Stuttering video, choppy animations, or that annoying judder during playback – these are all signs that refresh rates are out of sync on a Windows 11 machine. Syncing refresh rates for smooth playback in Windows 11 is one of the most effective fixes for these issues, and it takes just a few minutes to set up correctly.
This guide walks through every method available in Windows 11 to get the display refresh rate aligned with what the content actually needs, whether that’s a movie, a YouTube stream, or a media file played locally.
What Refresh Rate Sync Actually Does
Think of refresh rate like a metronome. The display wants to refresh at a fixed beat – say, 60 times per second. But video content often plays at 24fps, 30fps, or 25fps. When those beats don’t match, the result is judder or stutter. Syncing the refresh rate means setting the display to a rhythm that matches the content, so every frame lands cleanly without duplication or skipping.
Windows 11 has both manual settings and automatic tools to handle this and using the right one makes a noticeable difference in everyday viewing.
Method 1: Change the Display Refresh Rate Manually in Windows 11
This is the most direct approach and works well for anyone who watches content at a consistent frame rate, like 24fps movies or 60fps gaming videos.
Watch this: Change the Display Refresh Rate in Windows 11
Step 1: Right-click on the desktop and select ‘Display settings.’
Step 2: Scroll down and click ‘Advanced display.’
Step 3: Under ‘Choose a refresh rate,’ open the dropdown menu.
Step 4: Select a refresh rate that matches or is a multiple of the content frame rate – for example, 24Hz or 48Hz for movies, 60Hz for most online video.
Step 5: Click ‘Keep changes’ when prompted.
This works best when there is one primary type of content being watched. For mixed-use setups, the automatic methods below are more practical.
Method 2: Enable Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) in Windows 11
Windows 11 introduced Dynamic Refresh Rate, which automatically adjusts the display refresh rate based on what is happening on screen. This feature is available on supported displays and drivers.
Step 1: Open ‘Settings’ and go to ‘System,’ then ‘Display.’
Step 2: Click on ‘Advanced display.’
Step 3: Under ‘Choose a refresh rate,’ look for the ‘Dynamic refresh rate’ option.
Step 4: Toggle to turn Dynamic refresh rate on or off if available.
Note: It is only possible to turn DRR on if your hardware supports DRR.
Step 5: Close settings – Windows will now handle refresh rate adjustments automatically.
Dynamic Refresh Rate requires a display that supports variable refresh rates and an updated graphics driver. If the option does not appear, the hardware may not support it, and a manual setting is the next best option.
Pro-Tip: Dynamic Refresh Rate works best on laptops and monitors with VRR or HDMI 2.1 support. Updating the GPU driver through Windows Update or the manufacturer’s website before enabling DRR ensures the best compatibility and smoothest results.
Method 3: Use VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) via Graphics Settings
For those using an NVIDIA graphics card, enabling VRR at the driver level adds another layer of sync that works directly alongside Windows 11 display settings – giving more precise control over how frames are delivered to the screen.
Step 1: Press the Windows key, type ‘NVIDIA Control Panel’ in the search bar, and click it to open.
Step 2: In the left sidebar, expand ‘3D Settings’ and click ‘Manage 3D Settings’ as shown in the panel.
Step 3: Under the ‘Global Settings’ tab, make sure ‘Preferred graphics processor’ is set to ‘High-performance NVIDIA processor’ using the dropdown.
Step 4: Scroll through the settings list and locate ‘Low Latency Mode’ – set this to ‘Ultra’ for the best frame sync performance during playback.
Step 5: Still in the left sidebar, expand the ‘Video’ section and click ‘Adjust video image settings.’
Step 6: Select the display to apply settings to – either the laptop display or an external monitor connected to the system.
Step 7: If an RTX card is in use, check whether ‘RTX Video Enhancement’ and ‘Super Resolution’ are available – enabling these improves upscaled video clarity during playback.
Step 8: Click ‘Apply’ at the bottom of the panel and restart the system if prompted.
Method 4: Match Refresh Rate to Video Content Using VLC Media Player
VLC is one of the most widely used media players on Windows 11, and it has a built-in option to sync video output directly to the display refresh rate. This is especially useful for anyone watching local movie files where frame rate mismatches cause visible judder.
Step 1: Open VLC Media Player and go to ‘Tools’ in the top menu, then click ‘Preferences.’
Step 2: At the bottom left of the Preferences window, under ‘Show settings,’ select ‘All’ to reveal the full settings list.
