In Windows, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, select your gaming monitor, and check the refresh rate shown. To use its maximum, choose the highest rate listed that keeps your preferred resolution. If the rate you expect is missing, check the monitor’s supported modes, graphics driver, and connection path rather than assuming there is a hidden Windows setting.
What refresh rate means
Refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is how many times a display refreshes its image each second. A 60 Hz display refreshes 60 times per second. The rate selected in Windows is the display mode for the desktop; a game may use that mode differently, and a variable refresh rate (VRR) display can adjust dynamically.
Check and change the refresh rate in Windows
- Open Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. These instructions apply to Windows 11 and Windows 10.
- If you use more than one display, select the gaming monitor from the display selector.
- Read the selected display’s resolution and refresh rate in the Display information area. Windows also indicates whether the display supports VRR.
- Under Choose a refresh rate (or the equivalent refresh-rate control in Windows 10), select the highest listed rate that preserves the resolution you want. Apply the change if Windows prompts you.
Windows only lists modes available through the current display and system configuration. A rate marked with an asterisk does not support the current resolution; selecting it changes the resolution. See Microsoft’s instructions for changing a monitor’s refresh rate.
If your monitor’s advertised rate is not listed
A monitor’s peak rate may depend on resolution or other configuration details. Check the exact model’s manual or specifications for the supported resolution-and-refresh combinations, and look for any required model-specific setting in its on-screen display (OSD). The right OSD setting varies by monitor, so there is no universal menu path.
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Then check the rest of the display path. Intel notes that available video modes depend on both the computer configuration and monitor capability. Its troubleshooting guidance for missing display modes suggests checking these factors:
- Graphics software and firmware: Update the graphics driver, using the computer manufacturer’s driver when applicable. Check manufacturer guidance for display INF and firmware updates; system BIOS or video BIOS can also affect available modes.
- Docks, adapters, and converters: Temporarily remove them and connect the computer directly to the monitor. Third-party components can interfere with how the graphics system reads the display’s EDID data.
- Cable: If you can, test another cable compatible with the monitor and graphics port. Intel says a lower-quality cable may limit display capability. Before buying one, verify that the monitor and graphics ports, cable, and any remaining adapters support your required resolution and refresh rate. Neither HDMI nor DisplayPort is a universal winner; the whole connection path matters.
Try the graphics-control panel as an alternative
If Windows does not expose the setting where you expect, the graphics control panel may offer another route. The options still depend on the connected display and system configuration.
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- AMD: Open Display Settings > Advanced Display Settings > Display Adapter Properties > Monitor, choose an available rate under Screen Refresh Rate, and apply it. See AMD’s refresh-rate instructions.
- NVIDIA: Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Display > Change resolution, select the display, and choose an available rate. See NVIDIA’s resolution and refresh-rate instructions.
Understand Windows 11 Dynamic Refresh Rate
Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) adjusts refresh rate according to activity. Microsoft says DRR requires VRR support and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. It can limit the maximum refresh rate in some games that are not designed for VRR; if a game appears to run at a lower rate in this situation, disabling DRR may help. Find the setting under Settings > System > Display > Advanced display when it is available. DRR is distinct from choosing a desktop mode: the game’s output behavior and a VRR display’s changing refresh rate are related, but not identical, settings. See Microsoft’s refresh-rate guidance.
Be cautious with custom refresh rates
NVIDIA’s custom-resolution tool can test custom modes, but that does not make above-spec timings a safe way to unlock a monitor’s advertised maximum. NVIDIA warns that a custom resolution, refresh rate, or timing beyond the manufacturer’s advertised specifications may permanently damage the monitor and possibly affect warranty coverage. Use the manufacturer’s supported modes rather than experimenting beyond them. See NVIDIA’s guidance on changing resolution and refresh rate.
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Windows 10 support status
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Its refresh-rate instructions still cover Windows 10, but readers choosing an operating system should account for that support status.
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