What refresh rate does my monitor support?
Refresh rate is how many times per second the monitor draws a new image, measured in hertz. A 60 Hz panel redraws 60 times a second, a 144 Hz panel 144 times. The maximum your screen supports is printed in its specification sheet, usually next to the resolution, and it often appears in the model name or on the box. Questions such as how many Hz a 24 inch Dell or LG monitor has cannot be answered by the size alone: the same 24 inch class covers office models at 60 or 75 Hz and gaming models at 144, 165, 180 or 240 Hz. The reliable way is to read the exact model code from the sticker on the back of the monitor and look up that code on the manufacturer's website. Once you know the rated maximum, the next step is to check that Windows, the graphics card and the cable are actually delivering it, because a high-refresh monitor often runs at 60 Hz until something tells it otherwise.
How to check the refresh rate in Windows
In Windows 11, right-click the desktop, open Display settings, scroll down and choose Advanced display. Select the monitor at the top if you have more than one, and the current refresh rate is shown in the Choose a refresh rate drop-down. Open that list to see every rate Windows is offering for the current resolution and connection. In Windows 10 the path is Display settings, Advanced display settings, where the rate sits under the monitor details; older builds hide it behind Display adapter properties and the Monitor tab. If the highest value in the list is lower than the monitor is rated for, Windows is not seeing the full capability, and the cause is almost always the cable, the port or the resolution chosen, not a fault in the panel. Pick the highest value, wait for the screen to flicker and confirm. Changing the setting is safe, and Windows reverts automatically if you do not confirm.
- Windows 11: Settings > System > Display > Advanced display
- Windows 10: Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings
- Set the native resolution first, then pick the refresh rate
Checking in the NVIDIA, AMD or Intel control panel
The graphics driver has its own view of the display and sometimes offers modes that Windows lists differently. In the NVIDIA Control Panel, open Change resolution under Display, select the monitor and read the Refresh rate box next to the resolution list; the NVIDIA app shows the same under its display settings. In AMD Software, the Display tab lists each connected screen with its current resolution and refresh rate, plus options such as FreeSync. Intel Graphics Command Center and the newer Intel Graphics Software show refresh rate on their display page. These panels are also where you enable variable refresh, called G-SYNC or FreeSync, which lets the monitor match the frame rate of the game within its supported range. If the driver panel shows the full rate but games still feel like 60 Hz, check the in-game display settings, because some titles have their own refresh rate option or run in a borderless window that follows the desktop setting.
HDMI or DisplayPort: does the cable limit refresh rate?
Yes, and it is the most common reason a screen stays at 60 Hz. Each connection standard has a maximum bandwidth, and resolution multiplied by refresh rate and colour depth has to fit inside it. HDMI 1.4 tops out around 10 Gbps, enough for 1080p at about 120 Hz but only 30 Hz at 4K. HDMI 2.0 raises that to 18 Gbps, which covers 4K at 60 Hz and 1440p at high refresh on many monitors. HDMI 2.1 reaches 48 Gbps for 4K at 120 Hz and above. DisplayPort 1.2 offers about 21.6 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4 about 32.4 Gbps, and DisplayPort 2.1 considerably more, with Display Stream Compression stretching each further. Both ends and the cable must support the version: an old HDMI cable on a new monitor can cap the rate. On gaming monitors DisplayPort is usually the safer choice, and the cable supplied in the box is normally rated for the monitor's maximum.
- HDMI 1.4: about 10 Gbps, 1080p up to roughly 120 Hz
- HDMI 2.0: 18 Gbps, 4K at 60 Hz
- HDMI 2.1: 48 Gbps, 4K at 120 Hz and above
- DisplayPort 1.4: 32.4 Gbps, 1440p high refresh, 4K high refresh with DSC
Use the right port on the PC and the monitor
A desktop with a dedicated graphics card has two sets of video outputs: those on the card itself, low on the back of the case, and those on the motherboard rear panel near the USB ports. The motherboard outputs belong to the integrated graphics in the processor, and if the monitor is plugged in there it may be limited to a lower refresh rate, while games also run on the much weaker integrated chip. Always connect the monitor to the graphics card. On the monitor side, check which inputs support the full rate: some models only reach their maximum over DisplayPort, or list a lower HDMI limit in the manual. Adapters and docks are another limit, since a USB-C or DisplayPort to HDMI adapter is often restricted to 4K at 30 or 60 Hz. KVM switches and long cables can also force a lower mode. If you are planning a new build, check that the graphics card has the outputs your monitor needs.
Check the monitor on-screen menu
The monitor itself reports what signal it is receiving. Open the on-screen display with the buttons or joystick on the frame and look for an Information, Status or Display Info page, which lists the current input, resolution and refresh rate. This is the most trustworthy check, because it shows what actually reaches the panel rather than what Windows asked for. The menu is also where several settings that limit refresh rate live. Some monitors ship with the DisplayPort version set to 1.1 or 1.2 for compatibility, some need an overclock option enabled to reach the advertised top rate, and some only allow the maximum with certain picture modes or with adaptive sync switched on. Check the manual for the exact model if the highest rate is missing. Many monitors also offer a refresh rate counter overlay, a quick way to confirm that the rate does not drop when a game starts.
Why is my monitor stuck at 60 Hz?
When the higher rate is missing from every list, work through the chain from the cheapest fix up. Most cases come down to the connection or a setting, not a faulty screen. After changing anything, return to Advanced display in Windows and reselect the rate, because Windows does not always switch to the new maximum on its own. Once the monitor runs at its full rate, the remaining question is whether your PC can produce enough frames to use it, which depends on the graphics card, the processor and the resolution. The FPS calculator gives an estimate for common part combinations and games.
- Monitor plugged into the motherboard instead of the graphics card
- Older HDMI cable or port version that lacks the bandwidth
- An adapter, dock or KVM switch limiting the signal
- Windows set to a non-native resolution or a lower rate
- Outdated or generic display driver (reinstall the GPU driver)
- Overclock or DisplayPort version option off in the monitor menu