The ProMotion Dilemma
Modern MacBook Pro models and premium external monitors feature “ProMotion” technology. This allows the display to automatically and dynamically change its refresh rate up to a buttery-smooth 120Hz. If you are quickly scrolling through a webpage, the screen ramps up to 120Hz. If you stop to read a static paragraph, it instantly drops down to 24Hz to conserve battery life. While excellent for general use, this dynamic shifting can cause visual stuttering or syncing issues if you are editing video locked at a specific framerate (like 24fps film) or testing precise UI animations in software development.
Locking to a Fixed Frequency
To ensure consistent visual performance and stop macOS from automatically changing the display refresh rate dynamically, you must override the ProMotion setting and select a fixed hertz value.
Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Displays. If you are using a multi-monitor setup, ensure your ProMotion-capable screen (like your MacBook’s built-in display) is selected at the top. Locate the Refresh Rate dropdown menu. By default, it will be set to “ProMotion”. Click the menu to reveal the available fixed options. Select the specific refresh rate you require for your workflow—typically 60 Hertz for standard web and video work, or 50 Hertz if you are working with European broadcast standards. The display will immediately lock to that specific frequency and will no longer dynamically adjust based on your on-screen activity.