To change V-Sync, open the game’s video or graphics settings and choose V-Sync or Vertical Sync, then select On or Off. You can also set a default or override for a specific game in NVIDIA Control Panel or Intel Graphics Command Center. If the driver option is missing or has no effect, the game’s own setting may be needed—especially in windowed play or on systems where the game is not using that GPU.
Where to find V-Sync
V-Sync, short for vertical synchronization, coordinates a game’s frame output with the display’s refresh rate to reduce screen tearing. Intel describes it as synchronizing a game or application’s frame rate with the monitor’s refresh rate (Intel Support, reviewed September 15, 2025).
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- In a game: Open its video, display, or graphics menu and look for V-Sync or Vertical Sync. This is often the simplest option and can be necessary in windowed play.
- In a graphics control panel: NVIDIA and Intel provide driver controls. Depending on the vendor, you can set a general default or configure an individual game.
Driver interfaces and behavior can vary with software version, application API, GPU routing, and display mode; use the labels shown in your current game or driver.
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- Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Go to 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings.
- Choose Global Settings to set a general default, or Program Settings to select one game.
- Find Vertical sync and select On or Off. Choose Use the application setting if you want the game to control V-Sync.
NVIDIA’s current control-panel help also lists Adaptive, Adaptive (half refresh rate), and Fast modes; what is available depends on the monitor and GPU. Its control-panel V-Sync setting applies only when the display is connected to the NVIDIA GPU. NVIDIA also says its V-Sync control applies only to fullscreen applications; for windowed play or laptops using NVIDIA Optimus/Hybrid graphics, use the in-game V-Sync setting instead (NVIDIA Control Panel Help).
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How to change V-Sync in Intel Graphics Command Center
- Open Intel Graphics Command Center.
- Under Home > My Games, select the game or application.
- Choose Custom, then change Vertical Sync to Always On, Always Off, or Application Controlled.
Intel says these profile settings affect full-screen games or applications. Its guidance for Intel Graphics Control Panel describes using a game or application option where supported; that interface does not provide enable/disable controls for DirectX games in the version covered by Intel’s instructions (Intel Support: Enabling and Disabling Vertical Synchronization).
How to change V-Sync with AMD graphics
For ordinary V-Sync on an AMD system, start in the game’s display or graphics menu. AMD’s available guidance here documents Enhanced Sync in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, which is a separate option rather than a universal driver-level V-Sync switch. AMD describes Enhanced Sync as a way to reduce tearing with lower latency than traditional V-Sync in supported situations.
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AMD lists support for DirectX 9, 10, 11, 12, and Vulkan, but not OpenGL. It cautions that Enhanced Sync is not for multimedia applications and may cause playback flicker or other unwanted behavior (AMD: Enhanced Sync).
Should V-Sync be on or off?
There is no universally best setting. Choose based on what bothers you more: tearing or the tradeoffs of synchronizing frames.
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| Setting | What it prioritizes | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| On | Frames synchronized with the display and reduced visible tearing. | Frame output is tied to display refresh; the best result depends on the game and system. |
| Off | Uncapped frame rates and potentially lower input latency. | Tearing, jerkiness, or stuttering may be more noticeable. |
Intel says turning V-Sync off allows virtually unlimited FPS but makes tearing, jerkiness, or stuttering more likely. NVIDIA likewise frames turning it off as an option for people willing to tolerate tearing (Intel Support; NVIDIA Control Panel Help). Try the setting in the games you actually play; perceived smoothness and latency depend on the hardware and game, and the vendor guidance does not establish a single winner across systems.
What if the V-Sync control is missing or does nothing?
- Check the game’s own menu. Its V-Sync setting may be required for windowed play or when a driver override does not apply.
- Confirm which GPU drives the display. NVIDIA says its control-panel options apply only when the display is connected to the NVIDIA GPU. Hybrid-graphics laptops may route the game or display differently.
- Check the selected profile. NVIDIA separates global and per-program settings; Intel exposes per-game profiles. Make sure you changed the profile for the game you are launching.
- Look for a different label or mode. The setting may appear as Vertical Sync, V-Sync, or an application-controlled option. Available modes can depend on the driver, GPU, display, and game.
V-Sync with G-SYNC or other synchronization options
Variable-refresh technologies add choices rather than one universal recipe. NVIDIA’s guidance describes using G-SYNC together with V-Sync and Reflex or Ultra Low Latency Mode: when GPU-bound, this can prevent tearing and cap frame output below the display’s refresh rate, with slightly more latency than uncapped Reflex. The appropriate behavior depends on hardware and settings. NVIDIA points users to in-game V-Sync for windowed applications and laptops using hybrid graphics (NVIDIA system latency optimization guide).
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AMD Enhanced Sync is another vendor-specific option, not simply the same switch as traditional V-Sync. Its compatibility and behavior depend on the graphics API and application; follow AMD’s support notes before using it outside games.
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