240 hz not showing up: Fix DisplayPort DSC bandwidth now!

If 240 hz not showing up in Windows or your graphics control panel, start by checking whether your monitor supports 240Hz at its current resolution and through the connection you are using. A monitor advertised as 240Hz may offer that rate only through a particular input or supported display mode. The cable, graphics output, adapter, and driver must also expose a compatible signal. Work through the checks below in order to restore 240Hz without forcing unsupported settings or buying replacement hardware unnecessarily.

Fix 240Hz not showing up in Windows first

The fastest way to diagnose a missing 240Hz option is to establish whether Windows recognizes the correct monitor and its supported display modes. If 240Hz appears nowhere, investigate the monitor and connection before troubleshooting individual games.

Start with these checks:

1. Confirm the exact monitor model and its maximum refresh rate at your intended resolution.

2. Select the monitor’s recommended native resolution in Windows.

3. Open Advanced display and select the correct screen.

4. Check the HDMI or DisplayPort connection and temporarily remove adapters, docks, and switches.

5. Inspect the monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) for input information and documented refresh-rate settings.

6. Check NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software if the option remains missing.

7. Update or roll back the graphics driver if the problem began after a software change.

The order matters because a driver reinstall cannot fix a monitor input that does not support the desired mode. Likewise, a new cable will not make a display capable of operating beyond its specified maximum refresh rate.

First, distinguish between two different problems. If Windows does not offer 240Hz anywhere, you need to troubleshoot the display signal and supported modes. If Windows is set to 240Hz but a game runs at 120 or 160 frames per second, the monitor may be configured correctly; the game may simply be rendering fewer frames.

Check whether your monitor supports 240Hz at your resolution

Before changing software settings, verify the specifications of your exact monitor. Gaming displays with similar names can have different refresh rates, resolutions, inputs, and operating requirements. Even a genuine 240Hz monitor may not support that rate through every connection or at every resolution.

Find the maximum refresh rate in the manufacturer’s manual

Locate the full model number on the rear label, in the OSD, or in the original product documentation. Open the manufacturer’s official support page and find the technical specifications or user manual.

Check the following details:

• Maximum refresh rate at the monitor’s native resolution.

• Supported refresh rates for each HDMI and DisplayPort input.

• Any resolution restrictions associated with the highest refresh rate.

• Whether the advertised maximum requires an overclocking option.

• Any requirements for a particular input, firmware version, or display setting.

A product page that prominently advertises 240Hz does not necessarily mean that all its ports support 240Hz under identical conditions. The manual’s supported-mode table is more useful than the headline specification.

If the manual confirms that 240Hz is supported at your desired resolution and connection, continue troubleshooting. If the rate is available only through another input, switch to that connection if your graphics hardware supports it. If the monitor’s maximum is below 240Hz, there is no Windows setting that can reliably make it a native 240Hz display.

Confirm the native resolution

Check the monitor’s recommended resolution in Windows Display settings. A display may support a particular refresh rate at 1920 × 1080 but offer fewer high-refresh-rate modes at 2560 × 1440 or 3840 × 2160, depending on the monitor and connection.

For your first test, use the native resolution specified by the manufacturer. Then inspect the available refresh rates again. Do not immediately lower the resolution permanently just to make 240Hz appear; first determine whether the original resolution should support that rate.

Microsoft explains that Windows offers refresh rates based on the connected display and its supported modes. It can mark a refresh rate with an asterisk when that rate is not supported at the current resolution; selecting it may change the resolution to achieve the selected rate.

If 240Hz becomes available only at a lower resolution, check the manufacturer’s documentation to determine whether the limitation is expected.

Select the correct refresh rate in Windows

Windows may be using a lower refresh rate even when the monitor supports 240Hz. Start with the standard display settings before changing the graphics driver or creating custom modes.

Change the refresh rate in Windows 11

Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings and select System.

2. Choose Display.

3. If you have multiple displays, select the monitor you want to configure.

4. Open Advanced display.

5. Find the refresh-rate dropdown.

6. Select 240Hz if it appears, and confirm the change if prompted.

Check the current resolution and refresh rate shown in the same panel. This helps you confirm which monitor is selected and whether Windows has applied the intended mode.

If 240Hz is listed, select it and verify that the display remains stable. If the highest available rate is 144Hz or 165Hz, continue checking the connection and specifications rather than assuming Windows is malfunctioning.

Check Display Adapter Properties

Windows also provides a legacy display-properties interface that can reveal available modes.

