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Before changing anything, check which monitor is selected and note its current resolution and refresh rate. This helps you avoid changing the wrong display or choosing a rate that lowers resolution unexpectedly. The same page also indicates whether variable refresh rate (VRR) is supported.
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What a refresh rate means
Refresh rate is how many times per second a display updates its image. Microsoft Support gives 60 Hz as an example: a 60 Hz display updates 60 times per second. The refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz), and the rate Windows offers depends on the selected display.
A higher rate can make motion appear smoother in activities such as gaming, browsing, and inking, according to Microsoft. A lower rate can help save battery power on a laptop or tablet. There is no single best setting for every display or task: use a rate the display supports and choose according to how you use the device.
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Think of refresh rate as one part of a setting choice, not a number to maximize automatically. Consider whether the offered rate works with the resolution you want, whether smoother motion is useful for what you are doing, and whether saving battery matters on a portable device. A rate that appears in the list is available for the selected display, but an asterisk warns that selecting it changes the current resolution.
Microsoft’s current instructions for changing the setting cover Windows 11 and Windows 10. The Windows 10 Settings path uses a slightly different label, and Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft Support: Change the refresh rate on your monitor in Windows.
Change the refresh rate in Windows 11
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Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. This is where Windows shows the selected display’s current resolution and refresh rate and the available refresh-rate choices.
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If more than one display is connected, use the display selector to choose the monitor you want to change. Check the selected display before changing anything: settings apply to that display, not automatically to every monitor. If you are unsure which one is selected, do not choose a rate until you have confirmed the display in the selector.
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Review the selected display’s current resolution and refresh rate. Windows also indicates whether variable refresh rate (VRR) is supported. These details help you understand the starting configuration and whether the selected display reports VRR support; they do not mean that every possible rate is offered.
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Open the refresh-rate control and choose an available rate. Read the rate’s entry before selecting it: an asterisk means that rate does not support the current resolution, and choosing it changes the resolution. If keeping the current resolution is important, choose an unstarred rate instead.
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If the page offers a confirmation prompt, review the change and confirm it. Check the displayed resolution and rate afterward to make sure they match what you intended. In particular, verify the resolution if you selected a starred rate.
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Changing the rate for one display is not a general setting for all connected screens. If you use more than one monitor and want each configured in a particular way, return to the display selector and repeat the check-and-choose process for each one. Always check the selected monitor before choosing the rate.
Change the refresh rate in Windows 10
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Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings.
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When multiple displays are connected, select the monitor you want to configure. Confirm that the selected display is the one whose setting you intend to change.
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Choose a refresh rate from the available control. The list is determined by the selected display’s capabilities; an asterisk identifies a rate that does not support the current resolution and will change the resolution if selected.
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After choosing, check the displayed rate and resolution. If the resolution is not what you wanted, use the available choices with the resolution in mind; Microsoft recommends using the resolution marked Recommended in its screen-resolution guidance.
Windows interface wording can vary by version. If your display settings use the Windows 11 label, follow Advanced display; on Windows 10, the documented path is Advanced display settings.
Windows 10 does not include Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR), which is a Windows 11 feature. Microsoft reports that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The standard refresh-rate control is covered in Microsoft’s current instructions for both Windows versions, but that does not make DRR available in Windows 10.
Choose a rate without changing resolution by surprise
Before selecting a rate, note the current resolution shown on the Advanced display page and look for an asterisk in the rate list. A starred rate is not compatible with that resolution. Selecting it changes the resolution to reach the chosen rate, so it may not be the right option if keeping the current resolution matters more.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe asterisk is a compatibility warning for the current resolution, not a statement that the rate is unavailable. Windows lists it as a choice, but selecting it also changes resolution. That means the practical choice is between rates that work with the current resolution and a starred rate that changes it. Check the resulting resolution after a selection rather than assuming the rate change left every other display setting untouched.
Use these considerations to decide among the options Windows actually lists:
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Supported rate and resolution: Choose from the selected display’s available rates, and check whether the entry is starred. If you need to retain the current resolution, prefer an unstarred choice.
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Task: A higher rate may be useful for gaming, browsing, or inking; Microsoft does not prescribe a universal target. A higher number is not automatically the right choice for every task or screen.
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Battery life: On a laptop or tablet, a lower rate can save battery power. If battery life is a priority, compare the available lower-rate choices rather than assuming the highest rate is always preferable.
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Dynamic behavior: On supported Windows 11 systems, Dynamic Refresh Rate can adjust the rate according to activity. This is separate from simply selecting a fixed rate.
