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To change a monitor’s refresh rate, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, select the display you want to configure, then choose an available rate. The options depend on that display’s capabilities, and a rate marked with an asterisk may change the resolution when selected. Windows 11 also offers Dynamic Refresh Rate on supported hardware; Windows 10 does not.
The key is to configure the right screen and consider resolution as well as refresh rate. A higher number is not automatically the right choice for every display or task, and the rate list Windows provides is specific to the selected display.
What refresh rate means
Refresh rate is how many times per second a display updates its image. Microsoft Support gives 60 Hz as an example: a 60 Hz display updates 60 times per second. The refresh-rate choices Windows shows depend on the selected display and its capabilities, so there is no single rate that is right for every monitor or activity. Microsoft Support explains refresh rate and changing it in Windows.
A higher rate may be useful for activities such as gaming, browsing, and inking. A lower rate can help save battery power on a laptop or tablet. Choose from the rates Windows offers for your display, balancing the activities you do with battery use if you are on a portable device. The practical comparison is therefore not simply “high is best” versus “low is best”: consider which rates are supported at the resolution you want, whether smoother updating is useful for your activity, and whether conserving battery matters.
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Refresh rate is also not the same as a guarantee about how a particular game or video will perform. Windows lets you select a rate that the display supports, but your preferred setting depends on the display and your use. Microsoft does not recommend one universal best rate. If you are unsure, start by checking the current resolution and rate Windows reports, then choose an available option that suits your priorities.
Change the refresh rate in Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Go to System > Display > Advanced display.
- If more than one display is connected, use the display selector to choose the monitor you want to configure. Confirm the selected screen before changing anything; the information and controls on this page apply to that display.
- Check the selected display’s current resolution and refresh rate, then choose a rate from the refresh-rate control. Windows presents the choices supported for that display.
- If Windows marks a rate with an asterisk, read the notice before selecting it: that rate does not support the current resolution, and choosing it changes the resolution to achieve the rate.
Advanced display also indicates whether the selected display supports variable refresh rate (VRR). This is useful context when considering Dynamic Refresh Rate, but VRR information is not a promise that every rate or feature will be available. The available rates and VRR information apply to the display currently selected, not automatically to every connected monitor.
After selecting a rate, check the resolution and rate displayed on the page again. This is especially important if you selected a starred option, because Windows changes the resolution to reach that rate. If the resulting resolution is not the one you want, return to the control and choose a rate that is available without an asterisk for your preferred resolution.
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- Open Settings and go to System > Display.
- Open Advanced display settings.
- Select the monitor you want to change if more than one display is connected.
- Choose the desired rate from the refresh-rate control.
Some Windows interfaces may use slightly different wording for the advanced-display page. Follow the label shown in your version of Windows. The essential sequence is to open the display’s advanced settings, make sure the intended monitor is selected, and choose one of the rates Windows lists for it.
Microsoft reports that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; this does not change the standard refresh-rate steps, but the operating system is no longer supported. Windows 10 does not include Dynamic Refresh Rate. If you are following steps on a Windows 10 PC, use the standard refresh-rate control rather than looking for the Windows 11 DRR toggle.
What to know before choosing a rate
Check the resolution as well as the rate
Windows lists rates according to the selected display’s supported options. A starred rate is not available at the current resolution; choosing it changes the resolution. If you do not want that resolution change, do not select the starred rate. Check both values shown in Advanced display after making a selection.
This relationship matters when comparing options. A rate shown in the list is not necessarily available at every resolution. Read the asterisk and Windows’ accompanying notice rather than assuming that choosing a higher rate will leave the resolution unchanged. If preserving the current resolution is important, choose a rate without the asterisk and verify the displayed values after applying it.
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Choose based on the display and how you use it
Windows does not prescribe a universal best refresh rate. A higher available rate may suit gaming, browsing, or inking, while a lower rate may be preferable when conserving battery on a laptop or tablet. The supported rates, current resolution, and your activity are the practical considerations; the display selector and rate list show the options available for that screen.
For a desktop monitor, battery life may not be a concern, so you can weigh the supported resolution and the activity you care about. On a laptop or tablet, a lower available rate may help save battery. Neither choice is right in every situation: use a setting that fits the task and the options Windows actually offers. The 60 Hz example Microsoft gives explains the unit, not a recommendation that every user should choose 60 Hz.
Configure each monitor deliberately
When multiple displays are connected, select the monitor in Advanced display before changing its rate. Each display can have its own setting. Microsoft notes that different refresh rates across monitors can sometimes cause video playback to stall or start and stop repeatedly. If that happens, matching the monitors’ rates is a troubleshooting step to try.
To configure more than one screen, select the first display, review its current resolution and refresh rate, and set an available rate. Then select the other display and review its own information and options. Do not assume that because one screen offers a particular rate, another connected screen offers it too. Windows’ choices depend on the currently selected display’s capabilities.
If playback stutters while the monitors are using different rates, compare their available lists and try a rate that both can use. Select each monitor separately to make the change. Matching rates is a documented troubleshooting step for this symptom, not a guarantee that every cause of playback trouble will be fixed.
Use Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11
Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) is a Windows 11 feature that adjusts the display’s refresh rate according to activity. It is separate from manually choosing a fixed rate. To turn it on or off, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and use the Dynamic refresh rate toggle if it appears.
DRR requires supported hardware, a display that supports VRR, and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. If the toggle is unavailable, the system or display may not meet those requirements. Check that the intended display is selected and review the VRR information shown in Advanced display. Windows 10 does not support DRR, so the toggle is not an option there.
