144Hz not showing up in display settings: Fix this issue!

When a gaming monitor supports 144 Hz but Windows only offers 60 Hz, 120 Hz, or another lower refresh rate, the problem usually involves display configuration, connection bandwidth, graphics drivers, or hardware compatibility. If 144hz not showing up in display settings is preventing you from using your monitor’s full capability, start by confirming the supported refresh rate for your exact monitor and connection. Then check Windows, the cable, the graphics output, and the selected resolution. You can usually narrow down the cause without replacing your monitor or graphics card.

144Hz not showing up in display settings: start with these checks

A monitor advertised as 144 Hz does not necessarily support 144 Hz through every port, resolution, or adapter combination. The monitor, graphics card, connection, and operating system must all support the intended display mode.

Intel’s guidance for monitors stuck at 120 Hz recommends checking Windows Advanced display settings, verifying the cable and display’s capabilities, and performing a clean graphics driver installation if necessary. These are useful starting points before making more complicated changes.

The most common causes are:

• Windows is configured for a lower refresh rate.

• The wrong monitor is selected in Windows.

• The HDMI or DisplayPort connection cannot support the desired resolution and refresh rate.

• A cable, adapter, dock, or KVM switch restricts the available signal modes.

• The current resolution or color configuration limits the refresh-rate options.

• The graphics driver is outdated, corrupted, or incorrectly configured.

• The monitor requires a manufacturer-specific setting to enable its advertised maximum refresh rate.

Use the following table to identify your most likely starting point.

Your first goal is to determine whether Windows has failed to expose a supported mode or whether your current hardware configuration cannot provide it. That distinction prevents unnecessary driver reinstalls and hardware purchases.

Fix 144Hz not showing up in display settings in Windows

Start with Windows itself. The operating system might simply be using a lower refresh rate, particularly after a driver update, a monitor reconnection, or a change in your display arrangement.

Select 144 Hz in Windows 11

Follow these steps:

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select Display settings.

2. Open Advanced display.

3. If multiple screens are connected, select the monitor you want to configure.

4. Find the Choose a refresh rate dropdown.

5. Select 144 Hz if it appears.

6. Confirm the change and make sure the picture remains stable.

Reopen Advanced display after applying the setting. Check both the reported refresh rate and the current resolution.

Microsoft explains that Windows lists refresh rates according to the capabilities of the connected display and its supported modes. Some entries have an asterisk indicating that they do not support the current resolution. Selecting one can cause the resolution to change, so verify both settings instead of assuming the monitor is operating at its native resolution.

If 144 Hz is missing altogether, do not keep reopening the same menu. Move on to checking the connection and hardware specifications.

Check the refresh rate in Windows 10

Windows 10 also allows you to select the refresh rate through the display adapter properties.

1. Right-click the desktop and open Display settings.

2. Select Advanced display settings.

3. Choose the correct monitor.

4. Open Display adapter properties for the display.

5. Select the Monitor tab.

6. Inspect the Screen refresh rate dropdown for 144 Hertz.

If the option appears, select it and apply the change. If only lower rates are listed, continue with the other checks in this guide.

The exact menu layout can vary with the installed graphics driver, but the objective remains the same: select a refresh rate supported by the monitor and the currently active signal configuration.

Make sure you selected the right display

Windows keeps settings for each connected display separately. A 144 Hz gaming monitor can be recognized correctly even if you are accidentally checking the refresh-rate menu for a laptop screen or a secondary monitor.

In Display settings, select Identify to display numbers on the physical screens. Match the number to the monitor you want to configure, then return to Advanced display and select that display.

This is especially important after changing monitor connections, rearranging multiple displays, or moving the computer between a desk and another location.

Do not assume that the refresh rate assigned to your primary screen automatically applies to every display. Verify the selected monitor before changing anything else.

Restore the monitor’s native resolution

A high refresh rate may be available only at particular resolutions. If the current resolution is not the one specified for 144 Hz operation, Windows might not show the desired mode.

Open Display settings and select the resolution marked Recommended. Compare it with your monitor’s manual or official specifications.

For many Full HD monitors, the native resolution is 1920 × 1080. Many QHD monitors use 2560 × 1440. These are common examples, not substitutes for checking your exact model.

After selecting the recommended resolution, reopen Advanced display and look for 144 Hz.

If the option appears, the previous resolution may have exceeded a limitation in the signal path. Prefer the monitor’s supported native-resolution mode rather than permanently lowering the resolution just to obtain a higher refresh rate.

Check the cable and port before changing drivers

If Windows does not offer 144 Hz, examine the complete connection from the computer to the monitor. A monitor and graphics card can both support 144 Hz individually while the connection between them restricts the available mode.

