How to Change Refresh Rate on Display

To change the refresh rate on a display, you adjust a setting in your operating system’s display settings, typically under “Advanced display settings” on Windows or “Displays” in macOS System Settings. The exact steps depend on your OS and graphics card, but the process takes less than a minute once you know where to look.

What Is Refresh Rate and Why It Matters

Refresh rate is how many times per second your display redraws the entire image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second; a 144Hz monitor refreshes 144 times per second. The refresh rate determines how smoothly motion appears, especially for fast-moving content like video games, scrolling, or sports. It is separate from frame rate (fps), which is how many frames your graphics card produces per second. If your GPU outputs 100 fps on a 60Hz monitor, you only see 60 of those frames per second, and you may experience screen tearing because the display updates while the GPU is mid-frame.

Most standard office and home displays run at 60Hz, which is fine for productivity and video. But for competitive gaming or any activity with fast motion, a higher refresh rate—120Hz, 144Hz, 240Hz, or even 360Hz—reduces motion blur and input lag, making the experience feel more responsive. The difference is noticeable to most people, though it diminishes as you go higher: going from 60Hz to 144Hz is a huge jump, while 240Hz to 360Hz is a smaller improvement.

How to Change Refresh Rate on Windows

On Windows 10 and Windows 11, the refresh rate is set per display, so if you have multiple monitors, you must select the correct one. Here are the steps:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Display settings (Windows 11) or Display settings from the context menu (Windows 10).
2. Scroll down and click Advanced display (Windows 11) or Advanced display settings (Windows 10).
3. If you have multiple monitors, choose the display you want to change from the drop-down menu at the top.
4. Look for the Choose a refresh rate drop-down menu. It shows the current rate (e.g., 60 Hz).
5. Select the highest available rate that your monitor supports. If you don’t see a high rate, your monitor may not support it, or the cable/port may be limiting it.
6. Windows will apply the change and ask if you want to keep it. If the screen goes black or looks wrong, wait a few seconds—Windows reverts automatically. If it doesn’t, press the Revert button or just wait.

If you have an NVIDIA or AMD graphics card, you can also change the refresh rate through their control panels (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software), but the Windows settings method works for all GPUs and is simpler.

How to Change Refresh Rate on macOS

On a Mac, the refresh rate is set in System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (earlier versions). Steps:

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences).
2. Click Displays.
3. Hold the Option key and click the Refresh Rate drop-down menu. This reveals all supported rates, including higher ones that may be hidden by default (e.g., on a 120Hz ProMotion display, you may see 120Hz only when Option is held).
4. Select the desired rate. The screen will briefly go black and then adjust.

On MacBooks with ProMotion displays, the system automatically switches between 120Hz and lower rates to save battery, but you can force a fixed rate in the same menu.

Why Can’t I See Higher Refresh Rate Options?

If the higher refresh rate is missing, the cause is almost always one of these:

• Cable limitations: HDMI 1.4 supports up to 144Hz at 1080p, but 4K 144Hz requires HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC. If you’re using an old cable, you may be limited to 60Hz at high resolutions.
• Port limitations: Some laptops only output high refresh rates through a specific port, like a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode, or a dedicated DisplayPort. Check your laptop’s specs.
• Monitor settings: Some monitors have a setting to enable overclocking or a higher refresh rate mode. Check the monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) menu.
• GPU limitations: Integrated graphics may not support high refresh rates at high resolutions. A dedicated GPU is usually required for 144Hz or higher.
• Wrong cable type: Using a VGA or DVI cable typically caps at 60Hz. Use DisplayPort or HDMI (with the right version) for high refresh rates.

If you’ve checked all these and still don’t see the option, your monitor may simply not support a higher rate. Check the monitor’s manual or manufacturer’s spec sheet for its maximum refresh rate.

