Display refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), indicates how many times per second your display refreshes its image. The higher the refresh rate, the better will be your visual experience, especially in games. By default, Windows 11 sets the refresh rate according to your monitor specifications and drivers.
However, there might be times when you need to change your display refresh rate. For example, maybe you want to increase the refresh rate for gaming or decrease it to reduce power consumption. A higher refresh rate offers smoother on-screen action, sharper images, and can even improve gaming performance in specific conditions, like first-person shooters.
On Windows 11, you can adjust the refresh rate via the Settings app. Alternatively, you can also do it using the graphics software from Nvidia and Intel. I will show all four methods, follow the one you like. Let’s get started.
For Windows 10 Users: How to Change Monitor Refresh Rate in Windows 10
Change Refresh Rate From Windows 11 Settings
Step 1: Open Settings
Press the “Start key + I” to open the Settings window. Alternatively, right-click on the Start button and select “Settings.”
Step 2: Go to Display settings
In the Settings window, select “System” on the sidebar and then click on the “Display” option.
Step 3: Open Advanced Display Settings
Scroll down to the Related Settings section and click on the “Advanced Display” option.
Step 4: Select Refresh Rate
Choose a refresh rate from the “Choose a refresh rate” dropdown menu.
Note: On supported monitors, you will see a new option called “Dynamic” in the “Choose a refresh rate” dropdown menu. Selecting this option will turn on Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) allowing Windows to automatically adjust the refresh rate based on your current activity. For example, when gaming, Windows will increase the refresh rate and decrease it for low-intensity tasks to reduce power consumption.
Step 5: Confirm Changes
When prompted, click the “Keep Settings” button to confirm the refresh rate change.
Change Refresh Rate From Nvidia Control Panel
If you have an Nvidia graphics card, you can use the Nvidia Control Panel app to adjust the monitor refresh rate. This method is especially useful for those with G-Sync compatible monitors or who like fine-tuned adjustments.
Step 1: Open the Nvidia Control Panel App
Press the Start button, type “Nvidia Control Panel” in the search bar, and click the top option to open the application.
Step 2: Go to the Change Resolution page
On the Nvidia Control Panel window, expand the “Display” tree and click on “Change Resolution.”
Step 3: Select Refresh Rate
Choose a refresh rate from the “Refresh Rate” dropdown menu and click “Apply.”
Step 4: Confirm Changes
Click “Yes” when prompted to apply the new refresh rate settings.
Change Refresh Rate From Intel Graphics Command Center
If you are using an Intel CPU with integrated graphics, you can use Intel’s Graphics Control Panel to change the monitor refresh rate. Here’s how.
Note: Your Intel CPU should be 6th generation or newer. Here’s how you can find your Intel CPU’s generation if you don’t know.
Step 1: Open the Intel Graphics Command Center App
First, press the Start button, search for “Intel Graphics Command Center” and click the appropriate result to open the app.
Note: You can install the Intel Graphics Command Center app from the Microsoft Store if you haven’t already.
Step 2: Go to Display Settings
In the app window, go to the “Display” settings tab on the sidebar.
Step 3: Choose Refresh Rate Under the General Tab
Go to the General tab and choose a refresh rate from the “Refresh Rate” dropdown menu. Click “Apply” in the top right-corner.
Note: You might see the refresh rate denoted with “P” (e.g., 60P) instead of Hz (Hertz). This is normal. “60P” stands for 60 frames per second with progressive scanning, which means the screen is refreshed 60 times per second with each frame drawn fully. Intel uses this notation to indicate the type of scanning (progressive). Whereas “Hz” simply indicates the number of times the screen is refreshed per second without any information regarding the type of scanning.
Step 4: Confirm Changes
When prompted, click the “Keep” button to apply refresh rate changes.
Troubleshooting Steps
Cannot find supported refresh rate in Settings: If you did find a specific refresh rate that you know your monitor supports, make sure proper drivers are installed. If necessary, go to the monitor manufacturer’s website and download & install drivers for your specific monitor. This will software the problem.
Cannot change the refresh rate in AMD Adrenalin software: AMD users with Adrenalin software can only change the refresh rate from the Windows 11 Settings app. However, if your CPU or GPU supports Radeon software, you can use it as an alternative.
Screen tearing, blurry motion, screen flickering, or input lag after changing the monitor refresh rate: When you set an unsupported refresh rate or a refresh rate that’s too low or too high, it might cause these issues. In those cases, fall back to the default refresh rate and see if it fixes the problem. Next, make sure your display drivers are up to date and try to set a refresh rate recommended by your monitor manufacturer. This will fix these problems.
Wrapping Up — Adjusting Refresh Rate in Windows 11
Whether you use the Settings app or the graphics software such as Nvidia Control Panel or Intel Graphics Command Center, adjusting your monitor’s refresh rate is pretty easy. Do keep in mind that you don’t see a specific refresh rate that you know should be available or facing issues after modifying the refresh rate, ensure you have installed proper display drivers.
If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I will answer.
