How to Increase Monitor Refresh Rate on Windows 11

Jake Lim
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Jake Lim@jakelim_fps
How to Increase Monitor Refresh Rate on Windows 11 - My Click Speed
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Most monitors ship set to 60Hz even if they support 144Hz or higher. On Windows 11, there are three places to change this: Display Settings, NVIDIA Control Panel, and AMD Radeon Software. This guide walks through all three with exact steps.

Before you start: verify your current Hz at the Refresh Rate Test to confirm what is currently active.

Check What Your Monitor Supports First

You can only increase the refresh rate to what your monitor hardware supports. Check either the sticker on the back of your monitor or the product page for your exact model. If your monitor is rated at 60Hz, you cannot increase it past that without hardware replacement.

Also check your cable. HDMI 1.4 is limited to 60Hz at 1440p and above. DisplayPort 1.2 supports up to 165Hz at 1440p. HDMI 2.0 supports 144Hz at 1080p. If you are using HDMI, verify the version before troubleshooting.

Method 1: Windows 11 Display Settings

  1. Right-click the desktop and select Display settings.
  2. Scroll down to the System section and click Advanced display.
  3. At the top, if you have multiple monitors, select the monitor you want to change.
  4. Click the Choose a refresh rate dropdown.
  5. Select the highest value listed. Options shown reflect what Windows and your GPU believe the monitor supports.
  6. Windows will show a preview for 15 seconds and ask Keep changes or Revert. Click Keep changes if the display looks correct.
  7. Verify the change worked at the Refresh Rate Test.

Method 2: NVIDIA Control Panel

For NVIDIA GPU users, the NVIDIA Control Panel provides more accurate refresh rate control than Windows Settings and can sometimes enable rates not visible in the Windows dropdown.

  1. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. Under Display in the left sidebar, click Change resolution.
  3. Select your monitor from the list at the top.
  4. In the Resolution list, find your current resolution.
  5. Under Refresh rate to the right, select the highest available value from the dropdown.
  6. Click Apply.

Method 3: AMD Radeon Software

For AMD GPU users:

  1. Right-click the desktop and select AMD Radeon Software.
  2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right.
  3. Go to the Display tab.
  4. Find the connected monitor and look for the Refresh Rate or Custom Color section.
  5. Select the maximum supported refresh rate.
  6. Click the toggle to apply.

Creating a Custom Resolution (Optional)

If your monitor's maximum rate does not appear in the standard dropdowns, you can create a custom resolution profile:

NVIDIA: In NVIDIA Control Panel, go to Display, Change resolution, click Customize. Click Create Custom Resolution and enter your target Hz. Note: this can produce instability if the Hz exceeds what the monitor cable and panel support.

AMD: In Radeon Software, create a custom display under Settings, Display, Custom Resolutions. Test each custom setting carefully.

After Changing: Verify It Worked

Use the Refresh Rate Test to confirm Windows is now running at the new Hz. If the test still shows 60Hz:

  • Confirm the cable supports the rate (HDMI 1.4 caps at 60Hz at 1440p).
  • Restart the PC. Some GPU drivers apply refresh rate changes only after a full restart.
  • Check the monitor's OSD menu for any built-in Hz limit (some monitors have a game mode that must be enabled to unlock high refresh).
  • Try the NVIDIA or AMD control panel method instead of Windows Settings if Windows Settings does not show the high Hz option.

You can also check your current frame rate with the FPS Test to ensure your GPU is keeping up with the higher refresh rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

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