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DRR adjusts the rate according to activity; it is not the same as selecting a single fixed rate from the refresh-rate list. It can be useful on a compatible Windows 11 setup, but it is not required to set a monitor’s refresh rate manually. If the toggle is present and you want to use DRR, enable it there; if you prefer a fixed selection or are troubleshooting a game, turn it off and compare behavior.
Microsoft cautions that DRR can limit the maximum rate of some games. If a game seems to run at a lower rate after you enable DRR, Microsoft recommends disabling DRR and checking the game again. This is a specific troubleshooting test: turn off the toggle, revisit the game, and see whether the lower-rate symptom changes. Do not assume DRR is the cause of every performance issue.
Troubleshoot a missing rate or unexpected behavior
The rate you want is not listed
- Confirm that the correct monitor is selected in Advanced display, especially if multiple displays are connected. The available rates are for the selected screen.
- Check the current resolution and refresh rate Windows reports for that display.
- Look for an asterisk beside a rate and read the associated notice. That rate changes resolution if selected.
- Use the rates Windows actually lists for the selected display. The list depends on that display’s supported capabilities.
For example, if you are asking “Why can’t I select 144 Hz?”, first check whether the intended display is selected and what options Windows lists for it. The number 144 Hz is not guaranteed to appear for every monitor or configuration. If it is absent, the Windows list alone does not identify which individual component is limiting the available choices.
The available information here does not establish the limits of a particular monitor, graphics card, cable, connector, resolution, or driver combination. A missing rate by itself is not enough to identify which component is limiting the options. Avoid assuming a particular cable or port is the problem without the specific hardware details.
A rate has an asterisk
The asterisk means the rate does not support the current resolution. Selecting it changes the resolution to achieve that rate. If you chose it and the screen resolution changed, return to Advanced display and select a rate that is available without an asterisk for the resolution you want.
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Before selecting a starred rate, decide whether the associated resolution change is acceptable. If not, leave it unselected and choose another rate. If you do select it, check the resulting resolution as well as the refresh rate instead of judging the change by the rate alone.
The resolution changed unexpectedly
Microsoft says an unexpected resolution change may indicate that the graphics driver needs updating. Microsoft’s resolution guidance recommends using the resolution marked Recommended. Check that recommendation in Display settings and consider updating the graphics driver if the change was unexpected.
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First check whether the resolution change followed selection of a starred refresh rate; Windows changes resolution when that rate is selected. If the change was not expected or is not explained by that selection, consult the resolution marked Recommended and consider the driver guidance. This helps distinguish the documented asterisk behavior from a resolution change that may point to a driver issue.
Video playback stutters across monitors
If connected monitors use different refresh rates and video playback stalls or repeatedly starts and stops, try matching their rates. Select each monitor separately in Advanced display and adjust its rate to a common option available to both. Do not assume that matching rates will resolve every playback problem; the documented troubleshooting note identifies it as a step to try for this symptom.
The Dynamic Refresh Rate option is missing
DRR is a Windows 11 feature with hardware requirements: supported hardware, a display that supports VRR, and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. Check the selected display and the VRR information on Advanced display. If you are using Windows 10, the option is not supported by that version. A missing toggle does not, by itself, establish which requirement is unmet.
A game seems to use a lower rate with DRR enabled
Microsoft notes that DRR can limit the maximum rate of some games. If the lower rate appeared after you enabled DRR, disable the Dynamic refresh rate toggle and check the game again. This gives you a direct way to test the issue without treating the toggle as the explanation for unrelated symptoms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my monitor’s refresh rate in Windows?
Open Settings, go to System > Display > Advanced display (called Advanced display settings in some Windows 10 interfaces), select the monitor, and choose a rate from its refresh-rate control. Check the resolution too, especially if the rate has an asterisk.
Why can’t I select 144 Hz?
Windows lists rates according to the selected display’s capabilities. Confirm the correct display is selected, then check its listed rates and current resolution. The list may not include 144 Hz, and the available information alone cannot identify a specific hardware or driver limitation.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow do I set a different refresh rate for each monitor?
In Advanced display, select one monitor, choose one of its listed rates, then select the next monitor and configure it separately. Each display has its own available choices.
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What does an asterisk next to a refresh rate mean?
Microsoft marks a rate with an asterisk when it does not support the current resolution. Selecting that rate changes the resolution to achieve the rate.
What refresh rate should I use?
There is no universal best setting. Choose from the rates available for your display, considering the resolution you want and the activity. A higher rate may help with gaming, browsing, or inking; a lower rate can help save battery on a laptop or tablet.
Can I use Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 10?
No. DRR is a Windows 11 feature. Windows 10 users can still use the standard refresh-rate setting.
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DRR requires supported hardware, a display that supports VRR, and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. Check the selected display’s VRR information and the rates Windows lists. The absent toggle alone does not say which requirement is unmet.
Can Dynamic Refresh Rate affect games?
Microsoft cautions that DRR can limit the maximum rate of some games. If a game seems to run at a lower rate after enabling DRR, disable the toggle and check the game again.
What should I do if Windows changes my resolution?
If you selected a rate marked with an asterisk, the resolution change is expected. Otherwise, Microsoft says an unexpected resolution change may indicate that the graphics driver needs updating, and recommends using the resolution marked Recommended.
The Bottom Line
Use Settings > System > Display > Advanced display to select the right monitor and choose from its available refresh rates. Check resolution changes signaled by an asterisk, and treat rate choices as display-specific. On Windows 11, use Dynamic Refresh Rate only when the hardware, VRR support, and 120 Hz requirement are met; if it appears to limit a game, try disabling it.
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