Find your current refresh rate and what your monitor supports

Before you change anything, you need to know what your monitor can actually do. Most monitors sold in the last five years support at least 60 Hz, but gaming monitors often go to 144 Hz, 165 Hz, or higher. Your graphics card also has to support the refresh rate you want — an older card might max out at 60 Hz even if your monitor can do more.

To see what you're running now, right-click on your desktop and look for "Display settings" (Windows) or go to System Preferences > Displays (Mac). Write down the current refresh rate. Then check your monitor's manual or the manufacturer's website to find its maximum refresh rate. The model number is usually on a sticker on the back of the monitor.

Key Takeaways

  • Your monitor's maximum refresh rate is printed on the back or in the manual — check this before changing anything.
  • Windows users right-click the desktop, select Display settings, then Advanced display settings to find the refresh rate dropdown.
  • Mac users go to System Preferences > Displays and look for a Refresh Rate option, which may not appear if your monitor only supports one rate.
  • Changing the refresh rate takes effect immediately, and you can revert to the old setting right away if something looks wrong.
  • If you don't see your desired refresh rate as an option, your graphics card driver may need an update.

How to change refresh rate in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select Display settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the window and click Advanced display settings. This opens a new window showing your current resolution and refresh rate.

Look for the Refresh rate dropdown menu. Click it to see all the rates your system detects as available. Select the rate you want — higher numbers mean smoother motion, but only if your graphics card and monitor both support it. Click Apply. Windows will ask you to confirm the change; click Keep changes if the display looks normal. If the screen goes black or looks distorted, do nothing for 15 seconds and Windows will automatically revert to the previous setting.

How to change refresh rate on a Mac

Click the Apple menu and go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs). Select Displays. On some Macs, a Refresh Rate dropdown appears at the bottom of the window. Click it and choose your preferred rate.

If you don't see a refresh rate option, your monitor only supports one rate, or your Mac doesn't recognize multiple rates for that display. This is common with older Macs or external monitors connected via USB-C. In that case, the refresh rate cannot be changed through the settings menu. Close the Displays window — the change takes effect immediately if an option was available.

What to do if your desired refresh rate doesn't appear

If the refresh rate you want isn't in the dropdown, your graphics card driver is probably out of date. Drivers are software that tell your computer how to talk to your monitor. Outdated drivers often don't recognize higher refresh rates even if your hardware supports them.

On Windows, right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager. Find Display adapters, right-click your graphics card (usually NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel), and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will download and install the latest version. Restart your computer and check the refresh rate dropdown again.

On Mac, go to System Preferences > Software Update and install any available updates. Mac handles graphics drivers differently than Windows and updates them as part of the operating system. After updating, restart and check Displays again.

Why refresh rate matters and when to change it

Refresh rate is how many times per second your monitor redraws the image on screen. A 60 Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second; a 144 Hz monitor does it 144 times per second. Higher refresh rates make motion smoother, especially noticeable in fast-paced games, video editing, or scrolling through long documents.

If you're doing office work, email, or web browsing, 60 Hz is fine and uses less power. If you play competitive games or do video work, a higher refresh rate reduces blur and makes the experience feel more responsive. However, your graphics card has to produce enough frames per second to take advantage of the higher rate — if your card only produces 80 frames per second but your monitor is set to 144 Hz, you won't see the full benefit.

Connection type affects what refresh rates are available

How your monitor connects to your computer matters. HDMI 2.0 cables max out at 60 Hz for 4K resolution, though they can do higher rates at lower resolutions. DisplayPort 1.4 supports much higher refresh rates — up to 240 Hz or more depending on resolution. USB-C connections vary widely depending on the monitor and cable.

If you're trying to use a high refresh rate and it's not showing up, try a different cable. Many people use an old HDMI cable that doesn't support the higher rate. If you have a DisplayPort cable available, try that instead. Check your monitor's manual to see which connection types it supports and at what refresh rates.

Troubleshooting if the screen looks wrong after changing

If you change the refresh rate and the screen flickers, looks distorted, or goes black, you have about 15 seconds to fix it. On Windows, the system automatically reverts to the previous setting if you don't confirm the change. On Mac, the change takes effect immediately, so you may need to force restart by holding the power button for 10 seconds.

The most common cause is that your graphics card or cable doesn't actually support the rate you selected. Try a lower refresh rate instead, or check that you're using the right cable type. If the problem persists, update your graphics driver (see the section above) or contact the monitor manufacturer to confirm which refresh rates your specific model supports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the refresh rate damage my monitor?

No. Your monitor is designed to handle its rated refresh rate continuously. Setting it to a rate within the monitor's specifications causes no damage. If you accidentally set it higher than the monitor supports, the worst that happens is a distorted image, which you can revert immediately.

Does higher refresh rate use more electricity?

Slightly, but the difference is small — usually a few watts. A 144 Hz monitor uses a bit more power than a 60 Hz monitor, but not enough to noticeably affect your electricity bill. The graphics card uses more power to produce more frames, which is the bigger factor.

Can I set a refresh rate higher than my monitor's maximum?

You can select it in the settings menu, but your monitor won't actually display at that rate. It will either ignore the setting and use its maximum, or the display will flicker and look broken. Revert to a lower rate immediately if this happens.

Why does my Mac not show a refresh rate option?

Macs with built-in displays usually don't show a refresh rate option because the display only supports one rate. External monitors connected via USB-C or older connection types may also not offer a choice. This is a hardware limitation, not a software problem, and cannot be changed through settings.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing the refresh rate?

No. The change takes effect immediately. You only need to restart if you update your graphics driver, which requires a restart to complete the installation.