If you've upgraded to Windows 11 and suddenly your gaming monitor only shows 60 Hz as maximum frequencyEven if it's a 120 or 144 Hz display (or even higher), it's perfectly normal to feel frustrated. Many users find that after an update, system reinstallation, or even a simple cable change, The 144 Hz option disappears from the settings and they can only select 60 Hz, both on the desktop and within games.
The good news is that, in most cases, it's not that your monitor is broken or that your graphics card is no longer working. The problem almost always lies with the Windows 11 settings, video cable, or driversIn this article, we'll see, step by step and in great detail, what you can do to get Windows 11 to detect and use the desired 144 Hz when it only shows you 60 Hz.
What is refresh rate and why is your PC stuck at 60 Hz?
The refresh rate of a screen indicates How many times per second is the image updated?A 60Hz monitor refreshes the image 60 times per second, while a 144Hz monitor refreshes it 144 times. This results in much smoother motion, less blur, and a far superior overall smoothness, especially in fast-paced games.
When Windows 11 only lets you choose 60 Hz, even with a 144 Hz monitor, it's usually because the system is limiting the signal it sends to the screen This could be due to one of these reasons: incorrect settings, an unsuitable cable, outdated drivers, or a resolution mode that doesn't support that refresh rate. Understanding this is key to knowing why, sometimes, the desktop is at 60 Hz while at a lower resolution you can set it to 144 Hz.
In addition to frequency, two other parameters influence it: the Screen resolution and the type of connection (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.). Each combination of resolution and refresh rate requires a specific bandwidth. If the cable or the standard (for example, HDMI 1.4) cannot handle more, Windows will only display up to 60 Hz at certain resolutions and will reserve 120/144 Hz for lower resolutions.
In some cases, after upgrading to Windows 11 or changing settings, the system automatically adjusts the so-called "Desktop Mode" and "Active Signal Mode" to some rather unusual combinations: for example, desktop at 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz and active signal at 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz. This can cause the system to only offer 60 Hz at the desktop resolution and for the 144 Hz to only appear when lowering to 1680 x 1050 or other less common resolutions.
It can also happen that, from the graphics control panel (NVIDIA or similar), you see 144 Hz options, but when you click apply it, nothing changes. automatically return to 59,99 Hz / 60 HzThis usually indicates some incompatibility between the chosen resolution, the cable capacity, or the configuration that Windows 11 is using for that specific screen.
Real advantages of enabling 144 Hz in Windows 11
Before diving into advanced settings, it's worth reviewing the specific benefits you'll notice when switching from 60 to 144 Hz in Windows 11, as it doesn't just affect gaming. A high refresh rate monitor improves overall performance. the overall user experience from your PC, whether you're playing games, working, or browsing.
In the field of video games, a higher update frequency provides a a much more pronounced feeling of fluiditySudden camera movements, quick turns, and animations are displayed with less blur and less motion blur (ghosting), which helps you better follow what's happening on screen and react faster.
Furthermore, a 144Hz panel reduces the perceived input lagThat is, the time it takes between making a movement with the mouse or keyboard and seeing it reflected on the screen. In competitive shooters like Valorant, CS2, Apex Legends, or similar games, this can be a significant advantage over other players who are running at 60 Hz.
It's not all about gaming: when scrolling through web pages, long documents, or social media, you'll notice that scrolling is much softerIf you use a digital pen or do video editing, design, or drawing, the responsiveness and precision also improve. Interaction with the system, in general, feels more "direct" and less clunky.
On the other hand, if you spend many hours in front of the screen, a higher refresh rate can help reduce eyestrainBy reducing flicker and ghosting, your eyes strain less, which is especially appreciated during long work or gaming sessions. This benefit is more noticeable than it might seem when you temporarily switch back to a 60Hz monitor.
What is Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) in Windows 11?
Windows 11 introduces a feature called Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR)Designed primarily for laptops and devices that combine office work and leisure, the system can automatically adjust the refresh rate based on your current activity.
