Where to find refresh rate settings on your computer

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 many can display at higher rates like 75 Hz, 144 Hz, or 240 Hz. Changing it means going into your graphics settings, not into the monitor itself. The path depends on whether you use Windows or Mac.

On Windows, right-click your desktop and look for "Display settings" or "Graphics settings" in the menu. On Mac, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions), then Displays, and look for a "Refresh Rate" or "ProMotion" option. If you don't see a refresh rate option at all, your graphics driver may need updating, or your monitor may not support anything higher than its current setting.

Key Takeaways

  • Refresh rate lives in your graphics settings (Windows Display Settings or Mac System Preferences), not in the monitor's physical buttons.
  • Your monitor must physically support the refresh rate you want to set — a 60 Hz monitor cannot display 144 Hz no matter what your settings say.
  • The cable connecting your monitor matters: HDMI 1.4 caps out around 60 Hz on most setups, while DisplayPort and newer HDMI versions support higher rates.
  • If a higher refresh rate option appears but your screen flickers or goes black when you select it, your cable or graphics card cannot handle it at that resolution.
  • Changing refresh rate does not damage your monitor, but setting it higher than the monitor supports will cause display problems you can easily undo.

Checking what your monitor actually supports

Before you change anything, you need to know what your monitor is capable of. Look at the monitor's manual, the box it came in, or the manufacturer's website — they will list the maximum refresh rate. A gaming monitor might support 144 Hz or 240 Hz; an office monitor typically maxes out at 60 Hz.

You also need to know what cable connects your monitor to your computer. HDMI 1.4 and earlier versions usually max out at 60 Hz. DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, and newer HDMI versions can handle 144 Hz or higher, depending on the resolution. If you are using an old HDMI cable with a monitor that supports 144 Hz, you will not reach that speed — the cable is the bottleneck.

Changing refresh rate on Windows

Right-click on your desktop and select "Display settings." Scroll down and click "Advanced display settings." Look for a dropdown or button labeled "Refresh rate" — it will show your current setting, usually 60 Hz. Click it and select the higher rate you want. Common options are 75 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz, or 240 Hz, depending on your monitor.

After you select a new rate, Windows will ask you to confirm the change within 15 seconds. If the screen goes black, flickers, or becomes unreadable, do nothing — Windows will automatically revert to the previous setting when the timer runs out. If the new rate works, click "Keep changes" to save it.

If you do not see a refresh rate option at all, your graphics driver is likely out of date. Go to the manufacturer's website for your graphics card (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), download the latest driver, and install it. Then restart your computer and try again.

Changing refresh rate on Mac

Click the Apple menu, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on macOS Ventura and later), and select Displays. On newer Macs with ProMotion support, you will see a "Refresh Rate" dropdown. Select your preferred rate — options typically range from 60 Hz to 120 Hz on MacBook Pro models that support it.

On older Macs or external monitors, the refresh rate option may not appear. This usually means your monitor does not support anything higher than 60 Hz, or your graphics card and cable combination cannot deliver a higher rate. Unlike Windows, Mac does not let you test a refresh rate before applying it, so if you change it and the display becomes unstable, restart your Mac and the setting will revert.

What to do if higher refresh rates do not appear as options

If you cannot find a refresh rate option, or if the only option is 60 Hz, start by checking your cable. Disconnect your monitor and look at the connector — if it is HDMI, try a DisplayPort cable instead, or upgrade to HDMI 2.0 or later. Swap the cable and go back into your graphics settings to see if new options appear.

If the cable is already DisplayPort or a recent HDMI version, update your graphics driver. Visit the website for your graphics card manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), find the latest driver for your specific card and operating system, download it, and install it. Restart your computer and check your display settings again.

If you still see no higher refresh rate options after updating your driver and trying a different cable, your monitor probably does not support anything above 60 Hz. This is common on older monitors and budget office displays. You can still use the monitor — 60 Hz is the standard — but you cannot force it to display faster than it was built to handle.

Why your screen might flicker or go black after changing refresh rate

If you select a higher refresh rate and the screen flickers, goes black, or becomes hard to read, one of three things is happening: your cable cannot handle that rate at your current resolution, your graphics card is not powerful enough, or your monitor does not actually support that rate despite the option appearing in settings.

The fix is simple: wait for Windows to automatically revert the change (it gives you 15 seconds), or restart your computer. Once you are back to the previous refresh rate, try a lower option — for example, if 144 Hz failed, try 120 Hz. You can also try lowering your screen resolution slightly, which sometimes allows higher refresh rates to work over the same cable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing refresh rate damage my monitor?

No. Changing refresh rate in your operating system settings cannot damage your monitor. If you set a rate your monitor cannot handle, the worst that happens is a flickering or black screen, which reverts automatically or when you restart. Your monitor will not be harmed.

Why does my monitor support 144 Hz but I can only set it to 60 Hz?

Your cable is likely the problem. HDMI 1.4 and older versions max out at 60 Hz. If your monitor supports 144 Hz, use a DisplayPort cable or HDMI 2.0 or newer. Also check that your graphics driver is up to date — an outdated driver can hide higher refresh rate options.

Does higher refresh rate use more power or make my computer run hotter?

Higher refresh rates use slightly more power and generate a tiny amount of extra heat, but the difference is negligible on modern computers. You will not notice a meaningful change in your electricity bill or fan noise.

Can I set different refresh rates for two monitors at once?

Yes. Windows and Mac both let you set different refresh rates for each monitor independently. Go to your display settings, select one monitor, change its refresh rate, then select the other monitor and set its rate separately.