Windows 11 Refresh Rate: Set 120Hz, 144Hz and Dynamic Rate

The refresh rate is how many times per second your screen redraws the picture. A 60Hz screen updates 60 times a second; gaming monitors and many recent laptops offer 120Hz, 144Hz or more, which makes scrolling, the pointer and games feel noticeably smoother. Windows does not always pick the highest rate on its own. This guide shows how to set the Windows 11 refresh rate, what Dynamic refresh rate does, and why a fast monitor sometimes stays stuck at 60Hz.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2.

Change the refresh rate

Microsoft’s support article lists these steps:

1. Open Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
2. If you have several screens, select the display at the top.
3. The Display information panel shows the current resolution, refresh rate and whether the display supports variable refresh rate (VRR).
4. Next to Choose a refresh rate, pick the rate you want.

Microsoft notes that available rates depend on your display. Rates marked with an asterisk (*) do not support your current resolution; choosing one changes the resolution to reach that rate. Usually you want the highest rate without an asterisk.

If the screen goes black after a change, do nothing for 15 seconds; Windows reverts automatically if you do not confirm.

Dynamic refresh rate (laptops)

Many recent laptops offer Dynamic refresh rate (DRR) on the same Advanced display page. According to Microsoft:

• It adjusts the refresh rate automatically based on what you are doing, to balance smoothness and battery life: high when you scroll or ink, lower when the screen is still.
• It requires a display that supports VRR and a refresh rate of at least 120Hz.
• It can only be turned on if the hardware supports it.
• It should not affect games designed for VRR, but it can limit the maximum refresh rate of other games. If a game seems capped, turn DRR off.

Microsoft also notes that a lower refresh rate reduces the display’s power use, which helps laptops and tablets on battery.

Stuck at 60Hz? Check these

Cause	What to check
Cable	Older HDMI cables and versions cannot carry high rates at high resolutions; use the cable that came with the monitor or a certified one. DisplayPort is often the safer choice for 144Hz and above
Port on the PC	On desktops, plug into the graphics card, not the motherboard. Some laptop USB-C ports have limits
Port on the monitor	Some monitors only reach full speed on one input
Monitor settings	Check the monitor’s on-screen menu for overclock, game mode or input version options
Dock or adapter	Docks and adapters can limit the rate; test with a direct connection
Driver	Microsoft Basic Display Adapter means no proper graphics driver; install it
Resolution	Very high resolutions may only support lower rates over a given cable

Microsoft’s external-monitor troubleshooting page covers cables and connections. For drivers, see Windows 11 graphics drivers or update drivers in Windows 11.

Refresh rate and gaming

For games, the refresh rate works together with frame rate:

• VRR (often branded G-SYNC or FreeSync) lets the monitor follow the game’s frame rate, reducing tearing and stutter. Microsoft notes that many games use VRR automatically when the display supports it.
• Optimizations for windowed games in Settings > System > Display > Graphics improves latency and enables features such as Auto HDR and VRR for games running in a window; Microsoft’s page explains it.
• Game Mode helps keep the system focused on the game; see Windows 11 Game Mode.

If a game ignores your setting, check its own display options for a refresh rate or frame cap. Our V-Sync and tearing checklist and the Windows 11 gaming hub go further.

Several monitors with different rates

Each display has its own refresh rate. Select each one at the top of the Advanced display page. Mixing a 144Hz and a 60Hz monitor is fine; a video playing across both may stutter on the slower one, which is expected. See Windows 11 multiple monitors for arranging them.

How to tell if the higher rate is working

After changing the setting, check that the screen really runs at the new rate:

• Settings: Advanced display shows the active refresh rate in the Display information panel.
• The monitor’s menu: most gaming monitors show the current input resolution and refresh rate in their on-screen display.
• Feel: moving the pointer in quick circles or scrolling a long web page should look clearly smoother at 120Hz or more than at 60Hz.

If the setting shows 144Hz but the monitor reports 60Hz, the signal is being limited somewhere between the PC and the screen; recheck the cable, port and monitor input settings from the table above. On laptops with both integrated and dedicated graphics, the external monitor may be wired to one of them; the laptop maker’s manual tells you which port supports the highest rate.

Flicker or black screens after changing

If the screen flickers, shows lines or goes black at a high rate, the cable or monitor cannot handle it reliably. Go back to a lower rate, then try a better cable. If flicker persists at any rate, see Windows 11 screen flickering. For size and sharpness, see display scaling, and our dynamic refresh rate checklist summarises DRR.