What refresh rate means and why you might 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 refreshes 144 times per second. Higher refresh rates can make motion look smoother — especially noticeable in games, video editing, or fast-scrolling web pages — but they also use more power and require a graphics card capable of producing that many frames.

You might lower your refresh rate to reduce power consumption on a laptop, or raise it if your monitor supports it and your graphics card can keep up. Some people find higher refresh rates reduce eye strain during long work sessions, though this varies by person. The change takes seconds and you can revert it just as quickly if you don't like the result.

Key Takeaways

  • Your monitor's maximum refresh rate is a fixed hardware limit — you cannot exceed it, but you can set it lower.
  • Your graphics card must be capable of producing enough frames for the refresh rate to matter; a card that outputs 60 frames per second will not benefit from a 144 Hz monitor.
  • Windows, macOS, and Linux all let you change refresh rate in display settings, though the exact steps differ slightly by operating system.
  • If you see flickering or artifacts after changing the refresh rate, revert to your previous setting — your hardware combination may not support that rate reliably.

How to change refresh rate on Windows 10 and 11

Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings. Scroll down and click Advanced display settings. At the bottom of that window, click Display adapter properties. In the new window that opens, click the Monitor tab, then look for the Screen refresh rate dropdown. Select your desired rate and click Apply, then OK.

Windows will ask you to confirm the change — you have 15 seconds to click Revert if the screen goes black or becomes unreadable. If you do nothing, the change sticks. If you do not see your desired refresh rate in the dropdown, your monitor may not support it, or your graphics driver may need updating. Check your monitor's manual for its maximum supported rate.

How to change refresh rate on macOS

Click the Apple menu, then System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions). Go to Displays. Click Refresh Rate and select your preferred option from the dropdown. The change takes effect immediately.

If you do not see a Refresh Rate option, your display does not support variable refresh rates, or you are using an external monitor that requires a different approach. For external monitors on Mac, the refresh rate is often controlled through the monitor's own settings menu — check the buttons on the monitor itself or its manual.

How to change refresh rate on Linux

The process depends on your desktop environment. On GNOME, open Settings, go to Displays, and look for a Refresh RateSystem Settings, navigate to Display and Monitor, then Displays, and adjust the refresh rate there.

If your desktop environment does not offer a graphical option, you can use the command line. Open a terminal and run xrandr to list your displays and available refresh rates, then use xrandr --output [display-name] --rate [rate] to set it. Replace [display-name] with your monitor's identifier (usually HDMI-1 or DP-1) and [rate] with the refresh rate you want.

When your monitor does not show the refresh rate you want

If your desired refresh rate does not appear in the dropdown, three things could be the cause. First, your monitor may not physically support that rate — check the manual or the manufacturer's website. Second, your graphics driver may be outdated. Update your GPU driver (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) through the manufacturer's website or your system's update tool. Third, your cable may not support the bandwidth required — HDMI 1.4 maxes out at 60 Hz for 4K, while HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 support higher rates.

If you recently plugged in an external monitor and refresh rate options are missing, restart your computer. Sometimes the operating system does not detect the monitor's capabilities until after a reboot. If the problem persists, try a different cable or port on your monitor.

Signs your refresh rate is set too high for your hardware

If you see flickering, black bars, or visual artifacts after changing the refresh rate, your system cannot reliably sustain that setting. This usually means your graphics card is not powerful enough, your cable cannot handle the bandwidth, or your monitor does not actually support that rate despite what the driver reports. Revert to your previous refresh rate immediately — these symptoms can indicate an unstable configuration.

A more subtle sign is frame drops or stuttering during demanding tasks. If your graphics card cannot consistently produce frames at the rate your monitor is refreshing, you will see uneven motion. In this case, either lower the refresh rate or lower your game or application settings to let your card keep up.

Refresh rate and power consumption

Higher refresh rates consume more power, particularly on laptops. If you are trying to extend battery life, lowering your refresh rate from 144 Hz to 60 Hz can provide a modest improvement — typically 5 to 15 percent depending on your hardware and what you are doing. The difference is more noticeable on gaming laptops than on ultrabooks used for office work.

On desktop computers plugged into wall power, the difference is negligible for most users. If you are running a server or a machine in a data center, the cumulative effect across many monitors can add up, but for a single home or office setup, power consumption is rarely the deciding factor.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Your monitor has a hardware limit that cannot be exceeded through software. If you try to set a rate above that limit, your system will either reject it or produce visual artifacts. Stick to the rates your monitor's manual lists as supported.

Will a higher refresh rate make my games run faster?

No, but it will make them look smoother if your graphics card can produce enough frames. If your card outputs 60 frames per second, a 144 Hz monitor will still show 60 unique frames per second — the extra refreshes just repeat the same frame. You need both a capable graphics card and a high-refresh monitor to see the benefit.

Is 60 Hz enough for everyday use?

For most people, yes. Browsing, email, and office work look fine at 60 Hz. Gamers and video editors often prefer 100+ Hz, but the difference is subjective. Try your current refresh rate for a week; if scrolling or motion feels jerky, experiment with a higher rate.

What should I do if my screen goes black after changing the refresh rate?

Do not panic. Windows gives you 15 seconds to click Revert before the change becomes permanent. If you miss that window, restart your computer and it will boot at the previous refresh rate. Then try a lower rate instead.

Do I need to change refresh rate if I just bought a new monitor?

Not necessarily. Your system usually detects your monitor's capabilities and sets a reasonable default. Check what rate is currently set; if it matches your monitor's maximum and you are happy with how things look, you do not need to change anything.