240Hz monitor only showing 120Hz: Fix it in 4 easy steps

If your 240hz monitor only showing 120hz in Windows, the cause is often a connection limitation, an incompatible resolution setting, or a display mode that your graphics driver is not exposing. A monitor advertised for 240Hz may support that rate only through a particular input or at a specific resolution. The graphics output, cable, monitor input, and any adapter must also support the required signal. Start with the monitor’s specifications, check Windows Advanced display settings, and test a direct connection before changing drivers or buying replacement hardware.

240Hz monitor only showing 120Hz: start with these checks

The fastest way to troubleshoot this problem is to determine whether Windows can recognize a compatible 240Hz mode. If the option is missing throughout Windows and the graphics control panel, focus on the monitor specifications, resolution, and connection before troubleshooting individual games.

Start with these checks:

1. Confirm that your exact monitor model supports 240Hz at your intended resolution.

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

3. Open Advanced display and select the correct monitor.

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

5. Inspect the monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) for the active input signal and any documented maximum-refresh-rate setting.

6. Check NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software for the available display modes.

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

This order matters because a driver reinstall cannot make an unsupported monitor input operate at a higher refresh rate. Likewise, a new cable will not help if the monitor is limited to 120Hz at the resolution you are using.

First, distinguish between a missing display mode and a game that runs at a lower frame rate. If Windows offers only 120Hz, investigate the display signal and supported modes. If Windows is configured for 240Hz but a game runs at 120 frames per second (FPS), the monitor may already be configured correctly. The game may simply be rendering fewer frames.

Microsoft explains that Windows displays refresh rates based on the connected display and its supported modes. When 240Hz is absent from the list, repeatedly selecting 120Hz will not make an unsupported mode appear.

Check whether your monitor supports 240Hz at the current resolution

Before changing software settings, verify the specifications of your exact monitor. Gaming displays with similar names can differ in resolution, refresh rate, available inputs, and maximum supported signal modes.

Find the monitor’s maximum refresh rate

Locate the full model number on the rear label, in the OSD, or in your purchase documentation. Visit the manufacturer’s official support page and check the specifications or user manual.

Look for the following details:

• Maximum refresh rate at the native resolution.

• Supported refresh rates for each HDMI and DisplayPort input.

• Resolution limitations associated with the highest refresh rate.

• Whether 240Hz requires an official overclocking setting.

• Any special requirements involving firmware, an input selection, or a display mode.

A product page that advertises 240Hz does not guarantee that every input supports that rate under identical conditions. Some models offer different maximum refresh rates through HDMI and DisplayPort, while others reserve their highest rate for a particular resolution or operating mode.

For example, Dell’s documentation for the Alienware AW2723DF specifies different refresh-rate capabilities for its DisplayPort and HDMI connections, with its maximum 280Hz operation requiring DisplayPort and an overclocking feature. That is a model-specific example rather than a universal rule, but it illustrates why the exact manual matters.

If your monitor’s specifications explicitly limit the current input to 120Hz, you may need to use a different supported port. If the manufacturer’s specifications list 120Hz as the maximum at your current resolution, no Windows setting can reliably unlock a native 240Hz mode.

Check the native resolution and any overclock setting

Set Windows to the monitor’s recommended native resolution. A display may support 240Hz at 1920 × 1080 but offer fewer modes at 2560 × 1440 or 3840 × 2160, depending on its design and connection.

If the manual documents an overclocking option, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not confuse this with settings such as Overdrive, MPRT, or motion blur reduction. Those features affect pixel transitions or motion presentation and do not automatically increase the maximum refresh rate.

For the initial test, use the native resolution and a standard supported operating mode. If 240Hz becomes available only at a lower resolution, consult the manufacturer’s supported-mode table before deciding whether to use that combination permanently.

Fix a 240Hz monitor only showing 120Hz in Windows

Windows may simply be using a lower refresh rate even when the monitor supports 240Hz. Check the standard display settings before changing driver options or attempting custom resolutions.

Select 240Hz in Windows 11

Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings and select System.

2. Choose Display.

3. If multiple monitors are connected, select the affected monitor.

4. Open Advanced display.

5. Locate the refresh-rate dropdown.

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

Check the resolution and refresh rate shown in the same panel. This helps you verify that you are configuring the intended screen.

