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To set up adaptive sync, confirm your monitor and graphics hardware support the same variable refresh rate (VRR) mode, enable it in the monitor’s on-screen display, then turn it on in NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition. The exact options depend on your monitor, GPU, and connection, so check the monitor manual if a setting is missing.

What adaptive sync does—and what you need

Adaptive sync lets a display adjust its refresh timing to match frames produced by the graphics hardware. This can reduce screen tearing and stutter, but it does not guarantee that every visual artifact will disappear. NVIDIA and AMD both require compatible display and graphics hardware; AMD also lists a current compatible graphics driver as a requirement. Check the NVIDIA G-SYNC requirements and AMD FreeSync overview against your exact devices.

  • NVIDIA: NVIDIA lists Windows 10 or later and a Pascal-class or later GPU for G-SYNC Compatible displays. Requirements differ for dedicated G-SYNC displays, so consult NVIDIA’s current documentation for your model.
  • AMD: Confirm FreeSync support for both the display and AMD GPU or APU, and install a current compatible graphics driver.
  • Connection: Port support varies by monitor and GPU. AMD documents FreeSync over DisplayPort and HDMI on certified displays; its configuration guidance specifies DisplayPort 1.2 or higher where applicable. Verify your model’s manual rather than assuming every port supports VRR.

Set up NVIDIA G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible

  1. Connect and power on the supported monitor, then make it the primary display in Windows display settings.
  2. Open NVIDIA Control Panel and select Display > Set up G-SYNC.
  3. Check Enable G-SYNC/G-SYNC Compatible. Choose Full screen mode for full-screen applications, or Windowed and full screen mode if you want VRR for windowed applications too.
  4. If NVIDIA Control Panel prompts you to enable the selected display, do so. Then open Manage 3D Settings and confirm Monitor Technology is set to G-SYNC/G-SYNC Compatible.
  5. To check whether a game is using G-SYNC, select Display > Show indicator for G-SYNC in the NVIDIA Control Panel menu bar. The indicator’s name may differ by display type.

See NVIDIA’s G-SYNC setup instructions for the current control-panel guidance.

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Enable AMD FreeSync

  1. Confirm FreeSync support for the monitor and AMD graphics hardware, and install a current compatible AMD graphics driver.
  2. Open the monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) and enable AMD FreeSync. AMD also advises disabling Anti-Blur and setting DisplayPort to 1.2 or higher where those controls apply; not every monitor has these options.
  3. Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and check or enable FreeSync under Gaming/Display. On compatible AMD systems and certified displays, FreeSync may already be enabled automatically.
  4. If FreeSync is unavailable or inactive, check the monitor’s picture preset and custom picture settings. AMD notes that some such settings can disable the feature; use the monitor manual for model-specific steps.

Menu labels can vary by software and monitor. Refer to AMD’s FreeSync configuration instructions and guidance on enabling AMD FreeSync for details.

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Choose the right mode and connection for your setup

Use the NVIDIA route for a supported NVIDIA setup and the AMD route for supported AMD hardware. For the monitor, verify the exact model’s supported VRR technology, input ports, and documented operating range. There is no single connection or refresh-rate range that applies to every display.

If your existing monitor or graphics hardware does not support a compatible VRR mode, a gaming monitor explicitly supporting AMD FreeSync or NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible is the relevant hardware category to consider. Check compatibility with your GPU and intended input before buying; the feature cannot be enabled through software alone on unsupported hardware.

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Troubleshoot adaptive sync

  • The G-SYNC page or checkbox is missing: Make sure the monitor is connected, powered on, enabled, and set as the primary display. Check that the GPU and monitor support the relevant combination, then review Monitor Technology under Manage 3D Settings.
  • FreeSync does not appear active: Check the monitor OSD, AMD driver and software, Anti-Blur or picture-preset settings, and the monitor’s model-specific manual.
  • G-SYNC works only in full-screen games: Select Windowed and full screen mode in Display > Set up G-SYNC to include windowed applications. If windowed mode causes problems, use full-screen-only mode.
  • You cannot tell whether a game is using G-SYNC: Turn on NVIDIA’s Show indicator for G-SYNC option in the Control Panel menu bar.
  • You are unsure whether HDMI or DisplayPort supports VRR: Check the exact monitor and GPU documentation. AMD documents both connection families for FreeSync-certified displays, while its separate configuration guidance calls for DisplayPort 1.2 or higher where applicable.
  • Frame rate often exceeds the display’s refresh rate: AMD recommends enabling V-Sync or capping the frame rate in that situation. Treat this as AMD’s guidance; the best setting can depend on the game and configuration.

NVIDIA’s linked Control Panel instructions use its current help path and do not state a publication date. AMD marked its Adrenalin support article as last updated March 3, 2025. Drivers, interfaces, and compatibility can change, so confirm the current instructions for your particular hardware.

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