Windows 11 lets you change the display refresh rate if your laptop or monitor supports multiple refresh rates. Here is how.
Generally, 60 hertz (Hz) is the default refresh rate for most displays, be it laptops or desktop monitors. In fact, they won’t ever go over the 60Hz refresh rate. However, some displays, especially those designed for gaming, offer higher refresh rates like 90Hz, 120Hz, 240Hz, etc. In that case, you might have to manually change the Windows 11 refresh rate settings to utilize the higher display refresh rate.
If you don’t know, a higher display refresh rate offers smoother on-screen action, sharper image, and more. In the case of games, it might even improve your gaming performance in specific conditions, especially in first-person shooter games.
Since there are so many displays with wide-ranging refresh rates, Windows 11 supports changing the display refresh rate with just a few clicks. Alternatively, the graphics software from Intel, Nvidia, and AMD also support setting custom display refresh rates. If needed, you can also enable the new Dynamic Refresh Rate and let Windows 11 manage the refresh rate depending on the on-screen content.
Without ado, this easy how-to guide will show you the steps to change the display refresh rate in Windows 11.
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Important note: To set a higher display refresh rate, your display should support it. Otherwise, you cannot modify the refresh rate. You can check the display or laptop manufacturer website to see if your display supports higher refresh rates.
Change display refresh rate in Windows 11
There are multiple ways to modify the refresh rate. I will show three easy ways. All of them achieve the same thing. Follow the one you like depending on your computer hardware specifications.
From Windows 11 Settings
The Settings app is the easiest way to change the display refresh rate in Windows 11. It has dedicated options to quickly set a refresh rate of your choice with just a few clicks. Here is where to find the refresh rate option in Windows 11 and change it.
- Open the Settings app.
- Select “System” on the sidebar.
- Click on the “Display” option.
- Scroll down and click on “Advanced display.”
- Select a refresh rate from the “Choose a refresh rate” dropdown menu.
- When prompted, click “Keep changes.”
- With that, you’ve changed the display refresh rate in Windows 11.
Detailed steps with screenshots and additional info:
Press the Start key on your keyboard and click on the “Settings” icon under the Pinned Apps section. You can also search for it in the Start menu or right-click on the Start menu and select “Settings.”
After opening Windows 11 Settings, go to the “System > Display” page. As you can guess, you will find most of the display settings on this page. These settings include but are not limited to brightness, resolution, refresh rate, etc.
On this page, scroll down and click the “Advanced display” option under the “Related settings” section.
Now, click the dropdown menu next to the “Choose a refresh rate” option to see all the supported refresh rates. Select the refresh rate of your choice, and Windows 11 instantly applies it.
When prompted, click the “Keep changes” button if everything seems ok.
That is it. With that, you have successfully changed the refresh rate in Windows 11.
Important note: If you have connected multiple displays, you can choose which display you want to change the refresh rate from the “Select a display to view or change its settings” dropdown menu.
From Intel graphics control panel
If you are using an Intel CPU with integrated graphics, you can change the refresh rate from the Intel Graphics Control Panel software. Here is how to do it.
- Right-click on the desktop.
- Select the “Intel Graphics Settings” option.
- Choose the “Display” option.
- Select “General settings” on the sidebar.
- Choose a refresh rate from the “Refresh rate” dropdown menu.
- Click the “Apply” button.
- Click “Keep changes” when prompted.
- Close the Intel Graphics Settings window.
- With that, you have changed the refresh rate in Windows 11 from Intel Settings.
From Nvidia control panel
If you have an Nvidia graphics card, you can open the Nvidia control panel and change the display refresh rate from there. One of the advantages of setting it from the Nvidia control panel is that it might configure other relevant settings and optimize the software for the changed refresh rate.
- Right-click on the desktop.
- Select the “Nvidia Control Panel” option.
- Expand the “Display” tree on the sidebar.
- Click the “Change resolution” option.
- Select a refresh rate from the “Refresh rate” dropdown menu.
- Changes are saved automatically.
- Close the Nvidia control panel.
- With that, you have changed the refresh rate in Windows 11 from the Nvidia control panel.
Enable Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) in Windows 11
In Windows 11, Microsoft added a new feature called Dynamic Refresh Rate. As you can tell from the name itself, when turned on, the DRR feature will adjust the refresh rate as needed, depending on what you are doing and what’s on the screen. Here is how to turn on the Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11.
The best thing about enabling the Dynamic Refresh Rate will give you the best of both worlds. Windows 11 increases the refresh rate in applications like games while reducing it in general applications. This will improve the system performance and battery life (in laptops).
- Open the Settings app.
- Select the “System” tab on the sidebar.
- Click on the “Display” option.
- Click on the “Advanced display” option at the bottom.
- Select “Dynamic” from the Refresh Rate dropdown menu.
- Close the Settings app.
- With that, the Dynamic Refresh Rate feature is turned on.
That is all. It is that simple to change the refresh rate in Windows 11.
I hope this easy Windows 11 how-to guide helped you.
If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.
