those are real paths. I suspect this might get better with #13935. The "flickering" you see looks like the titlebar showing through, even though it shouldn't be. I bet when we hide the titlebar in that PR, this will go away
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@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Nov 14, 2022):

@237dmitry No it's not just pwsh I tested it with other ones too and I did a profile reset also, I repaired the app but didn't make any difference I even tested different rendering options with the preview version

This just looks like a bug with acrylic itself. Can you file feedback via the Feedback Hub? I don't know what the area path for that might be... maybe Composition? Effects? Not sure if those are real paths.

I suspect this might get better with #13935. The "flickering" you see looks like the titlebar showing through, even though it shouldn't be. I bet when we hide the titlebar in that PR, this will go away

@zadjii-msft Oh sure here just made the feedback https://aka.ms/AAiq4zx, and also is there any ETA on when that PR will be on the preview version?

@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Nov 14, 2022): @237dmitry No it's not just pwsh I tested it with other ones too and I did a profile reset also, I repaired the app but didn't make any difference I even tested different rendering options with the preview version > This just looks like a bug with acrylic itself. Can you file feedback via the Feedback Hub? I don't know what the area path for that might be... maybe Composition? Effects? Not sure if those are real paths. > > I suspect this might get better with #13935. The "flickering" you see looks like the titlebar showing through, even though it shouldn't be. I bet when we hide the titlebar in that PR, this will go away @zadjii-msft Oh sure here just made the feedback https://aka.ms/AAiq4zx, and also is there any ETA on when that PR will be on the preview version?
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@lhecker commented on GitHub (Nov 15, 2022):

This issue seems quite unusual. I don't think we've seen anything like this before (with something like that green flickering), right? I hope your main memory / RAM isn't defective...

@lhecker commented on GitHub (Nov 15, 2022): This issue seems quite unusual. I don't think we've seen anything like this before (with something like that green flickering), right? I hope your main memory / RAM isn't defective...
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@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Nov 15, 2022):

This issue seems quite unusual. I don't think we've seen anything like this before (with something like that green flickering), right? I hope your main memory / RAM isn't defective...

oh sorry I should have mentioned that green color is just my theme color I keep changing it to different ones time to time

@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Nov 15, 2022): > This issue seems quite unusual. I don't think we've seen anything like this before (with something like that green flickering), right? I hope your main memory / RAM isn't defective... oh sorry I should have mentioned that green color is just my theme color I keep changing it to different ones time to time
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@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Nov 15, 2022):

also relevant:

  • #13200
    • this was promoted to MSFT:39958690, which is fixed, but unfortunately doesn't have a link to the commit, so I can't be sure which build that's in. Something >22621, that's for sure.
@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Nov 15, 2022): also relevant: * #13200 - this was promoted to MSFT:39958690, which is fixed, but unfortunately doesn't have a link to the commit, so I can't be sure which build that's in. Something >22621, that's for sure.
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@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Nov 16, 2022):

@zadjii-msft should I change my feedback from Category Apps > Windows Terminal to something else?

@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Nov 16, 2022): @zadjii-msft should I change my feedback from `Category Apps > Windows Terminal` to something else?
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@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Feb 8, 2023):

Hey just looping back on this, lost it over the holidays.

"Category Apps > Windows Terminal" probably won't get this to the right area path. That would go to us, but our feedback provider isn't gonna capture the graphics traces that {someone} needs. There's probably a more accurate one for a "composition" or "acrylic" area. Alas, Feedback Hub is turbofucked on my machine so I can't look it up myself 😕

It's also possible that this was something that was already fixed by the composition team. Did this happen to go away on its own/?

@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Feb 8, 2023): Hey just looping back on this, lost it over the holidays. "Category Apps > Windows Terminal" probably won't get this to the right area path. That would go to us, but our feedback provider isn't gonna capture the graphics traces that {someone} needs. There's probably a more accurate one for a "composition" or "acrylic" area. Alas, Feedback Hub is turbofucked on my machine so I can't look it up myself 😕 It's also possible that this was something that was already fixed by the composition team. Did this happen to go away on its own/?
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@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Feb 9, 2023):

@zadjii-msft Well I just checked both Windows Terminal Preview Version: 1.17.1023 and Windows Terminal Version: 1.16.10262.0 they still have the same exact problem unfortunately

also what category I should change it to?

@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Feb 9, 2023): @zadjii-msft Well I just checked both `Windows Terminal Preview Version: 1.17.1023` and `Windows Terminal Version: 1.16.10262.0` they still have the same exact problem unfortunately also what category I should change it to?
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@carlos-zamora commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2023):

@zadjii-msft Well I just checked both Windows Terminal Preview Version: 1.17.1023 and Windows Terminal Version: 1.16.10262.0 they still have the same exact problem unfortunately

also what category I should change it to?

