High Refresh Rate Monitor Setup in Windows & Games

This guide walks you through setting up a high refresh rate monitor in Windows and in your games, so you can actually see the smoother motion and reduced input lag the hardware promises. You’ll learn how to check your monitor’s supported rates, change the refresh rate in Windows settings, enable it inside individual games, and fix common issues like the option being grayed out or the game still running at 60 Hz.

What You’ll Need

A monitor that supports a refresh rate higher than 60 Hz (75, 120, 144, 240, etc.). Check the box or the manufacturer’s spec sheet if unsure.
A cable that supports the higher refresh rate at your monitor’s native resolution. DisplayPort is the most reliable for 144 Hz and above; HDMI 2.0 or later works for many monitors, but older HDMI (1.4) often caps at 60 Hz or lower resolutions.
A graphics card (GPU) with an output port that matches the cable and supports the refresh rate. Most modern discrete GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD do; integrated graphics may struggle at high resolutions.
Updated graphics drivers. Download the latest driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel’s website, or use their auto-detect tools.

Step-by-Step

Confirm your monitor’s native resolution and maximum refresh rate. Look up the model online or check the OSD (on-screen display) menu on the monitor itself. The OSD usually lists the current resolution and refresh rate under “Information” or “Display.”
Connect the monitor with the best available cable. Use DisplayPort if both your GPU and monitor have it. If you must use HDMI, make sure the cable is rated for the refresh rate you want — a standard “High-Speed HDMI” cable may not handle 144 Hz at 1440p or 4K. For 4K 120 Hz or 144 Hz, use HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC.
Update your graphics drivers. Go to the GPU manufacturer’s website, download the latest driver for your specific card model and Windows version, and install it. Restart your PC if prompted.
Open Windows display settings. Right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings” (Windows 10/11). Alternatively, press Win + I to open Settings, then go to System > Display.
Scroll down and click “Advanced display settings.” This is near the bottom of the Display page in Windows 11; in Windows 10 it’s under “Multiple displays.”
Select your monitor if you have more than one. The dropdown at the top of the Advanced display settings page lists all connected displays. Choose the high refresh rate monitor.
Click “Choose a refresh rate” and select the highest available value. You’ll see a list like 60 Hz, 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz, etc. Pick the maximum that matches your monitor’s spec. If 144 Hz is listed but 240 Hz is not, your cable or GPU may not support it — see Troubleshooting.
Click “Apply” and confirm the change. Windows will briefly black out the screen, then show a dialog asking if you want to keep the new refresh rate. Click “Keep changes.” If the screen goes black or looks wrong, wait 15 seconds — Windows will revert automatically.
Repeat the process for each monitor if you have multiple displays. Each one needs its own refresh rate set.
Now enable the refresh rate in your games. Launch a game and go to its video or graphics settings. Look for a setting called “Refresh rate,” “Display mode,” or “Frame rate limit.” Set the refresh rate to match your Windows setting (e.g., 144 Hz). If the game uses “Fullscreen” mode, some games only show the refresh rate when you select “Fullscreen” rather than “Borderless” or “Windowed.”
Disable any frame rate caps. If the game has a “Frame rate limiter” or “Max FPS” setting, set it to “Unlimited” or to a value higher than your refresh rate (e.g., 144+). Also check the GPU control panel: NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings > Max Frame Rate, and AMD Software > Gaming > Global Graphics > Frame Rate Target Control. Set these to “Off” or to a value above your refresh rate.
Enable V-Sync (or G-Sync/FreeSync) if desired. V-Sync prevents screen tearing but can add input lag. Adaptive sync technologies (G-Sync on NVIDIA, FreeSync on AMD) are better — they match the monitor’s refresh rate to the game’s frame rate to eliminate tearing without the lag. Enable it in the GPU control panel and in the game if the option exists.
Verify the refresh rate is active. Use an online test like testufo.com (the frame rate test) or check the monitor’s OSD while the game is running — many monitors display the current refresh rate. If the OSD shows 60 Hz while the game runs, the game is not using the full refresh rate.

