Refresh rate refers to how many times per second your monitor updates with new images, measured in Hertz (Hz). A standard monitor runs at 60Hz, but if you have purchased a gaming monitor capable of 120Hz, 144Hz, or even 240Hz, it will often default to 60Hz out of the box. You must manually tell Windows 11 to run at the higher speed to experience smoother mouse movements and fluid gaming.
How to Change Your Refresh Rate in Windows 11
- Right-click anywhere on the empty space of your Windows desktop.
- Select Display settings from the context menu. (Alternatively, you can open the Start menu, go to Settings > System > Display).
- Scroll down to the “Related settings” section and click on Advanced display.
- If you have multiple monitors plugged in, use the “Select a display to view or change its settings” dropdown menu at the top to choose the monitor you want to adjust.
- Look for the Choose a refresh rate option (it will show your current Hz).
- Click the dropdown menu and select the highest number available.
- Your screen will briefly go black and then turn back on with the new refresh rate. A prompt will ask, “Keep these display settings?” Click Keep changes within 15 seconds, or it will revert back.
Troubleshooting: Why Isn’t My Refresh Rate Showing Up?
If you know you bought a 144Hz monitor but the highest option in Windows is 60Hz, the issue is almost always your cable. Older HDMI cables do not have the bandwidth to support high refresh rates. To unlock the higher speeds, ensure you are using a DisplayPort cable or a high-speed HDMI 2.1 cable plugged directly into your graphics card.