Try "Desktop Environment" > "DWM (Desktop Window Manager)"

@carlos-zamora commented on GitHub (Feb 13, 2023): > @zadjii-msft Well I just checked both `Windows Terminal Preview Version: 1.17.1023` and `Windows Terminal Version: 1.16.10262.0` they still have the same exact problem unfortunately > > also what category I should change it to? Try "Desktop Environment" > "DWM (Desktop Window Manager)"
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@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Feb 14, 2023):

Try "Desktop Environment" > "DWM (Desktop Window Manager)"

Ok thank you since I couldn't edit the feedback I made a new one and linked the existing one and here is the new one https://aka.ms/AAjms05

@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Feb 14, 2023): > Try "Desktop Environment" > "DWM (Desktop Window Manager)" Ok thank you since I couldn't edit the feedback I made a new one and linked the existing one and here is the new one https://aka.ms/AAjms05
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@DHowett commented on GitHub (Mar 1, 2023):

Thanks for the feedback! We're tracking it internally at (you won't be able to see) MSFT-43378906

Marking this one up for "external" tracking.

@DHowett commented on GitHub (Mar 1, 2023): Thanks for the feedback! We're tracking it internally at (you won't be able to see) MSFT-43378906 Marking this one up for "external" tracking.
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@marbaa commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2023):

Stable Version: 1.17.11461.0
Windows 11 22621.2134

I'm not experiencing flickering, but when Acrylic tabs are enabled, when I switch to other tab, the tabbar switches from acrylic to transparent and stays transparent. It doesn't happen when making screenshot or recording screen with Snipping tool.

When I take focus away from Terminal and bring back, tab bar is acrylic again. Then switch to other tab and it is again transparent.

Dell 7560 with Nvidia T1200 GPU.

@marbaa commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2023): Stable Version: 1.17.11461.0 Windows 11 22621.2134 I'm not experiencing flickering, but when Acrylic tabs are enabled, when I switch to other tab, the tabbar switches from acrylic to transparent and stays transparent. It doesn't happen when making screenshot or recording screen with Snipping tool. When I take focus away from Terminal and bring back, tab bar is acrylic again. Then switch to other tab and it is again transparent. Dell 7560 with Nvidia T1200 GPU.
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@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2023):

I still get it on both the Stable and Preview version
Asus GL504GW with Nvidia 2070 (TU106M) driver 537.34

Stable Version: 1.17.11461.0 Windows 11 22621.2134

I'm not experiencing flickering, but when Acrylic tabs are enabled, when I switch to other tab, the tabbar switches from acrylic to transparent and stays transparent. It doesn't happen when making screenshot or recording screen with Snipping tool.

When I take focus away from Terminal and bring back, tab bar is acrylic again. Then switch to other tab and it is again transparent.

Dell 7560 with Nvidia T1200 GPU.

Are you using Gaming or Studio drivers?
I am not sure with professional mobile graphics cards what driver is mainly used I assume it would be the Studio version

@poqdavid commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2023): I still get it on both the Stable and Preview version Asus GL504GW with Nvidia 2070 (TU106M) driver 537.34 > Stable Version: 1.17.11461.0 Windows 11 22621.2134 > > I'm not experiencing flickering, but when Acrylic tabs are enabled, when I switch to other tab, the tabbar switches from acrylic to transparent and stays transparent. It doesn't happen when making screenshot or recording screen with Snipping tool. > > When I take focus away from Terminal and bring back, tab bar is acrylic again. Then switch to other tab and it is again transparent. > > Dell 7560 with Nvidia T1200 GPU. Are you using Gaming or Studio drivers? I am not sure with professional mobile graphics cards what driver is mainly used I assume it would be the Studio version
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@marbaa commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2023):

No idea which are those. Notebook is managed by our IT department.
Current version: 528.79

image

Funny is, that my teammember has same notebook, same OS, Windows Terminal, because they are centrally managed. And he doesn't have those flickering. 🙄

@marbaa commented on GitHub (Sep 18, 2023): No idea which are those. Notebook is managed by our IT department. Current version: 528.79 ![image](https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/assets/40859847/81823a87-ce61-4347-a0a4-eb27b936f43b) Funny is, that my teammember has same notebook, same OS, Windows Terminal, because they are centrally managed. And he doesn't have those flickering. 🙄
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@krali27 commented on GitHub (Oct 4, 2023):

I've been seeing this flickering for a while on my Asus Flow X16 (2023 model). Has both an Intel XE igpu (Which is what I use for anything desktop) and Nvidia 4070 mobile, using Studio drivers. It usually happens whenever I use Terminal but not always, and sometimes goes away or gets better.