If 240Hz appears, select it and confirm that the display remains stable. If the highest available option is 120Hz, investigate the connection and supported modes before assuming Windows is malfunctioning.

Windows may show a refresh-rate option with an asterisk when it is not supported at the current resolution. Selecting that option can change the resolution to achieve the requested refresh rate. Make sure you understand any resolution change before confirming it.

Check Display Adapter Properties

If Advanced display offers only 120Hz, inspect the older display-properties interface as well.

1. Open Settings, then System and Display.

2. Select Advanced display.

3. Open Display adapter properties for the affected monitor.

4. Choose the Monitor tab.

5. Inspect the Screen refresh rate dropdown.

6. Select 240Hz only if it appears as an available mode, then apply the setting.

The available choices still depend on the supported modes exposed by Windows and the graphics configuration. This interface can help you identify an available mode, but it cannot bypass the monitor’s physical or connection limitations.

If both Windows interfaces offer only 120Hz, continue with the cable, port, and driver checks.

Check which display is selected

This step is particularly important when using a laptop screen alongside a high-refresh-rate external monitor. Windows configures each display separately, so changing the internal screen’s refresh rate will not necessarily change the external monitor.

Select the external 240Hz monitor explicitly in Advanced display. If practical, disconnect secondary displays temporarily or use Windows + P to select PC screen only. Check whether 240Hz becomes available, then reconnect the other screens one at a time if the option returns.

This test does not mean multiple monitors always restrict refresh rates. It helps determine whether the current combination of screens, ports, and graphics settings affects the modes Windows recognizes.

Check HDMI, DisplayPort, and the complete signal path

A connection limitation is an important possibility when a 240Hz display exposes only 120Hz. The graphics output, cable, monitor input, and any intermediary device all need to support the intended resolution and refresh rate.

LG’s monitor support guidance recommends checking the supported cable connection and computer display settings when a high refresh rate is missing. The exact requirements still depend on the monitor model and its supported modes.

Try a direct DisplayPort connection

If the monitor and graphics card both support 240Hz over DisplayPort, connect them directly using a compatible cable.

This test removes adapters and other devices that may restrict the signal. DisplayPort is not universally required for 240Hz, however. Some monitors support the desired mode through HDMI, while others have input-specific limitations.

After connecting the cable, return to Windows 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 remains missing, test a known-compatible cable if one is available. Change only one part of the connection at a time so you can identify what affects the available modes.

Check HDMI support at 240Hz

Do not assume that every HDMI port supports 240Hz simply because it works at 120Hz. HDMI capabilities depend on the source device, monitor input, cable, and selected resolution.

Check the documentation for all three core components:

• The monitor’s HDMI input and maximum refresh rate at the desired resolution.

• The GPU or laptop output’s supported display modes.

• The cable’s capability for the required signal.

The bandwidth requirements for 1920 × 1080 at 240Hz differ from those for 2560 × 1440 at 240Hz or 3840 × 2160 at 240Hz. A connection that works at 120Hz may not expose the same resolution at 240Hz.

Do not choose a cable solely by the version printed on its packaging. The source and monitor must also support the target mode. If your monitor’s manual lists a higher refresh-rate limit through DisplayPort, test that supported connection before purchasing additional hardware.

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 intermediary device may support the monitor at 120Hz but fail to expose 240Hz at the same resolution. If a direct connection restores the missing option, check the intermediary device’s specifications before replacing it.

For laptop users, verify that the specific HDMI or USB-C port supports the required display mode. A USB-C connector does not automatically guarantee video output at 240Hz, and a dock may impose a lower maximum than the laptop or monitor.

If you cannot connect the monitor directly, check the exact dock or adapter model and its published supported resolutions and refresh rates. A general claim that a device supports “4K” or “high refresh rate” is not enough to prove compatibility with your desired mode.

Troubleshoot NVIDIA, AMD, and graphics drivers

If your monitor and connection support 240Hz but Windows still offers only 120Hz, investigate the graphics driver and its display configuration.

Check NVIDIA Control Panel

If you use an NVIDIA graphics card, open NVIDIA Control Panel and select Display, then Change resolution. Choose the correct monitor and inspect the available resolutions and refresh rates.

Select the monitor’s native resolution and check whether 240Hz appears. If it is available, select it, apply the change, and verify that the display remains stable.

