Is Your 144Hz Monitor Stuck at 60Hz? How to Set the Right Refresh Rate in Windows

If you bought a high-refresh monitor but the screen doesn't feel any different, Windows is probably still running it at 60Hz. Just plugging in the monitor often doesn't turn on its highest refresh rate automatically. It takes about a minute to check and fix.

What is refresh rate?

• Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times per second the monitor redraws the screen. 60Hz means 60 times a second; 144Hz means 144 times.
• The higher the number, the smoother mouse movement, scrolling and games look.
• You can use up to the maximum refresh rate printed on the box or manual (for example 144Hz, 165Hz or 240Hz).

Step 1: Check and change the current refresh rate

• Right-click an empty spot on the desktop and open Display settings.
• If you have several monitors, first select the one you want to change in the picture at the top.
• Scroll down and click Advanced display.
• Under Choose a refresh rate, pick the highest number (for example 144Hz), then click Keep changes when asked.

Step 2: If the higher number isn't in the list

• Check the cable. Older HDMI cables or ports often can't carry high refresh rates. Try the DisplayPort (DP) cable that came with the monitor or a high-speed HDMI cable.
• Make sure it's plugged into the graphics card. If your desktop has a graphics card, connect the monitor to the graphics card's port, not the motherboard's.
• Check the resolution. If it isn't the monitor's native resolution, high refresh rates may not appear. Set the "Recommended" resolution in Display settings.
• Update your graphics driver from the NVIDIA, AMD or Intel website, or through Windows Update.
• Some monitors need an overclock or high-refresh option turned on in their own on-screen menu (OSD).

Step 3: See that it really changed

• Move the mouse cursor quickly in circles. Compared with 60Hz, the cursor trail looks much denser and smoother.
• A test site such as testufo.com shows your current refresh rate as a number in the browser.

Good to know

• Laptops may show Dynamic refresh rate (DRR). When on, it stays low most of the time and goes high only while scrolling, saving battery.
• Monitor refresh rate and screen-recording frame rate (FPS) are separate settings. Even if you record a 144Hz screen, the video is saved at the FPS set in your recording program (for example 30 or 60fps).

Reference: Microsoft Support – Change the refresh rate on your monitor in Windows