144Hz option not showing: Fix refresh rate settings today

If the 144hz option not showing issue is keeping your gaming monitor stuck at 60Hz or 120Hz, the cause is usually a display setting, connection limitation, driver problem, or unsupported refresh-rate mode. You do not necessarily need a new monitor or graphics card. Start by selecting the correct display in Windows, checking its resolution and supported refresh rates, and confirming that your cable and ports support 144Hz. Then troubleshoot the monitor’s settings and graphics driver. The steps below help you identify the cause without forcing an unsafe custom display mode or buying unnecessary hardware.

Fix the 144hz option not showing in Windows first

The quickest way to troubleshoot a missing 144Hz option is to check whether Windows recognizes the monitor’s full range of supported refresh rates. Work through the following checks in order, starting with the simplest fixes.

1. Select the correct monitor in Windows Advanced display settings.

2. Set the display to its native resolution and inspect the available refresh rates.

3. Confirm that the monitor supports 144Hz at that resolution through the current connection.

4. Check the cable, graphics output, adapters, and any docking station.

5. Review the monitor’s on-screen display settings for a high-refresh-rate or overclock option.

6. Update or repair the graphics driver if the hardware configuration is correct.

7. Check the graphics control panel or game settings if 144Hz is missing only in a particular application.

This order matters because there is little benefit in reinstalling a graphics driver when the monitor is connected through a port that does not support the desired mode. Likewise, creating a custom resolution will not overcome a physical display limitation.

Windows only lists refresh-rate modes that the connected display and graphics configuration make available. A monitor advertised as 144Hz should support that rate under its specified conditions, but the exact resolution, input port, connection path, and model revision still matter.

Determine where the 144Hz option is missing

Before changing several settings, establish exactly where the problem occurs. The location of the missing option helps narrow the possible causes.

A useful first distinction is whether the option is absent everywhere or only inside a game. If Windows itself offers 144Hz and the monitor reports that signal, the hardware connection may already be working correctly. The remaining issue could be the application’s display settings rather than the monitor.

If 144Hz is missing throughout Windows and the graphics control panel, start with the monitor specifications, resolution, and connection path before moving to more advanced software troubleshooting.

Check the monitor’s specifications and native resolution

A monitor’s advertised refresh rate is not available at every resolution or through every input. The first technical check is the manufacturer’s specification sheet or user manual for your exact model.

Confirm that your exact model supports 144Hz

Find the full model number on the rear label, in the monitor’s OSD, or in its purchase documentation. Visit the manufacturer’s support page and check the supported display modes. Pay attention to the maximum refresh rate listed for each resolution and connection.

For example, a display may support 144Hz at 1920 × 1080 but offer a lower maximum at a higher resolution. Another model may require DisplayPort for a particular high-refresh-rate mode. Those limitations cannot be resolved simply by selecting a different Windows setting.

Also check whether the advertised figure is a native refresh rate or an optional overclock. Some gaming monitors reach their highest advertised rates only after a specific setting is enabled. If the manual identifies an overclock or maximum refresh rate option, follow the documented procedure before troubleshooting Windows.

Do not assume that two monitors from the same product family have identical input capabilities. Similar model names can conceal meaningful differences in panel resolution, supported timings, and available ports.

Set Windows to the appropriate resolution

Open Settings, select System, and then select Display. Under Display resolution, choose the monitor’s recommended native resolution.

Next, open Advanced display and select the correct monitor from the display selector. Look at the available refresh-rate modes.

Microsoft notes that Windows may show refresh rates that are available only at different resolutions. An asterisk beside a rate indicates that it does not support the current resolution; selecting it changes the resolution to achieve that refresh rate.

If 144Hz becomes available after selecting a supported resolution, the missing option was related to the combination of resolution and refresh rate rather than necessarily indicating a driver failure.

Do not lower the resolution permanently just to obtain 144Hz unless the trade-off makes sense for your use. First determine whether the manufacturer supports 144Hz at the resolution you actually want.

Check your DisplayPort or HDMI connection

A cable or port limitation is one of the most important things to eliminate when a 144Hz option disappears. Both ends of the connection must support the required signal, and the complete path must have enough bandwidth for the selected resolution and refresh rate.

ViewSonic’s support guidance identifies DisplayPort as a preferred interface for high-refresh-rate operation and emphasizes that the graphics output and monitor input must also meet the relevant requirements. LG similarly advises checking the connection and supported cable specifications when higher refresh rates are unavailable. The exact requirements depend on the monitor and resolution.

Use a supported cable and port

Start with the ports listed in your monitor’s manual. If both your graphics card and monitor support a suitable DisplayPort connection, try connecting them directly with a compatible DisplayPort cable.

HDMI may also support 144Hz, depending on the HDMI implementation at both ends and the monitor’s supported modes. Do not assume that every HDMI port supports every resolution and refresh-rate combination.

