V-Sync is in AMD Radeon Settings, under the Graphics tab

V-Sync (vertical sync) is a graphics setting that locks your frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate. On AMD graphics cards, you find it by opening AMD Radeon Settings, navigating to the Graphics tab, and looking for the V-Sync toggle. The exact location depends on which AMD software version you have — either the older Radeon Settings or the newer Adrenalin software — but both follow the same basic path.

V-Sync reduces screen tearing, the visual glitch where the top and bottom of your screen show different frames at the same time. The trade-off is a slight input delay, which matters more in competitive games than in single-player titles. If you turn V-Sync on and your frame rate drops noticeably, you may want to turn it back off and accept the tearing instead.

Key Takeaways

  • V-Sync lives in AMD Radeon Settings or Adrenalin under Graphics, not in your game settings.
  • You can set V-Sync globally for all games or override it per game in the same menu.
  • Turning V-Sync on locks your frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate, which reduces tearing but adds input lag.
  • If V-Sync causes stuttering or frame drops, your GPU may not be fast enough to maintain your monitor's refresh rate consistently.

How to open AMD Radeon Settings or Adrenalin

Right-click on your desktop and look for "AMD Radeon Settings" or "AMD Radeon Adrenalin Edition" in the context menu. If you do not see either option, your AMD drivers may not be installed. You can also open the software by searching your Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac) for "Radeon" or "Adrenalin".

Once the software opens, you should see a home screen with several tabs or sections. Look for a tab labeled "Graphics" or "Gaming" — this is where V-Sync lives. If you see a gear icon or settings icon instead, click that first to access the full settings menu.

Finding V-Sync in the Graphics tab

In the Graphics tab, scroll down until you see a section called "Wait for Vertical Refresh" or simply "V-Sync". The name varies slightly between software versions. Next to it, you will see a toggle or dropdown menu with options like "Off", "On", or "Enhanced". Click the toggle to turn V-Sync on or off.

Some versions of AMD software also show "V-Sync" as part of a larger "Display" or "Vsync" section. If you cannot find it in Graphics, check a Display or Advanced tab. The setting is always in the same general area, but AMD has reorganized these menus across different driver versions.

Setting V-Sync per game instead of globally

If you want V-Sync on for some games but off for others, most versions of AMD Radeon Settings let you create game-specific overrides. Look for a section called "Game Profiles" or "Per-Game Settings" in the main menu. Click the option to add a new game, select the game from your installed list, and then toggle V-Sync on or off just for that title.

Game-specific settings override the global V-Sync setting you configured in the Graphics tab. This is useful if a competitive game feels sluggish with V-Sync on, but a slower single-player game benefits from having it enabled.

What to do if you cannot find V-Sync

If V-Sync does not appear in your Graphics tab, your AMD drivers may be outdated. Visit the AMD website, enter your graphics card model, and download the latest driver package. After installation, restart your computer and open Radeon Settings again — V-Sync should now be visible.

If you have an older AMD graphics card (pre-2015), your version of Radeon Settings may not include V-Sync as a separate toggle. In that case, look for a setting called "Wait for Vertical Refresh" or check your monitor's built-in settings menu — some monitors have their own V-Sync option that works independently of your graphics card software.

When V-Sync causes stuttering or frame drops

If you turn V-Sync on and your game suddenly stutters or drops frames, your GPU is not fast enough to maintain your monitor's refresh rate consistently. For example, if your monitor runs at 144 Hz and your GPU can only deliver 130 frames per second, V-Sync will lock you to 72 Hz (half the refresh rate) to stay synchronized. This creates a noticeable stutter.

To fix this, either turn V-Sync off, lower your game's graphics settings to boost frame rate, or enable a different sync technology like FreeSync (which is AMD's adaptive sync option). FreeSync allows your frame rate to vary without tearing, and it does not cause the same stutter that V-Sync does when your frame rate dips below your monitor's refresh rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is V-Sync the same as FreeSync?

No. V-Sync locks your frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate, which can cause stuttering if your GPU cannot maintain that rate. FreeSync is AMD's adaptive sync technology that lets your frame rate vary smoothly without tearing. FreeSync requires a compatible monitor, but V-Sync works on any monitor.

Should I turn V-Sync on or off?

Turn V-Sync on if you see screen tearing and your frame rate is stable above your monitor's refresh rate. Turn it off if you see stuttering, if your frame rate dips below your monitor's refresh rate, or if you play competitive games where input lag matters more than visual tearing.

Can I enable V-Sync in my game settings instead of AMD software?

Yes. Most games have their own V-Sync toggle in the graphics menu. If your game has V-Sync, use that instead of the AMD software setting — it is usually more reliable. If your game does not have V-Sync, use the AMD Radeon Settings toggle.

Does V-Sync reduce my frame rate?

V-Sync does not reduce your frame rate, but it locks it to your monitor's refresh rate. If your GPU produces 200 frames per second and your monitor runs at 60 Hz, V-Sync will display 60 of those frames per second. The extra frames are discarded.

What if my monitor does not support the refresh rate V-Sync is trying to lock to?

This is rare, but if it happens, your monitor will display the closest supported refresh rate. Check your monitor's manual or settings menu to confirm its maximum refresh rate, then verify that AMD Radeon Settings is reading the same number. If they do not match, update your monitor drivers or change your display resolution in Windows settings.