Why can’t I change the monitor refresh rate?

The following are some of the common reasons why you can’t change the monitor refresh rate on Windows 10:

Outdated/Incompatible Drivers – If your system runs an incompatible version of your graphics card, you might need help to change your monitor refresh rate. Incompatible display cable – If the display cable is faulty or incompatible, you might be unable to change the refresh rate on your monitor. Incompatible monitor – If you’re trying to max out your refresh rate, your monitor must be capable of running the desired rate. Wrong display configurations – If your PC’s display isn’t correctly configured, you’ll find it hard to change the refresh rate of your PC.

Now that we know why this happens, let’s apply the solutions below to fix it.

What can I do If I can’t change the monitor refresh rate?

Before we proceed with more advanced troubleshooting techniques, here are some quick fixes you can attempt:

Make sure you are using the right cable for the specifications of your monitor and PC. For instance, if you are using DVI, you need a dual-link DVI cable to use 144 Hz. If you use a USB monitor, connect it to a USB 3.0 port. Change your display cable or try the monitor on another PC. Check to see if your monitor supports the required refresh rate. You can do this by searching for your monitor’s specs online. Make sure you install all the pending Windows updates.

If those quick fixes couldn’t resolve the error, here are a couple of advanced solutions you can attempt:

1. Update your graphics card driver

Alternatively, you can download the graphics card, i.e., Nvidia or Intel, from the manufacturer’s official website and install it manually. If none of the methods mentioned above doesn’t suit your expertise, you can try third-party software to download the latest driver versions from its database automatically.

2. Change your adapter settings

If you’ve been unable to change the refresh rate on your PC, you’ll find it hard to play games optimally. Games are graphics intensive, and some require the highest system configurations. You might also be interested in reading our guide on how to enable dynamic refresh rate in Windows 11. Luckily, with the steps listed above, you should be able to change your PC’s refresh rate.

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