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Is your 144 Hz monitor stuck at 60 Hz? How to check

By Michael Steininger · Updated October 2026

Windows doesn't always switch a new monitor to its highest refresh rate. Plenty of 144 Hz and 240 Hz monitors run at 60 Hz for months, and nobody notices, because 60 Hz still looks fine on the desktop.

Quick answerSettings → System → Display → Advanced display → Choose a refresh rate, pick the highest number.

Windows 11#

  1. Right-click the desktop and choose Display settings (or Settings → System → Display).
  2. If you have several screens, select the one you game on at the top.
  3. Scroll down to Advanced display.
  4. Under Choose a refresh rate, pick the highest number in the list.

Windows 10#

  1. Settings → System → Display.
  2. Click Advanced display settings and select your monitor.
  3. Pick the highest Refresh rate.

The number you expected isn't there#

  • The cable: older HDMI cables and ports can't carry high refresh rates at high resolutions. A DisplayPort cable, straight into the graphics card, is usually the safe choice. Use the cable that came with the monitor.
  • The port: make sure the cable sits in the graphics card, not the motherboard. How to tell them apart.
  • The monitor's own menu: some monitors have a setting like overclocking or a DisplayPort version switch that has to be on for the top refresh rate.
  • The driver: install the current graphics driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel.

Check it in the game too#

Some games have their own refresh rate setting in fullscreen mode. Set it to the same value as Windows.

Questions#

How can I see what refresh rate my monitor is running at?
Windows 11 shows it under Settings → System → Display → Advanced display. The page also shows the active signal and which graphics card the screen is connected to.
Do I need more FPS than my refresh rate?
No. The monitor can only show as many pictures per second as its refresh rate. More FPS can still lower input delay, but the refresh rate has to be right first, or you never see the extra frames.
Is HDMI worse than DisplayPort?
Not by itself. Newer HDMI versions carry high refresh rates fine. The problem is older cables and ports, which top out lower. If the high refresh rate is missing on HDMI, try DisplayPort.
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