1. Open Settings, then System and Display.

2. Select Advanced display.

3. Open Display adapter properties for the intended monitor.

4. Select the Monitor tab.

5. Inspect the Screen refresh rate dropdown.

6. Choose 240Hz only if it appears as a supported mode, then apply the setting.

The available choices still depend on the modes reported by the display and graphics configuration. This menu is a diagnostic check, not a way to bypass the monitor’s physical limits.

If both Windows interfaces show the same lower maximum, continue to the connection and driver checks.

Check your HDMI or DisplayPort connection

A connection limitation is a common reason a high-refresh-rate monitor exposes fewer options than expected. The complete signal path must support the selected resolution and refresh rate: graphics output, cable, monitor input, and any intermediary hardware.

LG’s monitor support guidance recommends checking compatible HDMI and DisplayPort connections when higher refresh rates are unavailable. The exact requirements depend on the monitor and its supported modes, so use the model-specific manual as the final reference.

Try a direct DisplayPort connection

If both your monitor and graphics card support DisplayPort at 240Hz and the desired resolution, connect them directly using a compatible cable. This is a useful diagnostic step because it removes docks, switches, and adapters that may restrict the available modes.

DisplayPort is not automatically required for every 240Hz monitor. Some displays support 240Hz through HDMI, while others have input-specific limitations. Check the documentation before choosing a connection.

After switching to a supported port, return to Advanced display and inspect the refresh-rate list. If 240Hz appears, verify that the image remains stable and that the monitor reports the expected input signal.

If the option does not appear, test a known-compatible cable if one is available. Changing cables and ports one at a time helps identify which part of the connection is responsible.

Check HDMI support at 240Hz

Do not assume that every HDMI port supports 240Hz simply because it supports 120Hz or because the cable fits the connector.

Check the specifications for the exact HDMI input, graphics output, and cable. The supported refresh rate depends on the implementation at both ends and the selected resolution. A setup capable of 240Hz at 1080p may not support the same refresh rate at 1440p or 4K.

The label on a cable is not a complete compatibility guarantee. The GPU, monitor input, and cable must work together at the required bandwidth and display mode.

If your current HDMI connection stops at 120Hz or 144Hz, check whether the manual lists a higher maximum for DisplayPort. If so, try that supported connection rather than creating an unsupported display mode.

Remove adapters, docks, and switches

If you are connecting through a docking station, KVM switch, receiver, or USB video adapter, temporarily remove it and connect the monitor directly to a compatible graphics output.

An adapter may support the monitor at 120Hz but fail to expose a 240Hz mode at the same resolution. If a direct connection restores the missing refresh rate, inspect the intermediary device’s supported output modes before replacing anything.

For laptops, verify that the particular HDMI or USB-C port supports the desired resolution and refresh rate. A USB-C connector does not automatically guarantee video output at 240Hz, and a dock can have more restrictive capabilities than the laptop or monitor.

Check the monitor’s OSD and input settings

The monitor’s own menu can help identify which signal it is receiving and whether a model-specific setting affects its maximum refresh rate.

Open the OSD using the monitor’s physical buttons or joystick. Look for an information screen that reports the active input, resolution, or refresh rate. The exact information available varies by model.

If the monitor reports a lower input refresh rate than expected, return to the Windows settings and connection checks. Make sure that the selected display is the one you intend to configure and that the new mode was actually applied.

Look for settings such as Overclock or Maximum Refresh Rate only when your manual documents them. Do not confuse overclocking with Overdrive, MPRT, or motion blur reduction. Those features affect pixel transitions or motion presentation, not necessarily the maximum refresh rate.

If the monitor has multiple HDMI or DisplayPort inputs, confirm that you are using the intended port. Some models support different modes across their inputs.

Avoid changing unrelated color, response-time, or gaming settings at random. If you adjust a documented setting and it does not help, restore the previous value before continuing.

Troubleshoot NVIDIA, AMD, and graphics drivers

If the monitor and connection support 240Hz but Windows still does not offer it, check the graphics control panel and driver. Display modes can be missing because of configuration problems, driver issues, or incomplete mode detection.

Check NVIDIA Control Panel

If you use an NVIDIA graphics card, open NVIDIA Control Panel and select Display, then Change resolution. Select the correct monitor and inspect the resolution and refresh-rate options.

Choose the monitor’s native resolution and check whether 240Hz appears. If it is available, select it and apply the change. If it is missing from both NVIDIA Control Panel and Windows, the problem likely requires further investigation of the supported mode, connection, or driver state.

NVIDIA provides a custom-resolution utility, but its own documentation warns that timings outside the monitor manufacturer’s advertised specifications may cause permanent damage and could affect the warranty.

Do not immediately force a custom 240Hz timing simply because the option is missing.