If Windows and NVIDIA Control Panel both offer only 120Hz, focus on the supported display mode, connection, and driver state instead of repeatedly changing the same settings.

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

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

Check AMD Software

For a Radeon graphics card, open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and make sure the correct display is selected. The available controls can vary by driver version and system configuration.

AMD supports creating custom display resolutions, but it checks proposed modes for compatibility. Its guidance recommends consulting the monitor’s user manual because custom modes are not compatible with every display.

Start with the standard supported refresh rates. If the monitor is rated for 240Hz but exposes only 120Hz, creating a custom mode should not be the first step. Confirm the model’s specifications and connection limitations before considering advanced settings.

Update or roll back the graphics driver

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

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

After updating or rolling back, check Advanced display again. Avoid installing multiple driver packages or unofficial driver-updater utilities while troubleshooting, since they can introduce further variables.

A driver update cannot overcome a physical limitation in the monitor or connection. If the refresh-rate list remains unchanged, return to the manufacturer’s specifications and verify the complete signal path.

Check the monitor OSD and application-specific settings

The monitor’s on-screen display can help you determine which signal it is receiving. Open the OSD using the physical buttons or joystick, then look for an information page showing the active input, resolution, or refresh rate.

If the OSD reports 120Hz while Windows is expected to run at 240Hz, confirm that the setting was applied and that the correct monitor was selected. If the model has an official maximum-refresh-rate or overclocking option, follow the manual’s instructions.

Avoid confusing Overdrive, MPRT, or motion blur reduction with refresh-rate settings. These features can change motion presentation without making an unsupported 240Hz signal available.

If Windows is set to 240Hz but a game appears capped at 120 FPS, troubleshoot the game separately. Check its resolution, display mode, V-Sync, frame-rate cap, and graphics settings. A game running at 120 FPS does not prove that the monitor is refreshing at only 120Hz.

Windows 11’s Dynamic Refresh Rate feature can also affect refresh behavior on supported displays and may limit the maximum refresh rate in some applications. This is relevant when the desktop is already configured for a higher refresh rate but particular applications appear to behave differently. It is not the first fix to try when Windows itself offers only 120Hz.

Diagnose why the 240Hz monitor only shows 120Hz

Use the observed symptom to decide what to investigate next rather than repeating the same changes.

If the manual confirms that your monitor supports 240Hz at the current resolution and input, but Windows still exposes only 120Hz after testing a compatible cable, direct connection, and suitable driver, try the monitor with another compatible computer if practical.

If the limitation persists, contact the monitor manufacturer with the model number, resolution, connection type, and troubleshooting results. That information helps distinguish a configuration problem from a possible monitor or port fault.

Avoid repeatedly forcing custom modes that fail. If a custom display mode is necessary for a documented compatibility reason, follow the manufacturer’s guidance and stay within the supported operating range.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my 240Hz monitor capped at 120Hz?

The selected resolution, cable, input port, adapter, or graphics configuration may prevent the system from exposing 240Hz. Verify the exact monitor specifications, 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 graphics output and monitor input must also support the desired mode. Check the complete signal path before buying a replacement cable.

Do I need DisplayPort for 240Hz?

Not always. Some monitors support 240Hz through HDMI, while others require or recommend DisplayPort for specific resolution and refresh-rate combinations. Follow the exact monitor manual.

Can I force 240Hz through NVIDIA Control Panel?

NVIDIA Control Panel supports custom display modes, but it cannot guarantee that every mode is compatible. NVIDIA warns that timings beyond advertised specifications may damage the display and affect its warranty. Confirm compatibility before using custom settings.

Does my graphics card need to render 240 FPS to use 240Hz?

No. The display can be configured for 240Hz even when a game renders fewer frames per second. The GPU must support the display signal, while game performance determines how many frames it produces.

Final verdict

When a 240Hz monitor only shows 120Hz, confirm the exact model’s supported resolution and inputs before changing software settings. Then inspect Windows Advanced display, test a suitable direct HDMI or DisplayPort connection, review the monitor’s OSD, and troubleshoot the graphics driver if necessary. If your hardware supports 240Hz, these checks can help identify why Windows is not exposing the mode. If the current connection does not support it, forcing an unsupported custom timing is not a dependable solution.