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You just bought a high refresh rate monitor, but everything still feels like 60Hz.
No smoothness. No difference. Just the same old experience.
I had the same problem when I got my first 180Hz monitor. I expected a huge upgrade, but nothing changed… until I realized Windows wasn’t actually using the monitor’s full refresh rate.
That’s when everything clicked.
So why does this happen, and how do you fix it?
In this guide, you’ll learn how to check and change your refresh rate in Windows, unlock 144Hz/180Hz, and fix the common issues that keep your monitor stuck at 60Hz.
What Is Refresh Rate?
Simply put, refresh rate is how many times your monitor updates the image on your screen every second. A 60Hz display refreshes the image 60 times per second.
A 144Hz display does it 144 times per second. And a 240Hz monitor? You guessed it right! 240 updates every single second. A 240Hz display feels smoother than a 144Hz display, and the same goes for a 60Hz display.
To better understand this concept, think of the refresh rate as flipping pages in a book; each page represents a frame in the entire animation sequence. The faster you flip, the smoother and better the animation looks. Slow it down, and it starts feeling choppy.
A 60Hz monitor certainly gets the job done, but once you experience 144Hz, 180Hz, or 240Hz, you’ll wonder how you ever lived with anything less.
Typical Refresh Rates Explained
| Refresh Rate | Where You’ll See It | What It Feels Like |
|---|---|---|
| 60Hz | Standard monitors, office work, casual use | Gets the job done. Good enough for browsing the internet and watching videos, but motion feels a bit choppy in games and the videos you will watch will be limited to 60Hz. So, no Refresh rate comparisons in YouTube with a 60Hz display. |
| 75Hz | Budget gaming and productivity monitors | Slightly smoother than 60Hz — a nice middle ground, but it’s still like the 60Hz, you won’t feel anything moving from 60Hz to 75Hz. |
| 120Hz | Mid-range gaming monitors, some laptops | You will notice that your display is smoother, scrolling and gameplay feel more fluid and you will certainly feel the difference between a 60Hz and a 120Hz. |
| 144Hz | Common in gaming displays | It’s super smooth and more responsive. It’s ideal for competitive games like CS:2 and story-rich, single player games like Red Dead Redemption 2. A 144Hz display feels fluid and better than 120Hz monitors. |
| 180Hz | Mid-range PC builds | The best deal & performance you will get for the price you will pay. Perfect for competitive and single player video games. A 180Hz monitor feels more smoother than 144Hz display. |
| 240Hz | High-end esports monitors | 240Hz is considered “Ultra-responsive”; everything feels smoother than other typical refresh rates, but it needs powerful hardware. Not every game will run at a 240 Hz. Recommended for serious competitive players. |
Why Refresh Rate Matters?
From my own experience testing different monitors over the years (I used a CRT monitor when I first started using computers), I can tell you that the refresh rate factor can completely change your experience with personal computers, including the feeling of working with a 60Hz screen vs a high refresh rate monitor (144Hz and higher).
Mouse movement feels more direct with a high refresh rate monitor, animations flow better, and even dragging windows around becomes oddly satisfying. That’s not an exaggeration; you will eventually feel it when you change refresh rate settings, especially if you have a high refresh monitor.
Higher refresh rates also help with eye strain. In fact, studies in visual perception have shown that increasing the refresh rate improves how our eyes process motion. When participants were exposed to visual tests at different refresh rates, higher rates (120Hz and above) produced stronger visual responses and less strain, especially during motion-heavy visuals.
A high refresh rate monitor is a competitive advantage for gamers. A 144Hz or even a 240Hz display makes your movements and aim feel more responsive, especially in fast-paced shooter games where even small milliseconds matter.
The refresh rate factor might sound like a “small upgrade” on paper, but once you’ve seen the difference firsthand, you’ll realize it’s one of the most underrated upgrades you can make to your setup.
How to Check Your Current Refresh Rate
Before changing your monitor’s refresh rate, it’s a good idea to check what your display is currently running at. Here’s how you can do it in Windows 11 or Windows 10.
First, right-click anywhere on your desktop and select “Display settings”.
Second, scroll down until you find the “Advanced display” settings and click on it.
Finally, you’ll see your monitor’s refresh rate listed (for example, 60Hz, 120Hz, or 144Hz) under “Display information”.
The “Desktop mode” and “Active signal mode” list your current monitor resolution (1440p for my case) and your monitor’s refresh rate (180Hz for my own case).
How to Change Refresh Rate in Windows 11/10
Changing your refresh rate in Windows is very easy, but keep in mind that you can’t increase the refresh rate beyond what your monitor actually supports.
So, you need to buy a new high refresh monitor (144Hz or higher) if you have one that supports 60Hz/75Hz only, regardless of how powerful your GPU is. Here’s how you can do it in Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Method 1: How to Change Refresh Rate in Windows via Settings
First, Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Display settings.
Second, scroll down and click “Advanced display” settings.
Under Display information, you will see an option to change the refresh rate of your screen.
Click on it, and you will see a list of all the refresh rates your current monitor supports.
We want the fastest refresh rate possible, so choose the first option (180 Hz for my case).
Pro Tip: If you don’t see any refresh rates above 60Hz, double-check that:
- You’re using the right display cable (DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+).
- Your graphics drivers are up to date, whether you have an Nvidia or an AMD GPU.
- Your current monitor is actually a high-refresh model (Supports 144Hz or higher).
Method 2: How to Change Refresh Rate in Windows via NVIDIA or AMD Control Panel
The Windows settings app isn’t your only option if you have a dedicated graphics card. Both NVIDIA and AMD control panels give you full control over your display’s refresh rate, and sometimes, they handle it better than Windows itself.
We will go through how to change the refresh rate settings for both Nvidia and AMD control panels.
Option 1: How to Change Refresh Rate in Nvidia Control Panel.
For Nvidia users, you can change your refresh rate easily with simple steps we will go through eventually.
First, right-click anywhere on your desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel.
In the sidebar, expand Display and click Change resolution.
Second, select the monitor you want to adjust. I have one Xiaomi monitor named “Mi Monitor,” but if you have multiple displays, you can select each one and configure it individually.
Next, click the Refresh rate option and choose the fastest and highest value possible (e.g., 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, or 240Hz) to enjoy the high refresh rate experience.
Finally, click “Apply” to save the changes. Your monitor might blink or go black for a little while.
Don’t be afraid, the chosen settings are taking place, and eventually your display will apply the refresh rate you want.
Option 2: How to Change Refresh Rate in AMD Control Panel.
For AMD users, changing the refresh rate is a bit challenging, requiring additional steps to achieve the same result as Nvidia GPUs.
First, right-click anywhere on your desktop and open AMD Control Panel.
Next, go to “Gaming”, then choose the “Display” tab.
Second, scroll until you find the “Custom Resolutions” option. Click on “create new” if you want to create or select a higher refresh rate.
Keep everything as it is and enter the maximum refresh rate your monitor supports in the “Refresh rate” section and click “Create”.
You can find that kind of information on your monitor manufacturer’s website.
You can see above the maximum refresh rate my monitor supports (Xiaomi G27Qi).
Conclusion
You’ll never look at 60Hz the same way again once you experience a refresh rate of 120Hz, 144Hz, or higher, and your eyes will thank you for it.
If your monitor supports it, take a few minutes to change it. It’s one of those upgrades that costs you nothing but makes your PC feel brand new.
What refresh rate are you running right now, and did you notice the difference after switching? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about your experiences!
To make your high-refresh monitor feel even smoother, check out our guide on turning off mouse acceleration in Windows 11.