Verify the HDMI or DisplayPort capabilities

Find the monitor’s exact model number and consult its official specifications. Look for the maximum refresh rate supported by each input at your intended resolution.

Do the same for the computer’s video output. The capabilities of HDMI and DisplayPort vary with the specific devices and supported signal configurations, so the connector’s appearance alone is not sufficient to establish compatibility.

For example, a 1080p 144 Hz mode may work through an HDMI connection that supports the required signal, while a higher-resolution mode at the same refresh rate may require a different input or more bandwidth.

ViewSonic’s support guidance emphasizes that the monitor input and GPU output must also meet the required specifications. A suitable cable by itself cannot overcome a limitation in either device.

Check these details before buying anything:

• The monitor’s maximum supported refresh rate for the chosen input.

• The graphics card or laptop output’s supported resolution and refresh rate.

• The resolution and signal requirements documented by both manufacturers.

• Any restrictions introduced by an adapter, docking station, or KVM switch.

If the monitor manual specifies DisplayPort for the desired mode, use that input for troubleshooting. If the manual confirms that HDMI supports 144 Hz at your native resolution, HDMI may be perfectly suitable.

Try a different compatible cable

A damaged, poorly connected, or unsuitable cable can prevent a supported refresh rate from appearing or cause instability when you select it.

First, reconnect the cable securely at both ends. If the problem persists, test with the cable supplied with the monitor or another known-good cable rated for the required signal.

For DisplayPort, try another suitable DisplayPort cable. For HDMI, choose a cable that meets the bandwidth requirements of the exact resolution and refresh rate you want to use.

Avoid assuming that every cable of a particular connector type supports every possible display mode. The cable, input, output, and signal configuration must be compatible together.

This check is particularly worthwhile if 144 Hz worked previously but disappeared after moving the computer, reconnecting the monitor, or introducing an adapter.

If a known-good cable restores the missing option, you do not need to replace the monitor or graphics card.

Remove adapters and docking stations temporarily

If your monitor connects through a USB-C hub, laptop dock, HDMI adapter, splitter, receiver, or KVM switch, bypass that device for troubleshooting.

Connect the monitor directly to a compatible graphics output, then check Windows again.

An intermediary device may support a lower refresh rate than the monitor or computer. It may also have different limits when multiple displays are connected.

If 144 Hz appears through a direct connection but disappears when you reconnect the dock, investigate its specifications and supported display modes. The limiting factor may be the intermediary device rather than the monitor.

This test can save money because replacing the display or GPU is unnecessary when the direct connection already works.

Check the graphics card and driver configuration

A compatible graphics card can output a high-refresh signal, but its available display modes depend on the physical output, current configuration, and driver.

If Windows still does not offer 144 Hz after the connection checks, inspect the graphics software before reinstalling drivers.

Use NVIDIA Control Panel

On a system with a supported NVIDIA GPU, open NVIDIA Control Panel.

1. Under Display, select Change resolution.

2. Choose the monitor you want to configure.

3. Select its native resolution.

4. Inspect the available refresh rates.

5. Choose 144 Hz if the option is available and supported.

NVIDIA documents the Change resolution page as the location for selecting the refresh rate of the chosen display.

If NVIDIA Control Panel lists 144 Hz but Windows does not, apply the supported mode in the control panel and then recheck Advanced display.

If both interfaces omit 144 Hz, the problem may involve the monitor’s reported modes, connection, resolution, or driver configuration. Do not immediately assume that a custom resolution is necessary.

Check AMD Software or Intel graphics settings

On AMD systems, first inspect Windows Advanced display settings, then review AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition if needed. AMD’s documented display settings include refresh-rate controls, while its custom-resolution feature can create additional profiles on supported configurations.

On Intel systems, check the available modes in Windows and confirm which graphics hardware controls the external output. Intel specifically recommends verifying the cable and connected display’s capabilities when a monitor remains limited to 120 Hz instead of 144 Hz.

The software menus and options differ by GPU generation and driver version. A custom-resolution feature may not be available on every system configuration.

Keep in mind that a GPU’s ability to render a game and its ability to output a particular display signal are separate capabilities. A graphics card might struggle to render 144 frames per second in a demanding game while still supporting a 144 Hz desktop signal.

Update or reinstall the graphics driver

A driver problem deserves particular attention if the monitor previously worked at 144 Hz but lost the option after a Windows update, graphics driver change, or hardware replacement.

Start by obtaining the correct driver from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, or your computer manufacturer’s official support page. Install it, restart the computer, and inspect Advanced display again.