How to Choose the Right Refresh Rate

The best refresh rate depends on what you do with your display:

• Productivity and office work: 60Hz is sufficient. Higher rates reduce eye strain for some people, but the benefit is minimal for static text.
• Casual gaming and video: 75Hz or 100Hz is a nice middle ground, offering smoother motion without needing a powerful GPU.
• Competitive gaming (esports): 144Hz or 240Hz is recommended. These rates give a clear advantage in fast-paced games like first-person shooters. 360Hz is for professional players and is overkill for most.
• Content creation: If you edit video, a 120Hz or 144Hz display makes scrubbing through timelines smoother, but color accuracy is more important than refresh rate for this work.

Keep in mind that your GPU must be able to output frames at the refresh rate to benefit. If you have a 144Hz monitor but your GPU only produces 60 fps in games, you’ll still see 60 fps (though the monitor will show each frame for a shorter time, reducing motion blur). For the best experience, match your GPU’s performance to the refresh rate.

Common Misconceptions and Problems

One common misconception is that higher refresh rates damage your eyes or your monitor. They don’t. A higher refresh rate is no more harmful than a lower one; it just uses more power and may reduce battery life on laptops. Another misconception is that you need a special cable for 144Hz. While some cables are better than others, any cable that supports the bandwidth will work—it’s the version and quality that matter, not the brand.

If you change the refresh rate and the screen goes black or flickers, it’s usually because the cable or port can’t handle the bandwidth. Try lowering the resolution or the refresh rate, or use a different cable. If the screen stays black, wait for the system to revert (usually 10-15 seconds), or boot into Safe Mode and reset the display settings.

Another issue is that some monitors are advertised as “144Hz” but only achieve that rate with overclocking, which may not be stable. If you see artifacts or flickering, lower the rate to the manufacturer’s rated value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a higher refresh rate drain battery faster?

Yes, a higher refresh rate consumes more power because the display updates more often. On laptops, you may notice a significant drop in battery life when using 120Hz or 144Hz. Many laptops with high-refresh displays automatically switch to 60Hz when on battery to save power, but you can also set it manually.

Can I set a refresh rate higher than my monitor’s rated maximum?

Some monitors allow “overclocking” to a higher refresh rate than their official spec, but it’s not guaranteed to be stable. You can try creating a custom resolution in your GPU’s control panel, but if you see artifacts, flickering, or the screen goes black, revert to the rated rate. Overclocking can also void the warranty, so proceed with caution.

Why does my monitor show 59.94 Hz instead of 60 Hz?

This is normal. The 59.94 Hz setting is a legacy from NTSC television standards, and it’s used to avoid interference with audio. Most people cannot tell the difference between 59.94 Hz and 60 Hz, so you can leave it as is. If you want to see 60 Hz, you can often select it from the drop-down menu, but it’s not necessary.

Does refresh rate affect eye strain?

Some people report less eye strain with higher refresh rates because there is less flicker, especially with PWM (pulse-width modulation) dimming on some monitors. However, the scientific evidence is mixed. If you experience eye strain, try increasing the refresh rate, but also consider adjusting brightness, contrast, and taking regular breaks.

Can I use a 120Hz monitor with a console that outputs 60Hz?

Yes, the monitor will simply display at 60Hz. The console sends a 60Hz signal, and the monitor refreshes at 60Hz. You won’t get the benefit of 120Hz unless the console and game support it. Some consoles, like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, support 120Hz output for certain games, but you need a monitor that supports 120Hz over HDMI.

Is it worth upgrading from 60Hz to 144Hz?

For most people, especially gamers, yes. The difference in smoothness is immediately noticeable, and it can improve your performance in fast-paced games. For general productivity, the benefit is less pronounced, but many people still prefer the smoother scrolling and cursor movement. If you have the budget and a GPU that can push high frame rates, a 144Hz monitor is a worthwhile upgrade.

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in t | Refresh rate (Hz) | Hz | 60 | 1
in d | Display diagonal (inches) | in | 24 | 1
out pixels_per_sec | Pixel transitions per second (Mpx/s) | Mpx/s | (1920 * 1080 * t) / 1000000 | 2
out frame_time | Time per frame | ms | 1000 / t | 2