How to Change Your Monitor's Refresh Rate

How to change your monitor's refresh rate in Windows and Mac

Your monitor's refresh rate — measured in hertz (Hz) — is how many times per second the screen redraws the image. Most monitors ship set to 60 Hz, but if your monitor supports a higher rate and your graphics card can handle it, you can change it in your display settings. The process differs between Windows and Mac, and the option only appears if your hardware actually supports the higher rate you want to set.

On Windows, you access refresh rate settings through Display Settings or the graphics card control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings). On Mac, the option lives in System Settings under Displays, though Mac monitors typically max out at 60 Hz unless you have a newer high-refresh display. If the higher refresh rate option does not appear, your monitor or cable may not support it, or your graphics card drivers need updating.

Key Takeaways

Refresh rate changes happen in your operating system's display settings, not on the monitor itself, even though the monitor must physically support the rate you choose.
Windows users can change refresh rate through Display Settings (Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display) or through their graphics card's control panel.
Mac users find refresh rate options in System Settings > Displays, but most Mac monitors are locked to 60 Hz by default.
If a higher refresh rate option does not appear, update your graphics drivers first — outdated drivers are the most common reason the setting stays hidden.
Changing refresh rate does not damage your monitor, but setting it higher than the monitor supports can cause flickering or a black screen; restart your computer if this happens.

Changing refresh rate on Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings and navigate to System > Display. Scroll to the bottom and click "Advanced Display." Under "Refresh Rate," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current rate and available options. Select the rate you want — usually 60 Hz, 75 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz, or higher depending on your monitor. Click "Apply" and Windows will ask you to confirm the change within 15 seconds; if you do not confirm, it reverts automatically.

If you do not see a refresh rate dropdown in Advanced Display, your graphics drivers may be outdated. Go to Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select it), expand "Display Adapters," right-click your graphics card, and select "Update Driver." Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software." After the update completes, restart your computer and return to Display Settings — the refresh rate option should now appear.

Some users find more granular control through their graphics card's native control panel. For NVIDIA cards, right-click your desktop and select "NVIDIA Control Panel," then go to Change Resolution under Display. For AMD cards, right-click the desktop and open "AMD Radeon Settings," then navigate to Display. These panels sometimes show refresh rate options that Windows Settings does not, and they let you set different rates for different monitors if you have multiple displays.

Changing refresh rate on Mac

Click the Apple menu, select System Settings, then click Displays in the sidebar. If you have an external monitor connected, select it from the list. Look for a "Refresh Rate" dropdown — it will only appear if your monitor supports multiple rates. Select your preferred rate from the menu. Most Mac displays max out at 60 Hz, but newer external monitors (particularly gaming or professional displays) may offer 75 Hz, 120 Hz, or higher.

If you do not see a refresh rate option, your monitor either does not support variable refresh rates or macOS does not recognize the capability. Check your monitor's manual or the manufacturer's website to confirm what rates it supports. If the monitor does support higher rates, try unplugging the display cable and plugging it back in, then return to System Settings — sometimes macOS needs to re-detect the monitor's full capabilities.

What to do if the refresh rate option does not appear

The most common reason the refresh rate setting stays hidden is outdated graphics drivers. Windows and Mac both rely on driver software to communicate with your graphics card about what the monitor can do. If the driver does not know your monitor supports 144 Hz, the option will not show up in settings. Update your drivers through Device Manager on Windows or Software Update on Mac, then restart and check again.

The second reason is that your cable may not support the higher rate. HDMI 1.4 and earlier versions cap out at 60 Hz for most resolutions; DisplayPort and HDMI 2.0 or newer support higher rates. If you are using an older HDMI cable with a monitor that supports 144 Hz, try switching to DisplayPort or a newer HDMI cable. Some monitors also have a settings menu on the monitor itself (accessed with physical buttons on the back or side) where you can enable or disable high refresh rate mode — check your manual.

If you have updated drivers, tried a different cable, and the option still does not appear, your monitor may genuinely not support refresh rates above 60 Hz. This is common with older monitors and budget displays. Check the monitor's specifications on the manufacturer's website or in the manual to confirm what rates it supports.

What happens if you set a refresh rate your monitor does not support

If you set a refresh rate higher than your monitor can handle, you will usually see flickering, a black screen, or a "no signal" message. Do not panic — this does not damage the monitor. On Windows, the system automatically reverts to the previous setting after 15 seconds if you do not confirm the change. On Mac, the change takes effect immediately, but you can go back to System Settings and select a lower rate.

If your screen goes black and you cannot see the settings menu, restart your computer. It will boot back to the last working refresh rate. Then return to your display settings and choose a lower rate. If you are unsure what rate your monitor supports, start with 60 Hz (the universal safe default) and move up in small increments — 75 Hz, then 120 Hz — testing each one for a few minutes before moving higher.

Why you might want to change your refresh rate

A higher refresh rate makes motion on screen appear smoother, which is most noticeable in fast-moving content like video games, sports, or scrolling through web pages. The difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz is visible to most people; the difference between 120 Hz and 144 Hz is smaller but still noticeable to some. If you spend hours at your computer doing detail work like photo editing or coding, a higher refresh rate can reduce eye strain because the screen flicker is less perceptible.

However, a higher refresh rate also uses more power and generates slightly more heat. For everyday tasks like email, word processing, or watching video, 60 Hz is perfectly adequate and uses less energy. Gaming and professional graphics work benefit most from higher rates. If your monitor supports it and your graphics card can maintain the frame rate, there is no downside to setting it higher — you can always lower it again if you notice any issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the refresh rate damage my monitor?

No. If you set a rate your monitor does not support, you may see flickering or a black screen, but this causes no permanent damage. The system reverts automatically on Windows, and you can change it back on Mac. Monitors are designed to handle refresh rate changes safely.

Can I set different refresh rates for different monitors?

Yes, if you have multiple displays connected. In Windows Display Settings, select each monitor individually and set its refresh rate separately. On Mac, click each display in System Settings and adjust its rate independently. Your graphics card sends the correct signal to each monitor.

Does a higher refresh rate use more battery on a laptop?

Yes, slightly. Higher refresh rates draw more power from your graphics card and battery. If you are on battery power and want to extend runtime, lowering the refresh rate to 60 Hz can help. When plugged in, the battery impact is negligible.

Why does my monitor support 144 Hz but Windows only shows 60 Hz?

Your graphics drivers are likely outdated or your cable does not support the higher rate. Update your graphics drivers first through Device Manager. If that does not work, try a DisplayPort cable or a newer HDMI 2.0 cable instead of an older HDMI 1.4 cable.

Do I need to change refresh rate for video streaming or movies?

No. Video content is typically filmed at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second, so 60 Hz is sufficient. Higher refresh rates benefit interactive content like games and scrolling, not pre-recorded video. Changing to a higher rate will not improve how movies look.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.