Understanding Display Refresh Rate and Why It Matters for Your Work
Your monitor's refresh rate is the number of times per second it redraws the image on your screen. This measurement is expressed in hertz (Hz). A 60Hz display refreshes 60 times each second, while a 144Hz display refreshes 144 times per second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the on-screen motion appears to your eyes.
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For most office work—email, word processing, spreadsheets, video conferencing—a standard 60Hz refresh rate works fine. However, if you work in fields that involve video editing, graphic design, animation, or real-time data visualization, you might notice benefits from higher refresh rates. Video editors working with footage shot at 120fps or higher can see smoother playback at 120Hz or 144Hz. Designers working with fast cursor movements may experience less lag when adjusting elements on screen.
Many people don't realize their monitor is capable of running at higher refresh rates than the default setting. Manufacturers often ship displays set to 60Hz to maintain compatibility with older systems, even when the hardware supports 75Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, or higher. This means you may already own the hardware needed for a smoother experience—you just need to change the settings.
The difference between 60Hz and 144Hz is noticeable but not dramatic for text-based work. The most obvious improvement appears when you're scrolling through documents, moving your cursor around, or watching video playback. Some users report less eye strain during long work sessions at higher refresh rates, though this varies from person to person.
Practical takeaway: Before you change any settings, check your monitor's specifications sheet or manual to see what refresh rates it supports. This information tells you the maximum refresh rate your particular display can handle.
How to Change Refresh Rate on Windows 10 and Windows 11
Windows makes refresh rate changes through the Display Settings menu. On Windows 11, right-click on your desktop background and select "Display settings." On Windows 10, go to Settings > System > Display. Scroll down and look for a section labeled "Advanced display settings" or "Advanced." Click this option to open a new window.
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In the Advanced Display Settings window, you'll see information about your current display setup. Look for a dropdown or field showing your current refresh rate—it probably says "60Hz" if you haven't changed it before. Windows only shows refresh rate options that your monitor and graphics card both support. If you see only one option, your system may not support higher refresh rates with your current setup.
When you click on the refresh rate field, a dropdown menu appears with available options. These options represent what both your monitor and your graphics card (or integrated graphics chip) can handle together. Select the highest refresh rate in the list if you want maximum smoothness. After selecting a new rate, click "Apply." Windows will switch to the new refresh rate and ask you to confirm the change within 15 seconds. If the display looks wrong or you don't confirm the change, Windows automatically reverts to the previous setting.
Some users report that Windows defaults back to 60Hz after restarting the computer. If this happens to you, the issue usually involves outdated graphics drivers. Updating your graphics driver (the software that controls your graphics card) often solves this problem. For NVIDIA cards, visit NVIDIA's driver support page. For AMD cards, go to AMD's driver download section. For Intel integrated graphics, visit Intel's support website.
Practical takeaway: Write down what refresh rate options appear in your dropdown menu before making changes. This creates a record of what your system supports, which is useful information if you need to troubleshoot later.
Changing Refresh Rate on macOS Systems
Mac users have a more straightforward path to changing refresh rate settings. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings" (on macOS Ventura and later) or "System Preferences" (on older versions). Look for "Displays" in the sidebar or menu. Click the Displays option to open display settings.
On newer Macs, look for a button or dropdown labeled "Refresh Rate" or "Refresh Frequency." Macs typically offer fewer refresh rate options than Windows systems—you might see choices like 60Hz and 120Hz, or just 60Hz depending on your monitor model. Select your preferred refresh rate from the available options. The change takes effect immediately without requiring confirmation.
Unlike Windows, macOS is less likely to revert your refresh rate settings after restart. However, if you're using an external monitor with an older Mac, the available refresh rates may be limited by the connection type. Thunderbolt, USB-C, and newer HDMI versions support higher refresh rates better than older HDMI versions or DisplayPort versions.
Mac users with multiple monitors should note that macOS allows different refresh rates for each display. You can set your main monitor to 120Hz while keeping an external display at 60Hz, for example. This flexibility is useful in multi-monitor setups where one screen handles demanding work and another displays reference materials or communication tools.
Practical takeaway: If you're using an older Mac with limited refresh rate options, the monitor connection quality may be the limiting factor. Upgrading to a newer cable that supports your monitor's capabilities might open up higher refresh rate options.
Understanding Graphics Drivers and Their Role in Refresh Rate Support
Graphics drivers are software programs that let your computer communicate with your graphics hardware. They control everything from color display to refresh rate capability. An outdated driver often means your system can't access the full range of refresh rates your monitor supports. Many users don't realize this connection until they try to change refresh rates and see limited options.
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Updating drivers is straightforward. On Windows with NVIDIA graphics, open the NVIDIA Control Panel and look for "Help" > "Check for Updates." NVIDIA's website also has a manual driver finder where you enter your graphics card model and operating system. AMD provides the AMD Radeon Software application that automatically notifies you of driver updates. For Intel integrated graphics, visit Intel's support page, select your processor model, and the site shows compatible drivers you can download.
After updating your driver, restart your computer. Then return to your display settings to see if more refresh rate options now appear. Many users find that updating an outdated driver opens up refresh rates they couldn't access before. This is one of the most common reasons why someone's monitor doesn't show higher refresh rate options despite being capable of supporting them.
For laptop users, the situation is a bit different. Laptop graphics drivers sometimes need to be obtained from the laptop manufacturer's support page rather than directly from the graphics chip maker. A Dell laptop with NVIDIA graphics, for example, might need a driver from Dell's support site rather than NVIDIA's general site. This ensures the driver works properly with your specific laptop model.
Practical takeaway: Before spending money on a new monitor, verify that your current graphics driver is up to date. An hour spent updating drivers can sometimes reveal capabilities you already own.
Checking Monitor Specifications and Connection Limits
Not every monitor supports high refresh rates, and connection type matters significantly. A monitor that technically supports 144Hz might only achieve that through a USB-C or Thunderbolt connection, not through an older HDMI port. Understanding these limitations prevents frustration when you can't find higher refresh rate options in your settings.
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Most monitors include a specifications sheet listing supported refresh rates at different resolutions. A monitor might support 144Hz at 1080p resolution but only 60Hz at 4K resolution. This happens because higher resolutions require more data to be transmitted. If you want both high resolution and high refresh rate, you'll need either a newer monitor designed for that combination or a high-bandwidth connection cable.
Connection cables matter more than many people realize. HDMI versions vary significantly. HDMI 2.0 supports up to 60Hz at 4K resolution, while HDMI 2.1 supports 120Hz at 4K. Older monitors with HDMI 1.4 might top out at 60Hz regardless of what your computer outputs. DisplayPort connections generally support higher refresh rates than comparable HDMI versions. If your monitor supports DisplayPort and your computer has a DisplayPort output, using that cable instead of HDMI often unlocks higher refresh rate options.
To find your monitor's specifications, look for the model number on