Change the refresh rate on your monitor in Windows
Applies To
Windows 11 Windows 10The refresh rate of a display is the number of times per second that the image refreshes on the screen. For example, a 60Hz display will update the screen 60 times per second.
What are the benefits of changing the display refresh rate?
The benefits of changing the display refresh rate depend on the type of content you are viewing and the capabilities of your display. Some of the benefits are:
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Gaming: A higher refresh rate can improve your gaming experience by reducing motion blur and screen tearing. It can give you a competitive edge in fast-paced games by reducing input lag and increasing responsiveness.
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Browsing and Inking: A higher refresh rate can make scrolling and using a digital pen more fluid and natural. It can also reduce eye strain and fatigue by minimizing flicker and ghosting.
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Battery Life: Lowering your refresh rate can save battery power by reducing the amount of energy your display consumes. This can be useful when you are using a laptop or tablet and want to extend your battery life.
To change the refresh rate
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Select Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display .
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Next to Choose a refresh rate, select the rate you want. The refresh rates that appear depend on your display and what it supports. Select laptops and external displays will support higher refresh rates.
What is Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR)?
Windows 11 introduces a new feature called Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) that automatically adjusts the refresh rate based on what you are doing at the time. This can help you get the best of both worlds: a smooth experience when you need it for gaming, browsing or inking, and a longer battery life when you’re not doing these types of things.
To enable or disable DRR:
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Select Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display .
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Next to Choose a refresh rate, select the Dynamic option. (Note: This option is only available on supported hardware. If you don’t see the Dynamic option, then your hardware doesn’t support DRR.)
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If you want to disable DRR and use a fixed refresh rate, you can select a specific value from the drop-down menu, such as 60 Hz, 120 Hz, etc.
Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
To change the refresh rate
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Select the Start button, then select Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings.
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If you are using multiple monitors, select your display from the dropdown under Choose Display.
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Under Refresh rate, select the rate you want. The refresh rates that appear depend on your display and what it supports. Some laptops and external displays will support higher refresh rates.
What is Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR)?
Note: Windows 10 does not support Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR). If you would like to enable DRR, consider upgrading to Windows 11.
Windows 11 introduces a new feature called Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) that automatically adjusts the refresh rate based on what you are doing at the time. This can help you get the best of both worlds: a smooth experience when you need it for gaming, browsing or inking, and a longer battery life when you’re not doing these types of things.
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