Every PC shop knows this story: someone buys a shiny 144Hz monitor, plugs it in, and wonders why it feels exactly like their old screen. Nine times out of ten, the computer is still running it at 60Hz — Windows is famously conservative and often leaves a new display at its lowest supported rate.
The good news is that learning how to set the correct monitor refresh rate takes about a minute, and you only have to do it once. This guide walks through the exact steps for Windows 11, Windows 10, macOS, and Linux, explains why cables and ports sometimes get in the way, and covers the common traps that undo your setting after a restart.
Quick Answer
On Windows 11: right-click the desktop, choose Display settings, click Advanced display, pick your monitor at the top of the page, and choose the highest number in the Choose a refresh rate dropdown. On Windows 10 the path is Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings. If your monitor’s advertised rate is missing, check the cable, the monitor’s input port, and its on-screen menu first.
What Refresh Rate Means (and Why the Default Is Often Wrong)
Refresh rate is simply how many times per second your screen redraws its image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60Hz monitor redraws 60 times per second; a 144Hz monitor redraws 144 times per second, which is why motion — your mouse cursor, scrolling text, fast games — looks noticeably smoother and sharper at higher rates. If you want the technical background, the refresh rate article on Wikipedia explains the concept across display technologies from old CRTs to modern LCD panels.
So why does Windows often get it wrong? Microsoft’s own documentation notes that Windows defaults to a conservative rate, usually 60Hz, even when the attached display supports more. The operating system picks a safe value that will work on almost anything rather than the value your specific monitor was designed for. That is why the first thing to do with any new monitor is to check the setting yourself and raise it to match the panel — the monitor will not do it for you.
Before touching any settings, find out what your monitor actually supports. Check the box, the manufacturer’s specification page, or the sticker on the back of the monitor. The “correct” refresh rate is the highest native rate the panel supports at your chosen resolution — not some overclocked figure from a forum.
How to Set the Correct Monitor Refresh Rate in Windows 11
Windows 11 has the most straightforward settings path, and Microsoft publishes its own instructions for changing the refresh rate on your monitor if you ever want the official walkthrough.
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose Display settings.
- Scroll down to the Related settings section and click Advanced display.
- Select the right monitor from the dropdown at the top of the page if you have more than one. This step trips up a lot of people — Windows happily lets you change the setting for the wrong screen.
- Open the “Choose a refresh rate” dropdown under Display information.
- Pick the highest number available, for example 144Hz, 165Hz, or 240Hz. If Windows shows a confirmation prompt, choose Keep changes.
A couple of details worth knowing on this screen: the Display information panel also shows your current resolution, bit depth, and whether the display supports variable refresh rate (VRR). And if you see an asterisk (*) next to a refresh rate option, it means that rate is not supported at your current resolution — selecting it will force Windows to change the resolution to match.
Windows 11 also offers Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) on supported hardware, which shifts between rates automatically to save battery — handy on laptops, but pick a fixed rate for gaming.
How to Set the Correct Monitor Refresh Rate in Windows 10
The steps are almost identical on Windows 10, just with slightly older wording:
- Open Settings and go to System > Display.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Advanced display settings.
- Choose the display you want to change from the dropdown.
- Under Refresh rate, select the highest available value and click Apply, then Keep changes when asked.
The older-style dialog still works too: click Display adapter properties, open the Monitor tab, and use the Screen refresh rate dropdown.
Setting the Refresh Rate on One Monitor in a Multi-Monitor Setup
Each monitor in a multi-display setup has its own independent refresh rate — handy if you pair a 144Hz gaming monitor with a 60Hz side screen. The only practical catch: on the Advanced display page, always check which display is selected at the top before changing the dropdown.
How to Set the Correct Monitor Refresh Rate on macOS
Macs handle this a little differently, and Apple exposes the setting inside System Settings rather than a dedicated display panel:
- Open System Settings (Apple menu > System Settings).
- Go to Displays and select the external monitor if one is connected.
- Hold the Option key and click the resolution selector to reveal more options — this is the step most people miss.
- Look for the Refresh Rate dropdown and choose the highest available value, then confirm.
On MacBooks with ProMotion displays the rate adapts on its own, so leave it alone. For external monitors, though, macOS often defaults to 60Hz just like Windows, so check manually after plugging in a new display.
How to Set the Correct Monitor Refresh Rate on Linux
On most modern Linux desktops the setting lives in the same place as resolution:
- Ubuntu / GNOME: open Settings > Displays, select the monitor, and use the Refresh Rate dropdown.
- KDE Plasma: open System Settings > Display and Monitor, pick the display, and set the refresh rate there.
- Terminal (any desktop): run
xrandrto list available modes, thenxrandr --output HDMI-1 --mode 1920x1080 --rate 144, replacing the output name, resolution, and rate with your own values.
Note that the change made with xrandr resets at logout unless you add it to your startup applications or display manager configuration.
