How to Change the Refresh Rate on Windows 11

The refresh rate of a display is measured in Hertz (Hz) and refers to the number of times an image is updated within a second. For example, a monitor with a 60 Hz refresh rate will refresh the image on the screen 60 times per second.

If it has been a while since you last adjusted your settings, it may be necessary to modify the refresh rate on your Windows PC. Here are the steps you can follow to do so:

Choose Start.
Navigate to the Settings tab.
Navigate to System.
Navigate to Display.
Navigate to Advanced display.
Choose “Select a refresh rate”and select the desired refresh rate.

The refresh rates available in the drop-down menu may differ depending on your system.

Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR)

Windows 11’s Dynamic Refresh Rate, or DRR, is a recently introduced feature that automatically adapts the refresh rate of your monitor to meet the current needs.

This feature is particularly beneficial for individuals who prefer to perform all tasks on their setups. For instance, while playing games, a higher refresh rate may be necessary to guarantee a smooth and uninterrupted gaming experience, while tasks like working on a document would not require such a high refresh rate.

To enable DRR, follow these steps:

Click Start.
Go to the Settings menu.
Navigate to System.
Go to Display.
Navigate to the Advanced display section.
Choose “Dynamic”after clicking on “Choose a refresh rate”.

If you are unable to locate the Dynamic option, it is likely that your system does not support it.

Benefits to changing the refresh rate on your PC

By adjusting the refresh rate, you can customize it to meet your specific requirements.

A higher refresh rate is essential for a smooth gaming experience as it decreases lag, motion blur, and screen tearing. If you are using a lower-end system to play a visually-intensive game, you can also set the refresh rate to a specific value to ensure consistent gameplay.

Browsing: Scrolling for prolonged periods of time can cause eye strain and fatigue. It is advisable to increase the refresh rate to reduce flickering and ghosting.

Battery: By reducing the refresh rate, battery power is conserved. This is beneficial for prolonging the overall battery life.

If you encounter a lag while playing, consider switching to a different refresh rate the next time. This may help you determine if there is a noticeable difference.