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Display capabilities: Windows only offers rates based on the selected display’s capabilities. If the list does not contain a rate you expected, first verify the selected display and its reported resolution and rate.
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Microsoft’s guidance does not name one best rate for all monitors. A sensible selection therefore depends on the rate-resolution choices Windows presents, the activity you care about, and whether conserving portable-device battery is important. If a rate is starred, include its resolution change in that decision rather than comparing the rate number alone.
What Dynamic Refresh Rate does
Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) is a Windows 11 feature that adjusts the display refresh rate according to activity. It is not available in Windows 10. Rather than simply choosing one fixed rate yourself, DRR varies the rate in response to what you are doing. Microsoft describes this as a feature for supported systems; it is not a universal replacement for the standard refresh-rate control.
DRR requires supported hardware, a display that supports VRR, and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. Even if the Windows version is compatible, the option may not appear if the hardware or display does not meet the requirements. The Advanced display page’s VRR indication is useful context, but the full DRR requirements also include hardware support and the 120 Hz threshold.
Turn DRR on or off
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Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
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Find the Dynamic refresh rate toggle, if it is available, and enable or disable it as needed. If there is no toggle, remember that DRR is Windows 11-only and requires supported hardware, VRR support, and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz.
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Check how the applications you use behave after changing the setting. Microsoft cautions that DRR can limit the maximum refresh rate in some games. If a game appears to run at a lower rate with DRR enabled, Microsoft recommends turning DRR off.
DRR and the regular rate list answer different questions. The regular control lets you select among the available rates for the display. DRR is an optional Windows 11 behavior that adjusts the rate according to activity when the requirements are met. If your priority is a game’s maximum rate and it appears lower with DRR enabled, Microsoft’s guidance is to disable DRR and check the game again.
Configure each monitor separately
With more than one display, select the monitor in the Advanced display page before choosing a rate. Repeat the process for each monitor whose setting you want to change; do not assume that changing one display changes the others. Check each selected display’s own current resolution, refresh rate, and list of available choices.
Different refresh rates across monitors can cause video playback to stall or start and stop repeatedly, according to Microsoft. If that happens, matching the monitors’ rates is a troubleshooting step. This is not a requirement for every multi-monitor setup; use it when you encounter the playback problem.
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To try matching rates, select the first display and note its available choices, then select the other display and see whether a corresponding rate is offered. Pick a matching rate only if it is available for each display and is suitable for the resolution you want to use. A rate list depends on each display’s capabilities, so do not assume that two monitors offer identical options. If the playback issue is not present, Microsoft’s note does not establish that you need to make their rates match.
Why a refresh-rate option may be missing
The desired rate is not listed
Windows lists rates according to the selected display’s capabilities. First verify that the correct monitor is selected and check the current resolution and rate shown on the page. If the desired rate still is not offered, Windows does not present it as an available option for that selected display and configuration.
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For example, if you are looking for 144 Hz and cannot select it, do not assume that changing an unrelated setting will make it appear. Confirm that the intended monitor is selected, read its reported resolution and refresh rate, and inspect the actual list for that display. The available information does not identify a particular cause when a rate is absent; it establishes that the displayed choices depend on the selected display and its capabilities.
The rate has an asterisk
An asterisk means the rate does not support the current resolution. Selecting that rate changes the resolution. If you want to retain the current resolution, choose an unstarred option instead. If you do select the starred entry, check the new resolution afterward so you know what changed.
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The resolution changed unexpectedly
Microsoft says an unexpected resolution change may indicate that the graphics driver needs updating. Microsoft’s resolution guidance recommends using the resolution marked Recommended. Check the displayed resolution after changing refresh rate and use the recommended resolution if you need to restore it. Microsoft Support: Change your screen resolution and layout in Windows.
This is a troubleshooting possibility, not a diagnosis of every resolution change. First consider whether you selected a rate with an asterisk, since Windows explicitly says that choice changes resolution. If the change was unexpected, check the displayed resolution and the Recommended resolution guidance; Microsoft notes that a graphics-driver update may be needed.
Video playback stutters with multiple displays
If video stalls or repeatedly starts and stops while monitors are set to different rates, try matching their refresh rates. To do that, select each monitor in turn on the Advanced display page and choose a matching rate that is available for it.
Matching rates is a targeted step for this playback symptom, not a rule that all monitors must use the same setting. Confirm that the selected rates are actually available on each monitor and pay attention to asterisks that indicate a resolution change. If the rates cannot be matched without an unwanted resolution change, the guidance does not establish that you should force a particular configuration.