Cables and Ports Matter More Than You Think
Here is the trap that catches even experienced users: the refresh rate dropdown can only offer what the cable and port combination can actually carry. A monitor capable of 144Hz will still show only 60Hz in Windows if it is connected through an old cable or a bandwidth-limited port.
| Connection | Typical refresh rate support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DisplayPort | Usually the full advertised rate, including 144Hz, 165Hz, and 240Hz+ | The safest choice for high refresh rate monitors |
| HDMI (recent versions) | Often fine up to 120–144Hz at 1080p/1440p | Older HDMI ports and cables may top out at 60Hz at higher resolutions |
| USB-C / Thunderbolt | Usually full support | Depends on the dock or adapter — cheap adapters can limit bandwidth |
| VGA / DVI (single-link) | Typically 60Hz | Legacy connections; avoid for high refresh rate displays |
Practical rule of thumb: try the DisplayPort input first, use the cable that came in the monitor’s box, and check the monitor’s on-screen menu — many gaming monitors ship with their high refresh mode turned off by default.
Using the NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software
Your graphics card’s own control panel offers the same setting and sometimes exposes rates that Windows hides. NVIDIA documents the exact steps in its guide to selecting a screen refresh rate: right-click the desktop, open NVIDIA Control Panel, go to Display > Change resolution, select the monitor, and choose the rate from the Refresh rate list, then Apply.
For AMD cards, the equivalent setting is under the Display tab in AMD Software. One NVIDIA-specific tip: check the PC section of the resolution list rather than the Ultra HD, HD, SD section — it lists native resolutions with the full range of rates.
If neither Windows nor the GPU panel shows your monitor’s top rate, do not force it with custom resolution utilities as a first step. Nine times out of ten the blocker is the cable, the port, or a monitor menu toggle, and our guide to fixing 144Hz not showing in Windows walks through that checklist in order.
Common Mistakes That Undo Your Setting
- Changing the wrong monitor. In multi-monitor setups, always verify the selected display at the top of the Advanced display page.
- Forgetting the monitor’s own menu. Many gaming monitors need their high refresh mode enabled in the on-screen display before Windows can see it.
- Using the cable from the drawer. Old HDMI cables are the single most common reason a 144Hz monitor is stuck at 60Hz.
- Assuming games follow the desktop setting. Some games have their own refresh rate option in their video settings — check there too, especially if the desktop feels smooth but the game does not.
- Ignoring driver updates. A fresh GPU driver install can occasionally reset the rate to 60Hz, so re-check after major driver updates.
If flickering appears after raising the rate, suspect a marginal cable or an unstable overclocked mode — see our guide on fixing screen flickering on a monitor. Oddly sized text afterwards is a scaling issue, covered in fixing display scaling problems in Windows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best refresh rate to set on my monitor?
The highest native rate your monitor supports. For office work and browsing, 60–75Hz is perfectly fine; for gaming, 120Hz or higher is visibly smoother. Modern monitors only list rates they can actually display, so any option shown is safe.
Why is 144Hz not showing up in the refresh rate list?
The usual suspects, in order: an old or low-bandwidth cable, the wrong input port on the monitor, the monitor’s high refresh mode being disabled in its on-screen menu, or an outdated GPU driver. We have a full step-by-step checklist in our article on fixing 144Hz not showing in Windows.
Will a higher refresh rate damage my monitor?
No. The rates Windows offers come from the monitor’s own reported capabilities, so any listed option is safe. Only manually created custom overclocked modes carry any risk — stick to the listed rates.
Why does my refresh rate keep resetting to 60Hz?
Usually a GPU driver update, Dynamic Refresh Rate on a laptop, a battery-saver mode, or Windows re-detecting the display after the cable was unplugged. Re-apply the setting, disable DRR for a fixed rate, and check your laptop’s power plan.
Does a higher refresh rate drain a laptop battery faster?
Yes, somewhat — driving the display at 120Hz or 144Hz uses more power than 60Hz. On a laptop that lives on battery, either drop to 60Hz or enable Dynamic Refresh Rate so Windows only uses the high rate when it actually helps.
Should I use FreeSync, G-Sync, or V-Sync as well?
These are separate features that work alongside your refresh rate setting. Variable refresh rate technologies (FreeSync/G-Sync) let the monitor’s rate follow the game’s frame rate to reduce tearing, while V-Sync caps the frame rate to the refresh rate. Set the correct base refresh rate first, then enable these in your GPU software or in-game settings if your hardware supports them.
The Bottom Line
Setting the correct monitor refresh rate is one of the highest-value tweaks in computing: it takes a minute, costs nothing, and instantly makes everything on screen feel more responsive. Pick the highest rate your monitor natively supports, make sure the cable and port can carry it, and re-check the setting after driver updates. If you run into trouble — a missing rate, flickering, or the wrong resolution showing alongside it — our complete monitor troubleshooting guide ties all of these fixes together in one place.
Last Updated: 8 October 2026
About the author: Zaviyar Sultan is a UAE-focused writer at Paxi, covering driving, visas, banking, insurance and everyday UAE life. His guides are researched from official UAE government and regulator sources and updated regularly.
Paxi is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the UAE government or any agency mentioned; content is general information only, not legal, immigration or financial advice; verify critical details with official sources before acting.