With DRR enabled, when you're browsing, typing, or performing light tasks, Windows can lower the refresh rate to save battery and reduce consumptionConversely, when it detects activities that benefit from higher Hz, such as gaming, fast scrolling, or using a stylus, it increases the frequency (for example, up to 120 Hz) to provide greater smoothness.
This function seeks to balance visual performance and autonomyHowever, there are important caveats: it's only compatible if the monitor and graphics card support DDR, and not all models (especially external desktop monitors) offer this feature. If your computer doesn't support it, you won't see the corresponding switch in the settings.
To enable or disable DRR in Windows 11, you can do so from the system setup menuIt's important to know that DRR doesn't "create" hertz out of thin air: if your monitor's maximum refresh rate is 144 Hz, that will still be the maximum, but the system will play with intermediate values ​​depending on the workload.
If your top priority is always have a fixed 144 Hz On the desktop and in games, you might prefer to disable DRR (if your computer offers it) and manually set the refresh rate in the display settings, especially if you're not using a laptop and power consumption isn't a major concern.
How to change the refresh rate in Windows 11 step by step
The first place you should look when you only see 60 Hz is the device itself. Windows 11 display settingsEven if you have a panel capable of 144 Hz, the system may be set to 60 Hz by default after a fresh installation, a major upgrade, or a change of graphics driver.
The path you need to follow in Windows 11 is similar to that of Windows 10, but with some slightly different names. From the start menu You'll access Settings, then the System section, and from there, Display, where you'll find the link to advanced display settings with refresh rate options. If you need a more detailed guide, see [link to guide]. How to change your screen refresh rate in Windows.
On that advanced screen you'll see a drop-down list to choose which monitor you want to configure (if you have several connected) and, right below it, the section for Update frequencyThere you should see a list of all the refresh rates compatible with the combination of resolution, monitor, and connection you are currently using.
In many cases, clicking that dropdown menu will show a sequence of values ​​ranging from 25 Hz to 144 Hz or more. It's possible that, above a certain value (for example, 70,07 Hz and above), Windows will display a asterisk (*) next to the frequencyThat symbol indicates that these are modes recommended or validated by the monitor and graphics card, meaning they should work correctly.
If you choose 144 Hz, the screen may flicker for a second while the change is applied. After that, you might see some unusual changes in the information displayed by Windows, such as "Desktop Mode" dropping to 1680 x 1050 at 144 Hz while "Active Signal Mode" remains at 1920 x 1080 at 144 Hz. This is due to how Windows negotiates the video mode with the monitor, but the important thing is that, practically speaking, you're receiving the correct refresh rate. 144 Hz effective at the resolution you're interested in.
Relationship between resolution, 144 Hz and signal modes in Windows 11
One of the points that most confuses users is seeing how the resolution and refresh rate change differently between the "Desktop Mode" and "Active Signal Mode"This is observed in advanced display properties or in some GPU control panels, and may lead one to think that something is misconfigured.
"Desktop Mode" represents the resolution at which you are working. the Windows interfaceWhile "Active Signal Mode" is the actual signal sent to the monitor. Sometimes Windows performs internal scaling, so the interface is at one resolution, but the signal traveling through the cable is at another, always trying to adapt to what the monitor best supports.
This explains situations like the one some users experience when upgrading to Windows 11 and finding that they can only select 60 Hz at 1920 x 1080 resolution, while 144 Hz is enabled at 1680 x 1050. With Windows 10, however, they could play games at 1920 x 1080 and 144 Hz without any issues. The combination of drivers, the monitor's EDID, and Windows 11's mode management can cause certain modes to appear or disappear.
In those scenarios, it is advisable to thoroughly review both the desktop resolution settings such as the list of modes supported by the monitor in the graphics card control panel. Sometimes forcing a custom mode helps, provided you're sure the panel supports it, although ideally you want the system to automatically detect the native 1080p at 144 Hz mode.
