On a Windows laptop, open Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, select the laptop panel if more than one display is shown, then choose 60 Hz or 120 Hz under Choose a refresh rate. Windows only lists modes that the selected display and current graphics configuration expose. If 120 Hz is absent, a Windows setting cannot create it on a 60 Hz-only panel.
What changes when you switch refresh rates?
Refresh rate is the number of times a display updates its image each second. A 60 Hz setting updates 60 times per second; 120 Hz updates twice as often. The higher setting can make scrolling, pointer movement, pen input, window animations and supported games look and feel smoother. The lower setting generally reduces display power use, which can help when the laptop is running on battery.
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Refresh rate is only one part of perceived smoothness. A game must render enough frames, the graphics processor must keep up, and the panel’s response characteristics and the application itself still matter. Choosing 120 Hz does not guarantee that every game will run at 120 frames per second, nor does choosing 60 Hz make every application visibly identical.
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Change the setting in Windows
1. Open Advanced display
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Choose System, then Display.
- Scroll to Advanced display and open it.
2. Select the display you intend to change
If the laptop is connected to an external monitor, television or projector, the page can show more than one display. Use the display selector to choose the laptop’s built-in panel before changing the rate. Changing the wrong entry changes the external screen instead.
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3. Pick 60 Hz or 120 Hz
Under Choose a refresh rate, open the menu and select 60 Hz for the lower-power option or 120 Hz for smoother motion when that mode is listed. Windows may ask you to confirm or keep the change. Follow that prompt.
4. Verify the result
Stay on the same Advanced display page and check the selected display’s reported resolution and refresh rate. Confirm that the intended panel is still selected and that the resolution has not changed unexpectedly. If the new mode is unsuitable, return to the menu and choose the previous rate.
Why 120 Hz may not appear
The refresh-rate menu is capability-dependent. Windows does not offer every possible number on every computer; it lists modes supported by the selected display and the active configuration. A missing 120 Hz entry therefore has several possible explanations.
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The laptop panel is 60 Hz only
A panel designed only for 60 Hz cannot be converted to 120 Hz with Windows software. The setting changes how Windows drives a compatible mode; it does not change the physical electronics of the built-in display. Check the laptop’s specifications or manufacturer documentation to establish the panel’s supported rates.
The wrong display is selected
With multiple screens connected, the menu reflects the display currently selected at the top of Advanced display. Select the built-in laptop panel and inspect the menu again. An external monitor may have different limits from the laptop screen.
The current resolution does not expose 120 Hz
Windows can expose different refresh-rate choices at different resolutions. Microsoft marks a rate that does not support the current resolution with an asterisk. Selecting such a rate can change the resolution so that the requested refresh rate is possible. Read the full entry rather than assuming that every listed rate preserves the current resolution.
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The graphics path or connection is limiting the mode
For an external display, the monitor’s own specification, the cable, any adapter or dock, and the computer’s graphics path all affect which modes Windows can offer. These limits are model-specific. Test the display directly where possible and check the specifications for the monitor and connection rather than treating the laptop’s internal-panel capability as proof that an external screen can also run at 120 Hz.
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Often, yes: if Windows lists both 60 Hz and 120 Hz for the same resolution, selecting the rate should not require a resolution change. However, support is determined by the display and active configuration. If the 120 Hz entry carries an asterisk indicating that it does not support the current resolution, Windows may alter the resolution when you select it. Review the reported resolution after applying the setting and change it back only if that combination is offered.
Choosing 60 Hz, 120 Hz or Dynamic Refresh Rate
| Mode | Motion and responsiveness | Power behavior | Requirements and limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | Updates 60 times per second; adequate for static work and ordinary desktop use, with less fluid motion than 120 Hz. | Generally uses less display power, making it the battery-oriented choice. | The selected display must support 60 Hz at the chosen resolution. A 60 Hz-only panel cannot offer 120 Hz through software. |
| 120 Hz | Updates 120 times per second; scrolling, pointer movement, pen input and compatible games can appear smoother and more responsive. | Generally consumes more display power than 60 Hz, so battery runtime can be lower. | The selected display and graphics configuration must expose 120 Hz. Game frame rate, GPU load, panel response and application behavior still determine the final experience. |
| Dynamic Refresh Rate | Windows adjusts the rate automatically according to activity when the feature is available. | Designed to balance smoothness and power use instead of holding the panel at its maximum rate continuously. | Windows 11 only; requires a variable-refresh-rate display and a display refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. It is not available in Windows 10. |
Use 120 Hz when smooth movement and responsiveness are more important than conserving battery, especially while plugged in. Use 60 Hz when extending battery life is the priority or your workload is mostly documents and other largely static content. On a compatible Windows 11 laptop, Dynamic Refresh Rate is the automatic option, but its behavior in games needs checking.
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Enable Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11
Check whether the toggle is offered
- Open Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- Select the compatible display if more than one is connected.
- Look for the Dynamic refresh rate toggle or menu on that page.
- Turn it on, then observe the reported mode and your normal applications.
