How to Change a Monitor Refresh Rate on PC or Mac

Last Updated: January 5, 2022 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to change your computer monitor’s refresh rate in Windows and macOS. The refresh rate is the number of times per second your monitor's image refreshes on the screen. Raising your refresh rate may improve fast-moving game animations, as well as smoothness when using a drawing tablet. A higher refresh rate can, however, decrease battery performance on laptops. You can find your monitor's refresh rate range options by searching for the model online.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

macOS

1
Open your Mac's System preferences. You can do this by clicking the Apple menu at the top-left corner of the screen and selecting System Preferences on the menu.
- You can adjust the refresh rate if you're using a 16 inch MacBook Pro or Pro Display XDR, as well as some external display models.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} It isn't possible to adjust the refresh rate on most Mac displays, non-Pro especially laptop displays.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
2
Click Displays. This opens the settings for your monitor.

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3
Click the Display tab. It’s the first of the three tabs at the top of the window.
4
Press the ⌥ Option key as you click Scaled. The Scaled option is in the "Resolution" section at the top of the window. This displays your monitor's resolution options, as well as a "Refresh Rate" drop-down menu.
5
Select a value from the "Refresh Rate" menu. It’s near the bottom-right corner of the window. The default value is 60 Hertz, but you adjust it if you'd like. Your settings will adjust automatically.
- If you don't see the Refresh Rate menu, you can't adjust the refresh rate on this monitor.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Windows

1
Click the Start
menu. It’s usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2
Click Settings
. It’s toward the bottom-left corner of the menu.
3
Click System. It's the icon that looks like a computer.
4
Click the Display tab. It's in the left panel.
5
Scroll down and click Advanced display settings. It's in the right panel, toward the bottom.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
Go to source}
6
Select a refresh rate from the drop-down menu. It's toward the bottom of the "Advanced display settings" screen. The default is 60Hz, but may see other options depending on what your monitor supports. Once you change the refresh rate, the setting will take effect immediately.
- If you have more than one monitor, select the one you want to adjust from the drop-down menu at the top-right corner of the screen.