If in the past you saw a clear option for 1920 x 1080 at 144 Hz in the NVIDIA panel, and now only 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz appears alongside 1680 x 1050 at 144 Hz, the cause may lie in a Changes in GPU drivers, monitor firmware, or the way Windows 11 reads EDID information of the screen. Keeping all software up to date is essential for the system to properly recognize all available modes.
Importance of the cable: HDMI, DisplayPort and bandwidth
Another classic reason why Windows 11 only displays 60 Hz even on a 144 Hz monitor is the video cable used and version of standardNot all HDMI cables are created equal, nor do all versions of DisplayPort offer the same bandwidth, and that has a direct impact on the maximum resolution and refresh rate you can use.
DisplayPort is generally the preferred connection for high refresh rate gaming monitors. Modern versions can handle resolutions of 3840 x 2160 (4K) at 120 Hz and higher, with an effective bandwidth of around [missing information]. 32,4 Gbps in the most widespread standardsThis allows you to smoothly output 1080p or 1440p at 144 Hz and even 240 Hz, depending on the panel.
In the case of HDMI, the most widespread version for a long time has been HDMI 1.4which only allows 4K at 30 Hz and has a maximum bandwidth of approximately 10,2 Gbps. Although it can theoretically handle 1080p at 144 Hz, it is essential to use a high-speed HDMI cable ("High Speed" or higher) and that both the monitor and graphics card support that specific combination.
That's why it can happen that, even if you're using HDMI and your cable says it supports 144 Hz, Windows 11 only allows 60 Hz, especially if there's an incorrect port version detection or if the cable isn't actually of the advertised quality. Sometimes, after disconnecting and reconnecting the monitor, the system "negotiates" a more conservative setting and It gets stuck at 60 Hz.
If you were getting 144Hz before changing anything and only get 60Hz after reconnecting everything, first check if your monitor has multiple HDMI ports with different versions, make sure you're using the correct connector on your graphics card, and consider switching to a different version. DisplayPort if your computer and monitor support it.Often, simply changing the cable and port solves the problem of not being able to go above 60 Hz.
Graphics card and monitor drivers
A very common reason why Windows 11 limits the frequency to 60 Hz is having outdated or incorrectly installed driversThis can affect both the graphics card and, in some cases, the monitor itself. This is especially noticeable after migrating from Windows 10, performing a clean installation, or changing GPUs.
In the case of NVIDIA graphics cards, for example, if the drivers are outdated or have been corrupted during an update, the control panel may not correctly display the 144 Hz modes, or selecting them may result in them being applied incorrectly, causing the system to automatically revert to 59,99 Hz or 60 Hz. The same can occur with AMD or Intel graphics cards.
In addition, some monitor manufacturers provide specific drivers or .inf files (sometimes called monitor drivers) that tell the operating system all supported modes: resolutions, refresh rates, etc. If Windows 11 uses a generic driver instead of the manufacturer's specific one, it may not list all high refresh rate modes.
If your monitor, such as an Acer Nitro VG240Y S or similar models, worked perfectly at 144 Hz in Windows 10 and, after upgrading to Windows 11, only allows you to use 60 Hz at 1080p, check that you are indeed using the latest drivers for both the GPU (for example, an RTX 3060) as well as the monitor itselfSometimes it is necessary to completely uninstall old drivers and perform a clean installation.
Once your drivers are in order, double-check the advanced display settings in Windows 11 and your graphics card control panel. If everything is working correctly, you should regain the 1920 x 1080 at 144 Hz option as your native mode, without needing to lower the resolution to 1680 x 1050 to take advantage of the maximum refresh rate.
Common problems after upgrading to Windows 11 and possible causes
Many users report that, after upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, their games, such as Valorant, stop offering the ideal combination of 1920 x 1080 at 144 Hz and they get stuck at 60 Hz at that resolution, forcing you to drop to 1680 x 1050 to be able to select 144 Hz within the game.
This type of situation is usually related to how the new system manages display modes and to driver changes. Windows 11 may have configured the desktop to 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz but be using a different active signal mode (for example, 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz), which affects the modes that games detect as available.
