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Windows uses the monitor’s refresh rate to determine how many times per second it redraws the image. For example, a 60 Hz display refreshes 60 times per second, while a 144 Hz display can redraw up to 144 times per second.
You can change the refresh rate from Windows Settings. The rates available depend on the monitor, graphics hardware, cable, adapter, dock, resolution, and selected display mode.
Change the refresh rate in Windows 11
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select Display settings. Alternatively, open Start > Settings > System > Display.
- Scroll down and select Advanced display.
- If you use more than one monitor, select the monitor you want to change from Choose a display.
- Open the Choose a refresh rate menu.
- Select the required rate, such as 60 Hz, 120 Hz, or 144 Hz.
- Windows may ask you to confirm the change. Select Keep changes if the display looks correct.
The Display information section shows the selected monitor’s current resolution and refresh rate. It also indicates whether the display supports variable refresh rate (VRR).
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Some Windows 11 laptops and monitors show a Dynamic refresh rate option in Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) automatically varies the refresh rate to balance smooth motion and battery life.
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- Open Advanced display.
- Select the display if more than one is connected.
- Turn Dynamic refresh rate on or off.
This option appears only on compatible hardware. Microsoft says DRR requires a display that supports VRR and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. If a game runs at a lower refresh rate with DRR enabled, turn DRR off and test the game again. DRR can limit the maximum refresh rate of games that are not designed for VRR.
Change the refresh rate in Windows 10
- Open Start > Settings > System > Display.
- Scroll down and select Advanced display settings.
- With multiple monitors connected, choose the monitor to configure from the display dropdown.
- Open the Refresh rate menu.
- Select the refresh rate you want to use.
- Confirm the change if Windows displays a prompt.
Windows 10 does not include Dynamic Refresh Rate. DRR is a Windows 11 feature.
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer provides ordinary free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. The refresh-rate steps still work on supported installations, but upgrading to a supported Windows version is worth considering.
Choose a refresh rate without losing resolution
A monitor may advertise 144 Hz, but that does not mean Windows can use 144 Hz at every resolution. The connection and graphics hardware may support 144 Hz at 1920 × 1080 but only 60 Hz at 3840 × 2160, for example.
Look carefully at the refresh-rate list. Windows marks rates that are incompatible with the current resolution with an asterisk (*). Selecting an asterisk-marked rate changes the resolution as well as the refresh rate.
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If maintaining the current resolution matters, avoid an asterisk-marked option. Instead, try these combinations:
| Goal | What to try |
|---|---|
| Maximum smoothness | Select the highest available rate, then verify that the resolution is still correct. |
| Maximum resolution | Keep the native resolution and select the highest rate without an asterisk. |
| Longer laptop battery life | Use a lower fixed rate or enable Dynamic Refresh Rate on compatible Windows 11 hardware. |
| Gaming with VRR | Use a supported refresh rate and enable VRR in Windows and, where necessary, in the monitor’s own menu. |
Use the classic Display Adapter Properties window
The modern Settings page is normally the best method, but the older display-adapter dialog exposes complete display modes containing resolution, color depth, and refresh rate.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- Select Display adapter properties.
- Open the Adapter tab.
- Select List All Modes.
- Choose the complete mode you need, such as 1920 by 1080, True Color (32 bit), 60 Hertz.
- Select OK, then apply the change.
Use this list carefully. A mode is a complete combination, not just an independent refresh-rate setting. Choosing a different mode can change the resolution or color depth.
What to do when the refresh rate you want is missing
Check the cable, dock, and adapter
The available rates describe the current connection, not just the monitor’s advertised maximum. An older HDMI cable, USB-C dock, adapter, or laptop port may prevent a high refresh rate from appearing.
Disconnect and reconnect the monitor and dock cables firmly. If the monitor supports the required rate over DisplayPort, try DisplayPort instead of HDMI. Also check the monitor manufacturer’s manual for the port and cable specifications required for its highest modes.
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Select the correct monitor
With multiple monitors, changing the rate applies only to the display selected under Choose a display or the monitor dropdown. Selecting the wrong screen is an easy way to change the wrong monitor.
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Check the resolution first
If you are looking for 120 Hz or 144 Hz, temporarily check the monitor’s native resolution and then reopen the refresh-rate list. A high rate may be available only at a lower resolution, or it may be marked with an asterisk because it requires Windows to change the current resolution.
Update Windows and the graphics driver
Unexpected resolution or refresh-rate changes can be caused by the graphics driver. Open Start > Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. For laptops, also check the computer manufacturer’s support page for the recommended graphics driver.
If you see color fringes around vertical text or strokes, install the latest WDDM graphics driver through Windows Update or the PC manufacturer’s website. For HDR displays that support HDR over DisplayPort, Microsoft recommends trying DisplayPort instead of HDMI. If HDMI is the only available connection, reducing the refresh rate to 30 Hz, if offered, can help isolate an HDR bandwidth problem.
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If the screen goes black after changing the rate
- Wait for Windows to restore the previous setting. Display changes normally provide a short confirmation period.
- If the image returns, select Revert instead of keeping the new rate.
- If the screen remains black, press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to restart the graphics driver.
- Reconnect the display or restart the PC.
- Use Advanced display or List All Modes to select a lower, known-compatible mode such as the monitor’s native resolution at 60 Hz.
A black screen usually means the monitor, cable, adapter, or graphics output cannot handle the selected resolution-and-refresh-rate combination. It does not necessarily mean the monitor is damaged.
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Return to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display in Windows 11, or Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings in Windows 10. Select the relevant monitor and read the displayed resolution and refresh rate.
For gaming, also check the game’s own video settings. A game can use a different refresh rate or frame-rate limit from the Windows desktop, particularly when it runs in exclusive fullscreen mode.
FAQ
What refresh rate should I use?
Use the highest rate that your monitor, resolution, connection, and graphics hardware support reliably. 60 Hz is normal for general office use; 120 Hz, 144 Hz, and higher provide smoother scrolling and motion when the hardware can sustain them.
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The current resolution, cable, port, dock, adapter, graphics driver, or monitor configuration may restrict the available rates. Check the monitor’s native resolution, try DisplayPort if supported, reconnect the cables, and update the graphics driver.
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Will changing refresh rate change my resolution?
Usually it does not, but Windows marks rates that do not support the current resolution with an asterisk. Selecting one of those rates changes the resolution to make the mode work.
Does Windows 10 support Dynamic Refresh Rate?
No. Dynamic Refresh Rate is available in Windows 11 on compatible hardware. Windows 10 provides fixed refresh-rate choices instead.
Why does my game use a lower refresh rate than Windows?
The game may have its own refresh-rate selection, frame-rate cap, fullscreen mode, or VRR compatibility issue. Check the game’s display settings and, on Windows 11, try disabling Dynamic Refresh Rate if the game is not designed for VRR.
The Bottom Line
Use Advanced display in Windows Settings, select the correct monitor, and choose the highest rate that preserves your preferred resolution. If the rate is missing, investigate the connection, dock, resolution, and graphics driver before assuming the monitor cannot support it.
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