Intel driver version is 31.0.101.4575 (latest offered by Asus)
Nvidia driver is 536.67 / 31.0.15.3667 (not up to date, but I'm not using dgpu much and not for this)
Terminal 1.17.11461.0

@krali27 commented on GitHub (Oct 4, 2023): I've been seeing this flickering for a while on my Asus Flow X16 (2023 model). Has both an Intel XE igpu (Which is what I use for anything desktop) and Nvidia 4070 mobile, using Studio drivers. It usually happens whenever I use Terminal but not always, and sometimes goes away or gets better. Intel driver version is 31.0.101.4575 (latest offered by Asus) Nvidia driver is 536.67 / 31.0.15.3667 (not up to date, but I'm not using dgpu much and not for this) Terminal 1.17.11461.0
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@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Jun 5, 2024):

note to self: I actually don't think that this is related to #16745

@zadjii-msft commented on GitHub (Jun 5, 2024): note to self: I actually _don't_ think that this is related to #16745
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@marbaa commented on GitHub (Dec 7, 2024):

Seems this is another, unsolvable issue. Tab bar randomly flickers on new tab, window losing focus, etc.
Doesn't matter if I set Intel iGPU/Nvidia dedicated/Let Windows Decide for GPU acceleration in Windows settings, or completely disable hardware acceleration in Terminal.

I would rather remove/not ship feature that doesnt' work and is impossible to fix for 2+ years.

Stable: 1.22.3231.0
Preview: 1.22.3232.0
Canary: 1.23.3411.0

@marbaa commented on GitHub (Dec 7, 2024): Seems this is another, unsolvable issue. Tab bar randomly flickers on new tab, window losing focus, etc. Doesn't matter if I set Intel iGPU/Nvidia dedicated/Let Windows Decide for GPU acceleration in Windows settings, or completely disable hardware acceleration in Terminal. I would rather remove/not ship feature that doesnt' work and is impossible to fix for 2+ years. Stable: 1.22.3231.0 Preview: 1.22.3232.0 Canary: 1.23.3411.0
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@Elkeid-me commented on GitHub (Jan 27, 2025):

Same issue, but only when I am using Windows 11. Windows 10 doesn't seem to have this issue.

I didn't conduct further research. Perhaps it's just the well-known decline in code quality of Windows 11.

@Elkeid-me commented on GitHub (Jan 27, 2025): Same issue, but only when I am using Windows 11. Windows 10 doesn't seem to have this issue. I didn't conduct further research. Perhaps it's just the well-known decline in code quality of Windows 11.
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@cmdshft commented on GitHub (Feb 14, 2025):

Also having this issue. Please update us.

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b7c36118-6a45-40a4-9335-e18bb92c2e88

@cmdshft commented on GitHub (Feb 14, 2025): Also having this issue. Please update us. https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b7c36118-6a45-40a4-9335-e18bb92c2e88
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@BoscoDomingo commented on GitHub (May 9, 2025):

Can confirm this started happening out of nowhere a few weeks back. I see the same thing as @cmdshft, although now it only happens on startup. If you change focus to another program and back to Terminal, it stabilises

@BoscoDomingo commented on GitHub (May 9, 2025): Can confirm this started happening out of nowhere a few weeks back. I see the same thing as @cmdshft, although now it only happens on startup. If you change focus to another program and back to Terminal, it stabilises
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@kamronbatman commented on GitHub (Aug 8, 2025):

This started happening for me too after the last update (v1.22.12111.0). Using Powershell 7.5.2 in case that matters (shouldn't).

@kamronbatman commented on GitHub (Aug 8, 2025): This started happening for me too after the last update (v1.22.12111.0). Using Powershell 7.5.2 in case that matters (shouldn't).
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@cmdshft commented on GitHub (Oct 14, 2025):

This is still an issue almost 4 years later, what gives?

Today I am still having this issue. I have noticed that it flickers on the displays that have a lower framerate compared to my primary desktop display, which has a higher fps and doesn't flicker.

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/594323a8-c131-47c3-a83e-102434c940eb

@cmdshft commented on GitHub (Oct 14, 2025): This is still an issue almost 4 years later, what gives? Today I am still having this issue. I have noticed that it flickers on the displays that have a lower framerate compared to my primary desktop display, which has a higher fps and doesn't flicker. https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/594323a8-c131-47c3-a83e-102434c940eb
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@niiiksh commented on GitHub (Oct 22, 2025):

I moved to Linux Ubuntu because of this bug

@niiiksh commented on GitHub (Oct 22, 2025): I moved to Linux Ubuntu because of this bug
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@qvattr0 commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2025):

I've started having this issue as well. I'm somewhat certain that it has something to do with animated backgrounds because whenever I pause my animated background in Wallpaper Engine, the flickering no longer happens.