It is also common for the NVIDIA control panel to show that 1920 x 1080 only supports 60 HzWhile other resolutions show 144 Hz. If before the update the default mode was 1080p at 144 Hz, it feels like something has broken with the move to Windows 11, although in reality it's usually a matter of configuration and drivers.
Another typical symptom is that, when trying to change the refresh rate from the display adapter properties, Windows lets you select 144 Hz, but after clicking Apply, the screen flickers and reverts to 59,99 Hz. This behavior points to some kind of issue. incompatibility with the selected mode or with the cable used.
In some cases, even after checking everything mentioned above, the user finds that the only variable that changes the behavior is the cable type (HDMI vs. DisplayPort) or the specific port used on the monitor. This reinforces the importance of ensuring you are using a connection capable of delivering the bandwidth required for 1080p or 1440p at 144 Hz.
Basic checks if only 60 Hz appears
If Windows 11 only shows you 60 Hz as an option, even with a 144 Hz monitor, it's advisable to follow a series of steps. Basic checks before you go crazy thinking the monitor is faulty or the system is incompatible.
First, check in Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings that the monitor is detected correctly And make sure the "Refresh Rate" list includes more values. If you have multiple monitors, be sure to select the correct model, as it's easy to accidentally select the wrong device.
Next, go into the display adapter properties and go to the tab "Monitor"From there, check the "Display refresh rate" dropdown menu and select the maximum rate your panel supports. Sometimes, this menu displays options that don't appear directly in the main Windows settings.
It is also recommended to check that the configured resolution is the native resolution of your monitor (For example, 1920 x 1080 for most FHD models). If you're at a resolution too high for the cable and port's capabilities (such as 4K via HDMI 1.4), the system will inevitably limit the refresh rate to 30 or 60 Hz, even though the panel could do more at lower resolutions.
Finally, don't forget to check the cable and port you're using: if you're connected via HDMI, try a different cable marked "High Speed" or higher, a different port on the monitor, or even DisplayPort if your setup supports it. A user might be convinced their HDMI cable supports 144Hz because "it used to work"However, a reconnection or hardware change can cause the mode negotiation to be different and the system to remain at 60 Hz.
Relationship between 144 Hz, FPS and gaming experience
Although the focus of this article is on how to get Windows 11 to display 144 Hz when only 60 Hz is shown, it's worth clarifying how those relate to each other. 144Hz monitor with game FPSespecially in competitive contexts.
The monitor's refresh rate determines the maximum number of frames per second you can actually see on screen. If your monitor is set to 60 Hz, it doesn't matter if the game is running at 200 FPS: you'll only see 60 frames per second (although the reduced input lag might be noticeable). However, if you set your monitor to 144 Hz, you'll be able to take advantage of FPS above 60 and perceive a much greater fluidity.
In games like Valorant, many players noticed that after upgrading to Windows 11, the game would get stuck at 60 FPS because the system was only delivering 60 Hz at the selected resolution. Once you get Windows 11 to recognize and use 144 Hz, the game can... return to displaying high FPS and the change in response and smoothness is immediately noticeable.
However, for the experience to be complete, your PC hardware (CPU and GPU) needs to be capable of generating over 144 stable FPS in the games you play. If your graphics card only handles 70 or 80 FPS, you'll still notice improvements compared to 60 Hz, but the jump won't be as significant as when you maintain a constant 144 FPS or higher.
In any case, even if you don't reach 144 FPS, having your monitor set to 120 or 144 Hz makes a noticeable difference when moving the desktop, browsing, typing, and using the computer in general, so it's worth making sure Windows 11 is using the maximum frequency that your monitor can properly support.
When all the factors come together—a good 144Hz monitor, a suitable cable, up-to-date drivers, and a properly configured Windows 11—the difference compared to being stuck at 60Hz is enormous. Correcting these frequency locks not only improves gaming performance, but also transforms the feeling of everyday PC use into something much more fluid and pleasant.