These are checks, not universal guarantees that a particular interface version will support every display mode. Read the documentation for the devices you own rather than choosing a cable based only on a version label.

If you currently use a dock, KVM switch, USB graphics adapter, or receiver, temporarily remove it from the connection. Connect the monitor directly to a compatible graphics output. If 144Hz appears, reintroduce the intermediary device only after confirming that it supports the desired mode.

Check the correct graphics output

On a desktop PC with a dedicated graphics card, connect the monitor to a supported port on the graphics card rather than an unrelated motherboard video output, unless you specifically intend to use integrated graphics.

A motherboard output may have different capabilities depending on the CPU, motherboard, firmware configuration, and the display interface. A dedicated GPU’s port may also expose a different set of modes from the motherboard output.

For a laptop, check the manual to establish which USB-C, HDMI, or DisplayPort-compatible connection supports the target resolution and refresh rate. A connector’s physical shape alone does not establish its video capabilities.

After changing the connection, restart the display connection if necessary and return to Windows Advanced display. Check whether 144Hz is available before making more complicated changes.

Enable the correct refresh-rate setting in the monitor’s OSD

Some gaming displays include additional settings that affect the available refresh rates. Check the on-screen display menu using the physical buttons or joystick on the monitor.

Depending on the model, look under Gaming, Game, Display, System, or similar menus. You may find an option called Overclock, Maximum Refresh Rate, DisplayPort Version, or a feature-specific mode that changes how the panel operates.

Do not assume that every monitor has such an option. Some displays advertise 144Hz as a standard mode without requiring a separate setting. Others offer a documented overclock that must be enabled before the higher rate is exposed to Windows.

If the menu includes a DisplayPort compatibility or version option, use the setting specified in the monitor’s manual. Changing it arbitrarily may affect signal compatibility or the available features, so avoid treating the highest-looking setting as automatically correct.

After changing a documented setting, return to Windows and inspect Advanced display again. If 144Hz appears, select it and verify that the monitor receives the expected signal.

If the display still offers only 60Hz or 120Hz, restore any experimental setting that did not help. Continue with the driver and display-configuration checks rather than repeatedly changing the OSD.

Update or repair the graphics driver

If your monitor, resolution, and connection support 144Hz but Windows still does not offer it, investigate the graphics driver. A driver that is missing, outdated, corrupted, or incorrectly configured can interfere with the display modes Windows recognizes.

Identify the graphics adapter

Right-click Start and open Device Manager. Expand Display adapters and note the graphics hardware listed.

Download the appropriate driver through the official support page for your GPU manufacturer or system manufacturer. For a laptop, the computer manufacturer may provide a validated driver package for its specific hardware configuration. Use the instructions applicable to your model.

Do not rely solely on the fact that Device Manager says the driver is up to date. Windows may not have the latest appropriate package available, and a recent driver update may sometimes introduce a problem that was not present before.

Install the appropriate driver and restart

If the installed package is outdated or the problem began after a driver update, address that evidence rather than changing multiple settings at once.

1. Check Windows Update for relevant system and driver updates.

2. Review the official GPU or computer manufacturer’s driver page.

3. Install a suitable stable driver using the manufacturer’s documented procedure.

4. Restart the computer when the installation requires it.

5. Reopen Advanced display and check whether the 144Hz option has returned.

If the problem started immediately after a driver update, consider rolling back to the previous driver through Device Manager, provided that option is available and the earlier version was working correctly. Microsoft recommends this as a possible remedy for display problems that begin following an update.

Avoid downloading driver packages from unofficial websites or using random driver-updater utilities. They can introduce additional variables and make it harder to identify the original problem.

Reset the graphics driver if the display behaves incorrectly

If the display suddenly becomes unstable or Windows stops responding normally to a display change, Microsoft documents a graphics-driver reset shortcut: press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B.

This may help when a display problem is caused by the graphics driver, but it will not resolve an unsupported cable or monitor mode. Save your work before performing other troubleshooting steps, and restart Windows if the problem persists.

If the refresh-rate options remain missing after a suitable driver update, return to the monitor’s connection requirements. The next step should depend on what Windows and the manufacturer’s documentation actually indicate, not on repeatedly reinstalling the same driver.

What to do when the 144hz option not showing problem occurs only in games

A game can offer fewer refresh-rate choices than Windows. If you can select 144Hz in Windows Advanced display but the game’s video menu shows only 60Hz or 120Hz, focus on the game’s display configuration and graphics-driver settings.

First, confirm the refresh rate Windows is actually using. Select the correct monitor in Advanced display and verify the displayed resolution and refresh rate. Then open the game’s settings and check its display or video menu.