Microsoft states that DRR requires a display supporting variable refresh rate and a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz. If the toggle is missing, the display or current configuration does not meet those requirements, or the feature is not available in that Windows edition and hardware combination.
Understand the gaming limitation
DRR is an automatic policy, not a promise that every game will run at 120 Hz. Microsoft warns that DRR can limit the maximum refresh rate of games that are not designed for variable refresh rate. If a favorite game appears to run slower after enabling DRR, disable DRR on the Advanced display page and test the fixed 120 Hz setting instead. The comparison should be made with the same game, display and graphics settings so that only the refresh-rate policy changes.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 differences
The manual refresh-rate selector is available through Advanced display settings, but Dynamic Refresh Rate is a Windows 11 feature. Windows 10 does not support DRR. Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, so a Windows 10 laptop should not be expected to gain DRR through a normal setting update. On that system, choose a fixed rate that the selected display exposes.
Battery, heat and performance trade-offs
Running a panel at 120 Hz generally requires more display power than running it at 60 Hz. The size of the difference depends on the laptop, panel, brightness, graphics workload and power-management behavior, so there is no universal battery-percentage saving or runtime penalty that applies to every model.
For a long flight, classroom session or meeting where the display mostly shows text, 60 Hz is a sensible starting point. When the laptop is plugged in, or when frequent scrolling, handwriting and animation make smoothness valuable, 120 Hz may be worth the additional power use. DRR can reduce unnecessary high-rate operation on supported Windows 11 hardware, but it should be evaluated with the applications you actually use.
Changing refresh rate does not increase the game’s rendered frame rate by itself. A title rendering at 70 frames per second cannot supply 120 unique frames per second simply because Windows is set to 120 Hz. Conversely, a capable system can show the benefit of a high-refresh panel only when the application and graphics hardware produce sufficiently frequent updates.
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Multiple monitors and playback problems
Different refresh rates can be useful when a laptop panel and an external monitor have different capabilities, but Microsoft notes that mixed rates can cause video playback to stall or repeatedly start and stop. If playback becomes unstable after connecting another display or changing one screen’s rate, try matching the monitors’ refresh rates and test the video again.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- Select the first display and record its current rate.
- Select the second display and choose a matching rate if that rate is supported.
- Replay the same video and check whether the stalls or repeated starts stop.
Do not assume that matching is always possible: each monitor may expose a different set of rates, and an external connection can have its own limits. If matching is unavailable, restore the combination that gives the most reliable playback for your work.
A practical troubleshooting checklist
120 Hz is missing from the menu
- Confirm that Advanced display is showing the laptop panel, not an external screen.
- Check the laptop specifications for a 120 Hz panel rather than assuming the model family includes one.
- Review the current resolution and look for an asterisk beside any alternative rate.
- If an external screen is involved, check the monitor specification and the complete cable, adapter or dock and graphics path.
- Remember that software cannot turn a 60 Hz-only panel into a 120 Hz panel.
Choosing 120 Hz changes the resolution
- Return to Advanced display and read the selected mode’s resolution and refresh rate together.
- Look for the asterisk that indicates the rate does not support the current resolution.
- Choose another listed 120 Hz mode if it preserves the resolution you need.
- If no suitable combination is listed, use 60 Hz at the desired resolution or accept the resolution associated with the available 120 Hz mode.
Motion does not look smoother after selecting 120 Hz
- Verify that the intended display reports 120 Hz after the change.
- Check whether the application is producing enough frames to take advantage of the display.
- Remember that panel response time, GPU load and application design also affect perceived smoothness.
- For a game on Windows 11, test fixed 120 Hz if DRR is enabled and the title is not designed for variable refresh rate.
Battery life drops more quickly
- Switch to 60 Hz when smoothness is not important.
- On compatible Windows 11 hardware, try DRR so the system can adjust the rate automatically.
- Compare the laptop under the same brightness, applications and power conditions; refresh rate is only one contributor to total consumption.
Video playback starts and stops after connecting a monitor
- Open Advanced display and identify the rate for every connected screen.
- Try matching the monitors’ refresh rates.
- Replay the video after each change and keep the combination that avoids the playback fault.
Returning to the previous setting
If the screen becomes uncomfortable, playback breaks or a game behaves unexpectedly, use the same path—Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display—and select the prior rate for the affected display. Recheck both resolution and refresh rate before closing Settings. When more than one monitor is connected, make sure you are changing the display that actually shows the problem.
Quick Recap
What to remember
- The control is in Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
- Select the intended display before opening the refresh-rate menu.
- Windows lists only rates supported by that display and configuration.
- An asterisk means the rate does not support the current resolution and selecting it may change that resolution.
- 120 Hz favors smoother motion; 60 Hz generally favors battery life.
- Windows 11 DRR requires a variable-refresh-rate display rated at least 120 Hz, and non-VRR games may run at a lower maximum with DRR enabled.
- Windows 10 has no DRR support, and Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025.
- Mixed monitor rates can disrupt video playback, so matching rates is a useful troubleshooting test.
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