Laptop users should check the support page for their exact computer model, especially when the system uses hybrid graphics or customized display routing.

If the problem began immediately after a driver change and a normal update does not help, consider a clean driver installation using the manufacturer’s documented procedure. Intel explicitly recommends this approach when a monitor remains stuck at 120 Hz and the expected 144 Hz option is unavailable.

Avoid repeatedly reinstalling drivers without checking the physical connection. Software cannot make an unsupported monitor input or graphics output deliver a mode beyond its capabilities.

Check HDR, color settings, and multiple displays

If the usual settings and connection checks do not resolve the problem, simplify the display configuration temporarily. This can reveal whether another signal requirement is restricting the available modes.

Test without HDR

If HDR is enabled, temporarily disable it in Windows and check whether 144 Hz becomes available.

Resolution, refresh rate, color depth, HDR, and other signal features affect the requirements of the connection. A configuration that works at 120 Hz may not support every feature at 144 Hz through the same port and cable.

If disabling HDR restores 144 Hz, the test has narrowed the possible cause. Check your monitor, GPU, and connection specifications to determine whether the desired combination is supported.

Do not assume that HDR must remain disabled permanently. The goal is to identify the limitation, then restore the best supported combination of resolution, refresh rate, and image features.

Check color depth and output format

If your graphics software exposes color-depth or output-format controls, compare the existing configuration with the monitor’s documented requirements.

Temporarily testing a less demanding supported configuration can help determine whether signal bandwidth is involved. Change one setting at a time and check whether 144 Hz appears.

If the option returns, confirm which settings can operate together according to the manufacturer. Do not leave the display in a lower-quality configuration unnecessarily when a suitable cable or port may support the intended features simultaneously.

Test with one monitor connected

If several displays are connected, temporarily disconnect secondary screens and test the 144 Hz monitor directly.

Multiple monitors do not automatically prevent a high refresh rate, but the combined setup can introduce extra variables, such as adapters, different output capabilities, or a dock’s total bandwidth limits.

If 144 Hz appears with only one display connected, reconnect the other screens individually. Check whether the mode disappears after adding a particular display or intermediary device.

This approach helps isolate the configuration responsible without requiring you to replace your current hardware.

Troubleshoot according to the symptom

Use this table to choose the next step instead of repeating changes that have already failed.

If none of these checks helps, record the exact monitor model, GPU or laptop model, connection type, resolution, and available refresh rates. This information gives the manufacturer’s support team a clearer starting point for identifying a hardware or compatibility limitation.

Avoid forcing unsupported custom timings repeatedly. A reliable supported mode is better than an unstable signal that introduces black screens or artifacts.

Frequently asked questions

Why is 144 Hz missing even though my monitor supports it?

The active connection, resolution, graphics driver, or selected display may be limiting the available modes. Confirm the exact monitor and port specifications, then check Windows Advanced display settings before changing more advanced options.

Can HDMI limit a 144 Hz monitor to 120 Hz?

Yes, depending on the HDMI capabilities of the monitor and computer, cable suitability, resolution, and signal configuration. However, HDMI does not automatically prevent 144 Hz. Check the specifications of both devices before replacing the cable.

Will a new graphics card fix the missing 144 Hz option?

Not necessarily. If your existing GPU output supports the desired signal, the problem may be a cable, adapter, driver, or display setting. Upgrade only if the current hardware cannot support the monitor’s required mode.

Should I create a custom resolution to force 144 Hz?

Not as the first troubleshooting step. Custom modes can be incompatible with the connected display, and NVIDIA warns that modes beyond advertised specifications may damage the monitor or affect warranty coverage. Use manufacturer-supported settings whenever possible.

Does 144 Hz in Windows guarantee 144 FPS in games?

No. Refresh rate describes how often the monitor can update its image, while FPS describes how many frames the game renders. A monitor can operate at 144 Hz while a game renders at 60 FPS or another lower rate.

Can multiple monitors prevent 144 Hz from appearing?

A multiple-display setup can introduce connection and compatibility restrictions, particularly when using docks or adapters. Test the high-refresh monitor alone, then reconnect the other screens one at a time to identify whether the combined setup causes the problem.

Final verdict

When 144 Hz is missing from Windows display settings, begin with the selected monitor, its native resolution, and the connection’s supported capabilities. Then check the graphics control panel, driver installation, and any restrictions introduced by HDR or multiple displays.

Change one variable at a time and prioritize reversible fixes. If the monitor cannot provide 144 Hz through the current configuration, identify the limiting component before spending money or forcing a custom mode. The right result is a stable, supported 144 Hz signal—not simply a higher number in a dropdown.