What refresh rate means and why you might change it

Your monitor's refresh rate is how many times per second it redraws the image on your 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, or video playback — but they also demand more from your graphics card.

You change your refresh rate when you want to match what your graphics card can actually produce, or when you notice screen tearing (horizontal lines that flash across the screen during fast motion). Some people lower the refresh rate to reduce power use or heat on older machines. Others raise it because their monitor supports it but Windows defaulted to a slower speed.

The steps differ slightly between Windows and Mac, and the menus have moved around across Windows versions. This guide covers Windows 10, Windows 11, and macOS.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and 11 let you change refresh rate through Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display Settings, then scroll to Refresh Rate.
  • Your monitor must physically support the refresh rate you choose — you cannot force a 60 Hz monitor to run at 144 Hz.
  • Your graphics card must be able to produce that many frames per second, or you will see no benefit and may introduce stuttering.
  • macOS does not expose refresh rate controls in the same way; it automatically selects the highest rate your monitor supports.
  • If your desired refresh rate does not appear in the dropdown, your graphics drivers may need an update.

Changing refresh rate on Windows 10

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click System, then Display in the left sidebar.

Scroll down to the bottom of the Display page and click Advanced Display Settings. A new window opens. Near the bottom, you will see a dropdown labeled Refresh Rate. Click it to see what options your monitor supports. Select the rate you want, then click explore.

Windows will show the new refresh rate for 15 seconds and ask if you want to keep it. If the screen goes black or looks wrong, do nothing — it will revert automatically. If it looks fine, click Keep Changes.

Changing refresh rate on Windows 11

Press the Windows key and type "Settings", then press Enter. Click System, then Display.

Scroll down and click Advanced Display. The next screen shows your current resolution and refresh rate. Click the dropdown next to Refresh Rate and choose the rate you want. Click explore.

Windows will ask you to confirm the change within 15 seconds. If the display looks correct, click Keep Changes. If anything looks wrong, wait for the automatic revert or press Escape.

Changing refresh rate on macOS

macOS does not give you a manual refresh rate selector the way Windows does. Instead, the system automatically chooses the highest refresh rate your monitor supports.

To see what rate your monitor is currently running at, click the Apple menu, then System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Click Displays. If your monitor supports multiple refresh rates, you may see an option labeled ProMotion or a dropdown showing available rates. Select the one you want.

If you do not see refresh rate options, your monitor does not support variable refresh rates, or your Mac is set to use the default rate. This is normal for most external monitors connected to a Mac.

When your desired refresh rate does not appear

If the refresh rate you expect is not in the dropdown, the most common cause is outdated graphics drivers. On Windows, right-click the desktop and look for NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Settings, or Intel Graphics Settings, depending on your graphics card. Open the driver software and check for updates.

If you do not see a graphics control panel, open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X and selecting Device Manager. Find Display Adapters, right-click your graphics card, and select Update Driver. Choose Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software.

After updating drivers, restart your computer and check the refresh rate dropdown again. If the rate still does not appear, your monitor may not support it, or your graphics card may not be powerful enough to drive it reliably.

Understanding what your graphics card can handle

Changing the refresh rate in Windows or macOS does not make your graphics card produce more frames. It only tells your monitor how fast to display the frames your card is already sending. If your graphics card cannot produce 144 frames per second in the games or applications you use, setting the monitor to 144 Hz will not help — you will see the same frame rate you saw before, just with the monitor waiting between refreshes.

To know whether your graphics card can handle a higher refresh rate, run the game or process you care about and check your frame rate. Most games have a built-in frame counter, or you can use free tools like FRAPS or the overlay in Steam. If your card is producing fewer frames than your monitor's refresh rate, raising the refresh rate will have no visible effect.

Conversely, if your graphics card is producing more frames than your monitor can display, you may see screen tearing — horizontal lines that flash across the screen. Raising your monitor's refresh rate, or enabling V-Sync in your game settings, can reduce this.

Troubleshooting a refresh rate that does not stick

Sometimes Windows reverts your refresh rate change on its own, usually after a restart or when you unplug and replug your monitor. This typically means your graphics drivers are not fully installed or are conflicting with Windows' generic display driver.

To fix this, go back to your graphics card manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and read the latest driver for your exact graphics card model. Uninstall the old driver through Settings > Apps > Apps and Features, search for your graphics driver, and click Uninstall. Restart your computer, then install the new driver and restart again.

If the refresh rate still reverts, try a different cable. Some older or damaged HDMI or DisplayPort cables cannot reliably carry the signal for higher refresh rates. A newer cable, or switching from HDMI to DisplayPort if your monitor supports it, often solves the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a refresh rate higher than my monitor supports?

No. Windows and macOS will only show you the refresh rates your monitor physically supports. If you try to force a higher rate through a graphics driver control panel, your monitor will either ignore it or display incorrectly. Stick to the rates shown in the Settings dropdown.

Will a higher refresh rate use more electricity?

Yes, but the difference is small — usually a few watts. A 144 Hz monitor uses slightly more power than the same monitor running at 60 Hz, but the difference is far less than what your graphics card uses to produce the extra frames.

Why does my refresh rate reset every time I restart?

Outdated or partially installed graphics drivers are the most common cause. read and install the latest driver from your graphics card manufacturer's website, then restart. If it still reverts, try a different cable or contact your monitor's support to confirm it is compatible with your graphics card.

Is 60 Hz enough, or do I need 144 Hz?

It depends on what you do. For web browsing, email, and office work, 60 Hz is fine. For video games or fast-paced video editing, 144 Hz or higher makes motion noticeably smoother. If your graphics card cannot produce 144 frames per second in your games, there is no reason to pay for a 144 Hz monitor.

What is the difference between HDMI and DisplayPort for refresh rate?

DisplayPort supports higher refresh rates and resolutions than HDMI on the same cable. If your monitor and graphics card both support DisplayPort, using that cable instead of HDMI can unlock higher refresh rates and more stable connections. HDMI 2.1 is newer and supports higher rates, but older HDMI cables and ports may not.