DRR is missing or a game runs at a lower rate
DRR is available only in Windows 11 and requires supported hardware, a VRR-capable display, and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. If the toggle is absent, these requirements may not be met. If a game seems to run at a lower rate after DRR is enabled, turn DRR off as Microsoft recommends.
Do not treat a missing DRR toggle as evidence that the standard refresh-rate control should also be missing. DRR has its own Windows version and hardware requirements, while the ordinary refresh-rate list presents the choices available for the selected display. Check each feature separately.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before changing other hardware
The refresh-rate list is specific to the selected display and its capabilities. If a rate you expect is missing, start with the Windows checks above: confirm the correct display, inspect its reported resolution and rate, and note whether the desired entry is starred. The available guidance does not establish the limits of any particular monitor, graphics card, cable, port, resolution, or driver combination, so a missing rate alone is not enough to diagnose which hardware component is responsible.
In particular, a missing rate is not enough information to conclude that a cable or port is the problem. The documented Windows checks help identify what Windows offers for the selected display and whether a listed choice changes resolution; they do not specify the capabilities of a reader’s individual hardware combination. Avoid treating a generic connection change as a guaranteed fix.
If you are considering whether the existing screen can provide a rate that Windows does not list, the display’s own capabilities matter. Re-check the display selected in Windows before drawing conclusions. A different display may have different options, but purchasing a monitor is only relevant if the existing screen does not support the desired rate; no specific model or product recommendation follows from the Windows settings guidance.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I change my monitor’s refresh rate in Windows?
Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display in Windows 11, or Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings in Windows 10. Select the monitor you want to configure, then choose one of its listed rates. Check for an asterisk because selecting a starred rate changes the resolution.
Why can’t I select 144 Hz?
The available rates depend on the selected display and its capabilities. Confirm the correct monitor is selected and check the current resolution and refresh rate shown on the Advanced display page. If 144 Hz is absent, Windows does not offer it for that selected display and configuration. The absence by itself does not identify whether a particular monitor, cable, port, graphics card, or driver is responsible.
How do I set a different refresh rate for each monitor?
Select one monitor in Advanced display and choose an available rate, then select the next monitor and repeat. The settings are selected per display, and each display may have a different list of rates. Matching rates is only a troubleshooting step if different rates are associated with video playback stalling or repeatedly starting and stopping.
What does an asterisk next to a refresh rate mean?
Microsoft marks rates that do not support the current resolution with an asterisk. Selecting one changes the resolution to achieve that rate. Choose an unstarred rate if keeping the current resolution matters.
Should I choose the highest refresh rate?
Not automatically. Microsoft says higher rates can help with gaming, browsing, and inking, while lower rates can save battery power on a laptop or tablet. Choose from the options Windows lists, taking the current resolution and your use of the device into account. Microsoft does not name one best rate for everyone.
Does Windows 10 have Dynamic Refresh Rate?
No. DRR is a Windows 11 feature. It also requires supported hardware, a display that supports VRR, and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. Windows 10’s standard refresh-rate setting is separate from DRR.
Why does my game seem to run at a lower rate with DRR?
Microsoft cautions that DRR can limit the maximum rate of some games. If a game appears to run at a lower rate after DRR is enabled, Microsoft recommends disabling DRR.
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Microsoft says a lower rate can help save battery power on a laptop or tablet. The available options still depend on the display, so choose a lower listed rate if battery saving is your priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my monitor’s refresh rate in Windows?
Open Advanced display in Windows 11, or Advanced display settings in Windows 10, select the monitor, and choose an available rate. Check for an asterisk, which means the rate changes the resolution.
Why can’t I select 144 Hz?
Windows lists rates according to the selected display’s capabilities. Confirm the correct display is selected and review its reported resolution and refresh rate. If 144 Hz is absent, Windows does not offer it for that display and configuration; absence alone does not identify a particular hardware cause.
How do I set a different refresh rate for each monitor?
Select each monitor in Advanced display in turn and choose an available rate for it. Rates can differ by display. Matching them is a troubleshooting step if different rates coincide with stalling or repeatedly starting and stopping video playback.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat does an asterisk next to a refresh rate mean?
It marks a rate that does not support the current resolution. Selecting it changes the resolution.
Does Windows 10 support Dynamic Refresh Rate?
No. DRR is a Windows 11 feature and requires supported hardware, a VRR-capable display, and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz.
The Bottom Line
To configure a refresh rate, select the intended monitor in Windows’ Advanced display page, review its current resolution, and choose from the rates Windows offers. An asterisk means selecting that rate changes resolution. Choose based on the display’s supported options and your needs: higher rates may help with some activities, lower rates can save battery on portable devices, and Windows 11 DRR is available only on supported hardware.
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