@qvattr0 commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2025): I've started having this issue as well. I'm somewhat certain that it has something to do with animated backgrounds because whenever I pause my animated background in Wallpaper Engine, the flickering no longer happens.
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@qvattr0 commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2025):

A side-question for those who may have more knowledge in this domain: when one uses Mica, does Terminal default to using it instead of some internal engine for calculating the blur effect? I'm currently trying to figure out why I was not having this issue in the past despite using animated backgrounds. I've only started having this issue after a clean reinstall of Windows (11 Pro) and one of the things that did change in my configuration (I'm sure there were many things that changed, making this hypothesis fairly weak) is me stopping the usage of Mica.

@qvattr0 commented on GitHub (Nov 12, 2025): A side-question for those who may have more knowledge in this domain: when one uses Mica, does Terminal default to using it instead of some internal engine for calculating the blur effect? I'm currently trying to figure out why I was not having this issue in the past despite using animated backgrounds. I've only started having this issue after a clean reinstall of Windows (11 Pro) and one of the things that did change in my configuration (I'm sure there were many things that changed, making this hypothesis fairly weak) is me stopping the usage of Mica.
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@Stanzilla commented on GitHub (Nov 29, 2025):

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/6680e5d9-1dc7-48e3-a369-f6c3d462aa78

still an issue today.

Version: 1.24.2812.0

@Stanzilla commented on GitHub (Nov 29, 2025): https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/6680e5d9-1dc7-48e3-a369-f6c3d462aa78 still an issue today. Version: 1.24.2812.0
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@cmdshft commented on GitHub (Nov 29, 2025):

I've started having this issue as well. I'm somewhat certain that it has something to do with animated backgrounds because whenever I pause my animated background in Wallpaper Engine, the flickering no longer happens.

I just tested this by shutting off Wallpaper Engine entirely, and I had a Discord window open underneath and it seems that it still glitches if you cause any animated effects in any windows.

@cmdshft commented on GitHub (Nov 29, 2025): > I've started having this issue as well. I'm somewhat certain that it has something to do with animated backgrounds because whenever I pause my animated background in Wallpaper Engine, the flickering no longer happens. I just tested this by shutting off Wallpaper Engine entirely, and I had a Discord window open underneath and it seems that it still glitches if you cause any animated effects in any windows.
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@kariudo commented on GitHub (Dec 1, 2025):

This has been going on for me for ages, at one point I thought it was due to my use of Lively; however, stopping that doesn't stop it, just makes it less frequent, as others have noticed, it seems animation/video playback in other windows on other monitors can seemingly cause it.

My only real solution was disabling the acrylic for the toolbar:

Image
@kariudo commented on GitHub (Dec 1, 2025): This has been going on for me for ages, at one point I thought it was due to my use of Lively; however, stopping that doesn't stop it, just makes it less frequent, as others have noticed, it seems animation/video playback in other windows on other monitors can seemingly cause it. My only real solution was disabling the acrylic for the toolbar: <img width="1025" height="281" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/1d8eb63a-d916-45c4-85a4-1bfdc111c874" />
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@nothinglastsforever commented on GitHub (Dec 17, 2025):

I've started having this issue as well. I'm somewhat certain that it has something to do with animated backgrounds because whenever I pause my animated background in Wallpaper Engine, the flickering no longer happens.

I just tested this by shutting off Wallpaper Engine entirely, and I had a Discord window open underneath and it seems that it still glitches if you cause any animated effects in any windows.

I've tried running without either WE or Discord and had no success. The issue persists.

@nothinglastsforever commented on GitHub (Dec 17, 2025): > > I've started having this issue as well. I'm somewhat certain that it has something to do with animated backgrounds because whenever I pause my animated background in Wallpaper Engine, the flickering no longer happens. > I just tested this by shutting off Wallpaper Engine entirely, and I had a Discord window open underneath and it seems that it still glitches if you cause any animated effects in any windows. I've tried running without either WE or Discord and had no success. The issue persists.
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@pcgeek86 commented on GitHub (Jan 1, 2026):

I'm still having this problem on fully updated Windows 11.

Windows Terminal 1.23.13503.0
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
NVIDIA driver 591.59

@pcgeek86 commented on GitHub (Jan 1, 2026): I'm still having this problem on fully updated Windows 11. Windows Terminal 1.23.13503.0 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER NVIDIA driver 591.59
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@BoscoDomingo commented on GitHub (Jan 5, 2026):

After it had gone away, it's come back for me today

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/850c498c-565e-40d0-a28f-6da555a0b762

@BoscoDomingo commented on GitHub (Jan 5, 2026): After it had gone away, it's come back for me today https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/850c498c-565e-40d0-a28f-6da555a0b762
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Reference: starred/terminal#18883