Check AMD Software

For an AMD graphics card, open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and confirm that the correct display is selected. The available controls vary by driver version and system configuration.

AMD also offers a Custom Resolution feature. It checks the compatibility of a proposed display mode and notes that not every custom timing is compatible with every display. AMD recommends consulting the monitor’s user manual for compatibility information.

Start with the standard supported modes rather than creating a custom profile. A mode that can be entered manually is not necessarily safe or usable at the monitor’s native resolution.

Update or roll back the graphics driver

Open Device Manager and expand Display adapters to identify your graphics hardware. Check the official NVIDIA, AMD, or computer manufacturer’s support page for an appropriate driver.

If the problem began after a driver update, consider rolling back to the previous working version if Windows provides that option. If your driver is outdated or appears corrupted, install an appropriate stable version and restart the computer when required.

After updating or rolling back, check Advanced display again. Avoid installing multiple drivers or unofficial driver-updater utilities during troubleshooting because they can introduce more variables.

A driver update cannot overcome a physical limitation in the monitor or connection. If the refresh-rate list remains unchanged, return to the hardware specifications and supported input modes.

Check laptops, multiple monitors, and application-specific problems

Laptop connections can be more complicated because the internal screen, HDMI output, USB-C port, integrated GPU, dedicated GPU, and docking station may have different display capabilities.

Check your laptop’s manual to confirm that the specific port supports 240Hz at the desired resolution. If possible, test a direct connection and remove any dock or adapter temporarily.

If you use multiple monitors, select the affected display explicitly in Windows Advanced display. For a diagnostic test, disconnect secondary displays or use Windows + P to choose PC screen only. Check whether 240Hz becomes available, then reconnect other displays one at a time if the mode returns.

This test does not mean that multiple monitors always restrict refresh rates. It helps determine whether the combination of displays, connections, and graphics configuration affects the modes exposed by Windows.

If Windows is already set to 240Hz but a game offers only 120Hz or 144Hz, focus on the game’s video settings instead. Confirm the desktop refresh rate, check the game’s resolution and display mode, and test exclusive full-screen or borderless mode as appropriate. Also distinguish refresh rate from frame rate: a game rendering at 144 FPS does not necessarily mean the monitor is configured at 144Hz.

Windows 11’s Dynamic Refresh Rate feature can adjust refresh behavior on supported displays. If the problem occurs only in a particular application, check its role before changing hardware settings. However, if 240Hz is completely absent from Windows, investigate the supported display modes and connection first.

What to do if 240Hz not showing up after troubleshooting

Use the observed symptom to decide which part of the setup to investigate next.

If the manual confirms 240Hz at your current resolution and connection, but the option remains missing after testing a compatible cable, direct connection, and suitable driver, try the monitor with another compatible computer if practical. If the problem persists, contact the monitor manufacturer with the model number, resolution, connection type, and the results of your checks.

Avoid repeatedly forcing a custom mode that fails. NVIDIA warns that unsupported timings may damage the display. If a custom display mode is necessary for a documented compatibility reason, follow the manufacturer’s guidance and use a mode within the supported operating range.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my 240Hz monitor only showing 144Hz?

The connection, selected resolution, monitor input, or graphics driver may not expose 240Hz. Verify that the exact model supports 240Hz at that resolution, then test a compatible direct connection and check Windows Advanced display.

Can an HDMI cable prevent 240Hz from appearing?

Yes, the cable can be part of the limitation, but the source and monitor ports must also support the desired mode. Check the complete signal path before buying replacement hardware.

Do I need DisplayPort for 240Hz?

Not always. Some monitors support 240Hz through HDMI, while others require or recommend DisplayPort for particular resolution and refresh-rate combinations. Use the port specified in your monitor’s manual.

Can I force 240Hz through NVIDIA Control Panel?

NVIDIA Control Panel can create custom display modes, but it does not guarantee that every mode is compatible with the monitor. Avoid timings beyond the manufacturer’s advertised specifications because NVIDIA warns that they may cause damage and affect the warranty.

Does my GPU need to render 240 FPS to show 240Hz?

No. The monitor can be configured to refresh at 240Hz even when a game renders fewer than 240 frames per second. The GPU must support the display output and signal mode, while game performance determines how many frames are produced.

Final verdict

When 240Hz is missing, verify the exact monitor specifications, native resolution, and supported connection before changing software settings. Then inspect Windows Advanced display, the monitor’s OSD, cables and adapters, and the graphics driver. If the hardware supports 240Hz, these checks can identify why Windows is not exposing the mode. If the current connection or display does not support it, forcing a custom timing is not a dependable fix.