If the game uses exclusive full-screen mode, its available resolutions and refresh rates may differ from those shown when the game runs in a borderless window. Review the game’s supported display modes and test the appropriate mode without forcing an unsupported resolution.

Check NVIDIA scaling settings after a driver update

NVIDIA documents a specific issue involving Game Ready Driver 560.70 and certain monitors. In that scenario, games may stop showing the full range of refresh rates when the NVIDIA Control Panel’s Perform scaling on option is set to Display.

The documented remedy is to open NVIDIA Control Panel, select Adjust desktop size and position, change Perform scaling on to GPU, apply the setting, and restart Windows. NVIDIA states that the missing refresh-rate options should then reappear in affected games.

This fix applies to the documented driver behavior and should not be treated as a universal solution for every missing 144Hz option. Use it when the symptom matches the described game-only issue, particularly if it began after the relevant driver change. If 144Hz is absent from Windows itself, troubleshoot the monitor, connection, resolution, and driver detection first.

For AMD users, check the display mode in Windows and AMD Software, confirm the correct screen is selected, and review any custom display profiles that may have been created. Do not create an unsupported custom resolution simply to populate a game’s refresh-rate menu.

Check laptops, docks, adapters, and multiple monitors

Laptop configurations introduce additional variables because the built-in screen, external video ports, integrated GPU, dedicated GPU, and docking station may have different display capabilities.

If you use a laptop with an external 144Hz monitor, connect the display directly to the laptop through a port documented to support the required mode. If 144Hz becomes available, investigate the dock, adapter, or cable path you removed.

For USB-C, verify that the specific port supports video output and that the adapter supports the target resolution and refresh rate. Not all USB-C ports or adapters provide identical display capabilities.

If you use multiple monitors, open Advanced display and select the external 144Hz monitor explicitly. Windows applies the displayed information and refresh-rate controls to the selected screen. Do not assume that changing the laptop’s built-in display settings also changes the external monitor.

For a temporary test, disconnect secondary displays and remove unnecessary display accessories. Select the external monitor as the only active screen if practical, then check whether the 144Hz option appears. If the refresh rate returns, reconnect devices one at a time to identify the connection or configuration that changes the available modes.

Also distinguish between Duplicate and Extend display modes. Mirroring displays with different supported resolutions or refresh rates can restrict available combinations. Test the external monitor in an appropriate standalone or extended configuration before concluding that the display itself is defective.

Verify the fix and identify what still limits 144Hz

After changing a setting or replacing a cable, check whether Windows now exposes the desired refresh rate. Open Settings, select System, then Display and Advanced display. Choose the correct monitor and inspect its current resolution and refresh rate.

If 144Hz is available, select it and confirm the change. Check the monitor’s OSD information screen, if available, to confirm the incoming signal. Test normal desktop use and a game to make sure the display remains stable.

Use these symptoms to decide what to investigate next:

Do not force a custom timing beyond the monitor manufacturer’s specifications just because the graphics driver offers a custom-resolution utility. NVIDIA warns that unsupported custom display timings may damage a monitor and potentially affect its warranty. Custom modes should not replace verification of the manufacturer’s supported resolution and refresh-rate combinations.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my 144Hz monitor only show 60Hz?

Common causes include a connection that does not support 144Hz at the selected resolution, an incorrect display mode, a monitor setting that has not been enabled, or a graphics-driver problem. Check the model’s specifications and connection first, then inspect Windows Advanced display.

Why is 144Hz missing from Windows 11?

Windows 11 displays refresh rates that the system recognizes as supported for the selected display configuration. Select the correct monitor, check its resolution, and remove unnecessary adapters or docks during our research. If the option remains missing, investigate the graphics driver and monitor input requirements.

Why does NVIDIA Control Panel show 144Hz, but my game does not?

The game may use a different display mode or expose a restricted list of refresh rates. Verify that Windows is running at 144Hz, review the game’s video settings, and check whether a driver-specific scaling issue applies to your configuration.

Do I need a new DisplayPort cable to get 144Hz?

Not always. Your current cable may already support the required signal. Replace it only after checking the monitor’s input specifications, the GPU output, and the cable path. A known-compatible direct connection is a useful diagnostic test.

Can I force 144Hz if Windows does not list it?

A custom-resolution utility can attempt to add display modes, but it cannot guarantee that the monitor will display them correctly. Confirm the official specifications and connection limitations first. Avoid forcing unsupported timings, especially when the display manufacturer does not document the desired mode.

Final verdict

When the 144Hz option is missing, begin with the correct monitor selection, native resolution, and supported cable connection. Check the OSD, graphics driver, and application settings only after confirming that the hardware supports the target mode. Most importantly, distinguish between a missing option in Windows and a refresh-rate choice that is missing only inside a game. That distinction helps you solve the actual problem without unnecessary driver changes, risky custom modes, or hardware replacements.