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How to Change Monitor Refresh Rate – A Complete Guide

Would you like to change your monitor refresh rate? 

Maybe you’re not getting the most out of your monitor or you want to improve your gaming experience or just make your computer look and feel faster. 

Whatever the reason, this complete guide will show you how to change your monitor’s refresh rate on both Windows and Mac computers as well as on Ps4,

So, let’s get started! 

What Monitor Refresh Rate is and Why does it Matter

If you’ve ever shopped for a new monitor, you’ve probably come across the term “refresh rate.” 

But do you know what is it?

Refresh rate is simply the number of times per second that a monitor can redraw the image on the screen. 

And do you know why it matters?

However, The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the image will appear. For most people, a refresh rate of 60 Hz is perfectly fine. 

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On the other hand, gamers and other users who require high levels of visual fidelity often prefer monitors with higher refresh rates. Some gaming monitors even offer refresh rates of 144 Hz or higher. 

While there is a noticeable difference between a 60 Hz and 144 Hz monitor, it’s important to keep in mind that most PCs are not capable of taking full advantage of these high-end monitors. 

In addition, if you’re not a hardcore gamer or graphic designer, you’ll probably be just fine with a standard 60 Hz monitor.

How to Change Monitor Refresh Rate on Various Devices

1. Changing Monitor Refresh Rate on a Windows Pc

Changing the refresh rate of your monitor can be a necessary step in getting the most out of your display. If you’re having trouble with image ghosting or other visual artifacts, adjusting the refresh rate may help to clear things up. 

Follow the steps below to change your monitor’s refresh rate on a Windows PC.

First step:  Right-click on your desktop and select “Display Settings.”

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Second step  Click on the “Advanced Display Settings” link.

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Third step:  Locate the “Refresh Rate” option and use the drop-down menu to select your desired refresh rate. Be sure to click “Apply” before exiting the window.

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Fourth step:  If you’re prompted to restart your computer, do so. This will ensure that the new refresh rate is applied correctly.

To sum up, by following the steps above, you can easily change the refresh rate of your monitor. Remember to experiment with different settings to find what works best for you.

2. Changing Monitor Refresh Rate on a Mac

In case you have a monitor that supports a higher refresh rate, you may be wondering how to change the refresh rate on your Mac.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

First step:  Open System Preferences and click on Displays.

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Second step:  In the Display panel, click on the Arrangement tab.

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Third step:  In the Arrangement window, you should see your monitor listed. If not, click on the “Detect Displays” button.

 Monitor Refresh Rate

Fourth step:  Once your monitor is detected, click on the “Options…” button next to it.

Fifth step  A drop-down menu will appear with different refresh rate options. Select the one you want and then click on the “OK” button.

Sixth step:  Close the System Preferences window and your refresh rate will be changed.

3. Changing Monitor Refresh Rate on a Ps4

In case you would like to change the refresh rate for your PS4 monitor, here’s what  you need to do:

First step:  Go to the Settings menu on your PS4 console.

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Second step:  Select ‘Sound and Screen’ from the list of options.

 Monitor Refresh Rate

Third step  Under ‘Video Output Settings’, select ‘Resolution’.

 Monitor Refresh Rate

Fourth Step: Choose the refresh rate that you want from the list of options.

Fifth step:  Save your changes and exit the Settings menu.

However, now your PS4 will be output at the refresh rate that you selected. If you’re not sure what refresh rate to choose, we recommend sticking with the default option.

What to do if the New Refresh Rate isn’t Working Properly

Whether you just bought a new monitor with a high refresh rate, or you’ve upgraded your graphics card and are having trouble getting the new refresh rate to work, there is a way to make the refresh rate work for you.

You can try the following trick:

  1. check that your monitor is properly connected to your graphics card. If it’s not, it won’t be able to display the higher refresh rate. 
  1. Make sure that you’ve installed the latest drivers for your graphics card. You can usually do this through the manufacturer’s website. 
  1. If you’re still having trouble, try resetting your computer’s display settings. This can usually be done by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting “Display Settings.” 

Once you’ve done this, you should be able to select your new refresh rate from the drop-down menu.

Final Words

That’s all you need to do, to change your monitor refresh rate on different devices. We hope you found this guide helpful.

Have some other queries regarding the monitor, don’t miss the following guides.