What refresh rate means and why you might change it

Refresh rate is how many times per second your monitor redraws the image on screen. A 60 Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second. A 144 Hz monitor refreshes 144 times per second. Higher refresh rates make motion look smoother — particularly noticeable in video games, scrolling through web pages, or watching video. Lower refresh rates can feel choppy or cause eye strain during extended use.

Your monitor has a maximum refresh rate it can display, set by its hardware. Your graphics card (the component that sends the image to the monitor) also has limits. Windows or macOS lets you choose any refresh rate up to your monitor's maximum, but you cannot exceed what the monitor physically supports. Most monitors ship set to 60 Hz even if they can do higher, so you may need to change the setting manually to see the benefit.

Before you change anything, check your monitor's manual or the manufacturer's website to find its maximum refresh rate. You will need this number to know what options should appear on your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Your monitor's maximum refresh rate is a fixed hardware limit — you can set it lower but not higher than what the monitor supports.
  • Windows and macOS both let you change refresh rate through display settings, and the steps differ slightly between them.
  • After you change the setting, your monitor may take a few seconds to adjust, and you should confirm the new rate looks stable before leaving the settings.
  • If your graphics card cannot keep up with a high refresh rate, you may see screen tearing or stuttering — lowering the rate or enabling V-Sync can fix this.

How to change refresh rate on Windows 10 and 11

Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select Display settings from the menu. (On some systems, this option may say Screen resolution instead.) A settings window will open showing your current display setup.

Scroll down to the bottom of the window and click Advanced display settings. A new window opens. Look for a dropdown or button labeled Refresh rate — on Windows 11 it appears near the top; on Windows 10 you may need to scroll. Click the dropdown to see all available rates your monitor supports. Select the rate you want, then click explore.

Windows will show your new refresh rate for 15 seconds and ask you to confirm the change. If the screen looks stable and readable, click Keep changes. If the screen flickers, goes black, or looks wrong, do nothing — Windows will revert to your previous setting after the 15 seconds expire. If you see no change in the dropdown menu, your graphics card drivers may be outdated; see the troubleshooting section below.

How to change refresh rate on macOS

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Click Displays in the sidebar.

Look for a button or link labeled Refresh Rate or Resolution and Refresh Rate. Click it to see available options. macOS typically shows refresh rates as "60 Hz", "120 Hz", or similar. Select your preferred rate and close the settings window — the change takes effect when ready without a confirmation step.

If you do not see a refresh rate option, your monitor may only support one rate, or your graphics card drivers need updating. Macs with Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3) handle refresh rate differently than Intel Macs, so the menu layout may vary slightly.

What to do if refresh rate options do not appear

If you open display settings and see no refresh rate dropdown, or only one option, your graphics card drivers are likely outdated. Drivers are software that let your operating system communicate with your hardware. Without current drivers, Windows and macOS cannot access your monitor's full capabilities.

On Windows, right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand Display adapters by clicking the arrow next to it. Right-click your graphics card (usually labeled NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will read and install the latest version. Restart your computer when prompted, then return to display settings to check for refresh rate options.

On macOS, go to System Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates. macOS typically handles graphics drivers as part of system updates, so there is no separate driver manager. If updates do not reveal refresh rate options, your monitor or graphics card may not support variable refresh rates.

Understanding screen tearing and how to fix it

Screen tearing is a visible horizontal line or split across your screen that appears when your graphics card sends a new frame to your monitor before the monitor finishes displaying the previous one. It is most noticeable in games or fast-scrolling content. Tearing happens when your graphics card's output rate does not match your monitor's refresh rate.

The simplest fix is to lower your refresh rate to a number your graphics card can sustain. If your monitor is set to 144 Hz but your graphics card only produces 80 frames per second, lower the monitor to 60 Hz or 75 Hz. You can also enable V-Sync (vertical sync) in your game or graphics card settings — this forces your graphics card to wait for the monitor to finish a refresh before sending the next frame, eliminating tearing at the cost of slightly higher input lag.

If you have a newer graphics card and monitor, look for G-Sync (NVIDIA) or FreeSync (AMD) in your monitor settings or graphics card control panel. These technologies let your monitor adjust its refresh rate to match your graphics card's output in real time, eliminating tearing without the input lag of V-Sync. Not all monitors support these features, so check your monitor's manual first.

Refresh rate and gaming performance

Higher refresh rates feel noticeably smoother in games, but only if your graphics card can produce enough frames per second to match. A 144 Hz monitor is wasted if your graphics card only outputs 60 frames per second — you will see no benefit. Conversely, if your graphics card produces 200 frames per second but your monitor only refreshes at 60 Hz, you will only see 60 of those frames, and the rest are wasted.

Before raising your refresh rate, check what frame rate your graphics card achieves in the games you play. Most games have a built-in frame counter, or you can use free tools like NVIDIA's FrameView or AMD's Radeon Software overlay. If your card consistently produces more frames than your monitor's current refresh rate, raising the refresh rate will make motion look smoother. If your card struggles to reach your monitor's current rate, lower the refresh rate or reduce in-game graphics settings to improve performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing refresh rate damage my monitor?

No. Your monitor has a maximum refresh rate it is designed to handle, and you cannot set it higher than that maximum through software. Setting it to any rate within the supported range is safe. If you accidentally select an unsupported rate, your monitor will either display it correctly or show no signal — neither causes damage.

Why does my screen look worse after changing refresh rate?

The most common cause is that your graphics card cannot keep up with the new rate, causing stuttering or tearing. Lower the refresh rate by 10–20 Hz and see if the image stabilizes. You can also check your graphics card's temperature and load in its control panel — if either is at maximum, your card is overworked and needs a lower refresh rate or reduced graphics settings.

Does higher refresh rate use more power?

Yes, but the difference is small — typically 5–10% more power consumption at 144 Hz versus 60 Hz. On a desktop computer this is negligible. On a laptop, higher refresh rates drain the battery faster, so you may want to use 60 Hz on battery power and switch to a higher rate when plugged in.

Can I use different refresh rates for two monitors at once?

Yes. Windows and macOS let each monitor have its own refresh rate setting. Open display settings, select one monitor, change its refresh rate, then select the other monitor and set its rate independently. This is useful if you have an older monitor and a newer one connected to the same computer.

What if my monitor supports 144 Hz but only 60 Hz appears in settings?

Your graphics card drivers are outdated or your monitor is connected with a cable that does not support higher rates. Update your drivers first (see the troubleshooting section). If that does not work, try a different cable — HDMI 1.4 and older versions max out at 60 Hz for most resolutions, while DisplayPort and HDMI 2.0 or newer support higher rates. Check your monitor's manual for which cable type it requires.