If you have recently purchased a new gaming monitor or a premium laptop, it likely supports a high refresh rate—such as 120Hz, 144Hz, or even 240Hz. However, simply plugging the monitor in does not automatically guarantee you are getting the smoothest possible experience. By default, Windows 11 often limits external monitors to the standard 60Hz to conserve energy and ensure maximum compatibility.
The “refresh rate” refers to how many times per second your monitor draws a new image. A higher refresh rate makes everything from playing fast-paced video games to simply scrolling through a long PDF feel incredibly fluid and responsive.
In this guide, we will show you how to check your current display settings and how to unlock the maximum refresh rate your monitor supports in Windows 11.
How to Change Your Refresh Rate in Windows 11
Adjusting your refresh rate takes only a few clicks directly from the native Windows settings menu. You do not need to download any third-party driver software to make this change.
- Right-click anywhere on an empty space on your desktop and select Display settings from the context menu.
- If you have multiple monitors connected, click on the rectangle representing the specific monitor you want to adjust at the top of the window.
- Scroll down the page and look for the Related settings section.
- Click on Advanced display.
- Look at the bottom of this new page for the Choose a refresh rate dropdown menu.
- Click the dropdown menu. It will list all the refresh rates your monitor and graphics card currently support.
- Select the highest number available (for example, 144Hz).
Your screen will briefly turn black for a second or two while the graphics card adjusts the output. When the image returns, Windows will display a small confirmation box asking if you want to keep these new display settings. You must click Keep changes before the 15-second timer runs out, or it will revert back to the previous setting.
Why Is My Maximum Refresh Rate Not Showing Up?
If you bought a 144Hz monitor but the dropdown menu in Windows 11 only goes up to 60Hz, there is usually a hardware bottleneck preventing the higher signal.
- You are using the wrong cable: Older HDMI cables (like HDMI 1.4) do not have the bandwidth to support high refresh rates at 4K resolutions. To unlock 144Hz or higher, you should ideally use a DisplayPort cable, or ensure you are using an ultra-high-speed HDMI 2.1 cable.
- You are using a cheap adapter: If you are plugging your monitor into a cheap USB-C hub or docking station, the hub itself might be limiting the output to 60Hz. Try plugging the video cable directly into your laptop or PC graphics card.
- Your graphics drivers are outdated: If Windows is using a generic display driver, it may not recognise the monitor’s capabilities. Open the Device Manager, find your graphics card, and check for driver updates, or download the latest software directly from NVIDIA or AMD.
Once you switch to a high refresh rate, you will immediately notice the difference in how smoothly your mouse glides across the screen, making it one of the best free upgrades you can give your PC.
