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How to Change Your Screen Refresh Rate in Windows 11 or Windows 10

Use Windows display settings to choose a refresh rate supported by your display, with guidance for multiple monitors, DRR, and missing rates.
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To change a screen’s refresh rate, open Windows display settings, select the display you want to adjust, and choose one of the rates it supports. In Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. In Windows 10, go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings.

Change the refresh rate in Windows 11

  1. Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
  2. If more than one display is connected, select the display you want to change.
  3. Under Choose a refresh rate, select a supported rate.

The display information panel shows the selected display’s current resolution and refresh rate, and whether it supports variable refresh rate (VRR). Available choices depend on the display and the current setup; Windows does not necessarily expose every rate advertised for a monitor in every connection and resolution configuration. Microsoft’s refresh-rate instructions explain the setting.

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Change the refresh rate in Windows 10

  1. Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings.
  2. If multiple displays are connected, select the display under Choose Display.
  3. Select the refresh rate you want to use.

Windows 10 can still use the refresh rates supported by the selected display, but Microsoft states that Windows 10 does not support Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR). Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. The PC continues to work, but Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for it; the company recommends moving to Windows 11. Microsoft’s Windows 10 support notice has details.

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Choose a rate that fits your display and what you’re doing

Refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz). At 60 Hz, a screen updates 60 times per second. A higher rate can make motion look smoother, but it uses more power; lowering the rate can help conserve a laptop’s battery, though Microsoft does not give a guaranteed battery-life gain.

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  • For smoother motion: Choose a higher rate available for your display, provided it preserves the resolution you want.
  • For longer battery use: Consider a lower rate when you are away from power. The benefit varies, so do not expect a fixed increase in battery life.
  • For gaming: A display with VRR may let supported games adjust refresh behavior automatically. Microsoft notes that many popular titles use VRR, but this does not apply to every game.

Check for an asterisk next to a rate in the Windows menu. Microsoft uses it to mark a rate that does not support the current resolution; choosing it changes the resolution. Confirm the resulting resolution is acceptable before keeping that setting.

Use Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11, if supported

Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) automatically adjusts refresh rate based on activity, aiming to provide smoother motion when needed for activities such as gaming, browsing, or inking, while using less power at other times. Microsoft’s current instructions say DRR requires a display that supports VRR and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. It is not available on all Windows 11 devices.

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To turn it on or off, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and use the Dynamic refresh rate toggle if it appears. Microsoft says DRR should not affect games designed for VRR, but it can limit the maximum refresh rate of other games. If a game appears to run at a lower rate after you enable DRR, turn DRR off and check again.

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Set rates for multiple displays and address playback problems

Choose each display in Advanced display before changing its rate. Windows lets you configure connected external displays individually. If an external display is not available, check that its cable is properly connected to the PC or dock and check Windows Update. Microsoft’s multiple-monitor guidance covers display setup.

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If video playback stalls or repeatedly stops and starts while you use more than one monitor, Microsoft suggests setting all monitors to the same refresh rate. Different rates are one possible cause, not an explanation for every playback problem. Microsoft’s playback troubleshooting guidance discusses this suggestion.

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Why a rate such as 144 Hz may not appear

The list shows rates available to Windows for the selected display and current configuration. If a rate you expect is missing, first confirm you selected the intended display. Then check whether the rate is supported at the current resolution and connection. If an asterisked option appears, selecting it will change resolution; it is not a way to retain the current resolution at that rate.

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For an HDR color problem over HDMI, Microsoft describes a specific workaround: use DisplayPort if the display supports HDR over it. If HDMI is the only option, lowering the refresh rate to 30 Hz, when available, or reducing resolution are other options. These steps address that described HDR/color issue; they are not general recommendations for ordinary display use. Microsoft’s HDR and color settings guidance explains the scenario.

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