Did you know that the Windows 11 Settings app now allows you to customize your Dynamic Refresh Rate? Changing your refresh rate on Windows isn’t a new feature; it was first introduced in October 2020 with Windows 10 Insider build 20236 on the Dev channel.
Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR), also known as “refresh rate,” is the number of times per second that an image on your display refreshes. A 60Hz display, on the other hand, will refresh the screen 60 times per second.
Most displays use a refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for everyday computer work. When using your mouse, you may experience some jitters, but other than that, you should have no problems. Dropping the refresh rate below 60Hz, on the other hand, will cause issues.
The refresh rate can make all the difference in the world for gamers. While 60Hz is sufficient for most computer tasks, a higher refresh rate of 144Hz or 240Hz can provide a much more enjoyable gaming experience.
You can now manually adjust the refresh rate for a sharper and smoother PC experience, depending on your monitor, resolution, and graphics card.
One disadvantage of a high refresh rate, particularly on the new Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio, is that it will likely reduce battery life.
Enable Dynamic Refresh Rate on Windows 11 or Windows 10
To change the Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) on Windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Open Windows Settings(Windows key + I keyboard shortcut)
2. Go to System > Display > Advanced display
3. For Choose a refresh rate, select the rate that you want
Keep in mind that these settings on Windows 10 differ slightly. It’s also worth noting that if your monitor doesn’t support refresh rates higher than 60Hz, these options will be unavailable.
My personal setup includes a desktop PC with a BenQ EX2780Q 27 Inch 1440P 144Hz IPS Gaming Monitor. The monitor stand had to be replaced because it was too short and didn’t have enough height adjustment options, but the 144Hz refresh rate is ideal for my gaming needs.
After you’ve finished the steps in this guide, your monitor should begin using the new refresh rate you chose and applied. If your monitor supports higher refresh rates, such as 240Hz, but you don’t see the option, make sure you have the most recent graphics drivers installed.
Lowering the resolution of your monitor may also be beneficial; some monitors are equipped to support higher refresh rates at lower resolution. For more information, consult the technical manual for your monitor.
Additional resources for Windows 11
Check out our Features section and our How-To section for more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 11 and Windows 10. We’ll show you how to do everything on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