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong cable. A cheap HDMI cable or an older DisplayPort cable can cap the refresh rate at 60 Hz even if the monitor supports more. Use the cable that came with the monitor, or a certified DisplayPort 1.4 / HDMI 2.1 cable for high refresh rates at high resolutions.
Setting the refresh rate in Windows but not in the game. Many games have their own refresh rate setting that defaults to 60 Hz. You must change it in each game’s video options.
Running the game in windowed or borderless mode. Some games only apply the full refresh rate in exclusive fullscreen mode. If you see a refresh rate dropdown in the game, try switching to “Fullscreen” first.
Leaving a frame rate cap on. If the game or GPU software caps FPS at 60, you won’t get the benefit of a 144 Hz monitor even if Windows is set correctly.
Confusing refresh rate with frame rate. The refresh rate is how often the monitor updates the image; the frame rate is how many frames the GPU renders per second. You need both to be high. If your GPU can’t push 144 FPS, the monitor will still run at 144 Hz, but you won’t see 144 unique frames.

Tips

Use the monitor’s OSD to verify. Most gaming monitors have an “Information” or “Status” page that shows the current refresh rate and resolution. This is the most reliable way to confirm the setting is active.
Test with a simple game or a desktop scroll. Scrolling a web page or moving the mouse cursor on the desktop is noticeably smoother at 144 Hz. If it feels the same as before, the setting didn’t apply.
Enable adaptive sync (G-Sync/FreeSync) for the best experience. This eliminates screen tearing and stutter when the frame rate dips below the refresh rate. It works best when the game’s frame rate is within the monitor’s supported range (e.g., 48–144 Hz).
Set your refresh rate in Windows before launching games. Some games read the Windows setting at launch and apply it automatically.
For laptops, check power settings. Some laptops cap the refresh rate on battery to save power. In Windows, go to Settings > System > Power & battery and select “Best performance” when plugged in.

Troubleshooting

The refresh rate option is grayed out or only shows 60 Hz. This usually means the cable or the GPU output port doesn’t support the higher rate. Try a different cable (DisplayPort instead of HDMI), or plug the monitor into a different port on your GPU (some GPUs have multiple HDMI/DP ports with different capabilities). Also make sure you’re using the GPU’s ports, not the motherboard’s, if you have a discrete GPU.
The screen goes black when you apply a higher refresh rate. Windows will revert after 15 seconds. If it doesn’t, restart your PC — it will boot back at the last working setting. Then try a lower refresh rate (e.g., 120 Hz instead of 144 Hz) or lower the resolution.
The game still runs at 60 FPS despite the monitor being set to 144 Hz. Check the game’s frame rate cap and V-Sync settings. Also check the GPU control panel’s global “Max Frame Rate” setting — it may be set to 60. Set it to “Off.”
The monitor OSD shows 144 Hz, but the game feels choppy. Your GPU may not be able to render 144 FPS at your chosen settings. Lower the graphics quality or resolution, or enable adaptive sync so the monitor matches the lower frame rate.
Windows shows 144 Hz, but the monitor OSD shows 60 Hz. This is rare but can happen with faulty cables or adapters. Try a different cable, or a direct connection without an adapter (e.g., avoid HDMI-to-DisplayPort converters).
After a driver update, the refresh rate resets to 60 Hz. Re-apply the setting in Windows Display settings. If it keeps resetting, use the GPU manufacturer’s “clean install” option when updating drivers, or use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode, then reinstall the driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a high refresh rate monitor make a difference for everyday use? Yes — scrolling web pages, moving the mouse, and window animations feel noticeably smoother. The difference is most obvious in fast-paced games, but it improves desktop responsiveness too.

Can I use a high refresh rate with a laptop? Yes, if the laptop’s display supports it and the GPU can output it. Many gaming laptops have 120 Hz or 144 Hz screens. On battery, Windows may cap the refresh rate; plug in and set the power mode to “Best performance.”

Is 144 Hz worth it over 60 Hz? For gaming, yes — it cuts motion blur and input lag dramatically. For office work, the difference is minor but still pleasant. If your GPU can’t run games above 60 FPS, the benefit is limited.

What’s the difference between refresh rate and FPS? Refresh rate is how many times the monitor updates per second (Hz). FPS is how many frames your GPU renders per second. For smooth motion, you want both to be high. If FPS is lower than the refresh rate, the monitor will show repeated frames, which can look stuttery unless adaptive sync is on.

Do I need a special cable for 144 Hz at 1080p? For 1080p 144 Hz, a standard DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 2.0 cable is sufficient. For 1440p 144 Hz, use DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1. For 4K 144 Hz, you need DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC or HDMI 2.1.

Why does my game only show 60 Hz in the options? The game may be running in borderless windowed mode, which uses the Windows desktop refresh rate. Switch to “Fullscreen” in the game’s display settings, then the refresh rate dropdown should show the higher values. Also make sure Windows is set to the higher refresh rate first.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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