Step 3: In the left sidebar, expand ‘Video’ and click ‘Output modules.’
Step 4: Click ‘DirectX (DirectDraw) video output’ or ‘Direct3D11 video output’ depending on the system — Direct3D11 is the recommended option for Windows 11.
Step 5: Click ‘Save’ and restart VLC for the changes to take effect.
Step 6: Play a video file and check whether playback motion feels smoother — particularly noticeable on 24fps content that previously juddered on a 60Hz display.
The key is to make sure the correct output module is selected. Using an output module that does not support display sync will not produce any improvement, and in some cases can introduce additional stutter rather than reducing it.
Pro-Tip: For the best results in VLC, pair the ‘Sync to screen’ setting with the Direct3D11 output module and hardware decoding enabled under ‘Input / Codecs’ > ‘Hardware-accelerated decoding.’ This combination offloads video processing to the GPU, which keeps frame delivery consistent and reduces CPU-related stutter during high-bitrate playback.
Method 5: Update Graphics Drivers for Optimal Refresh Rate Handling
Outdated drivers are one of the most overlooked reasons refresh rate sync fails in Windows 11. A fresh driver install can resolve sync issues that no setting change seems to fix.
Step 1: Press ‘Windows + X’ and select ‘Device Manager.’
Step 2: Expand ‘Display adapters’ and right-click the GPU.
Step 3: Select ‘Update driver’ and choose ‘Search automatically for drivers.’
Step 4: Alternatively, visit the NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel website directly and download the latest driver for the specific GPU model.
Step 5: Install the driver, restart the system, and recheck the refresh rate settings.
Pro-Tip: For NVIDIA and AMD cards, using the manufacturer’s own software (GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin) to handle driver updates is more reliable than relying on Windows Update alone. These tools also notify about driver updates automatically.
Method 6: Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS) in Windows 11 can reduce latency and improve the consistency of frame delivery, which directly supports smoother playback when refresh rates are synced.
Step 1: Open ‘Settings’ > ‘System’ > ‘Display.’
Step 2: Scroll down and click ‘Graphics.’
Step 3: Toggle ‘Advanced graphics settings.’
Step 4: Toggle on ‘Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling.’
Step 5: Restart the computer to apply the change.
This setting pairs well with Dynamic Refresh Rate and VRR, making the overall sync more responsive and stable during playback.
Tips for Getting the Best Refresh Rate Sync Results
Getting refresh rate sync working is one thing, keeping it consistent and optimized is another. These tips come from real-world use and make a noticeable difference in day-to-day playback quality.
Use a high-quality cable
A cheap HDMI or DisplayPort cable can silently limit the refresh rate the monitor actually receives from the GPU. For anything above 60Hz, HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.4 is the minimum worth using. For 4K at high refresh rates, HDMI 2.1 is the right call.
Update the display driver and Windows 11 together
A driver update without a matching Windows update, or the other way around – can break Dynamic Refresh Rate functionality. The safest approach is to run Windows Update first, then update the GPU driver separately through the manufacturer’s tool like GeForce Experience or AMD Adrenalin.
Avoid running multiple monitors at different refresh rates during playback
Windows 11 can handle mixed refresh rate setups, but in some configurations the system defaults to the lowest common refresh rate for rendering. Setting the primary monitor as the only active display during critical viewing sessions eliminates this issue completely.
Enable ‘PC Mode’ or ‘Game Mode’ on TVs used as monitors
Many TVs apply heavy post-processing – like motion smoothing or noise reduction – that interferes with proper refresh rate sync from Windows 11. Turning those processing modes off lets the signal display exactly as the PC intends it to.
Plug laptops into power before adjusting refresh rate settings
On battery, Windows 11 often throttles display performance to conserve energy, which can prevent higher refresh rates from activating or cause Dynamic Refresh Rate to behave inconsistently. Plugging in ensures full performance is available.
Test playback after every change
Rather than adjusting multiple settings at once, change one setting at a time and play a short video clip to evaluate the result. This makes it much easier to identify which specific change actually fixed – or caused – a smoothness issue.
Use a frame rate test video to verify sync
Sites like testufo.com or a downloaded 24fps test clip are reliable tools for confirming whether the refresh rate change actually took effect. Visual confirmation beats guessing based on general feel alone.
Recommended Tools and Software for Refresh Rate Management
Beyond the built-in Windows 11 settings, a handful of well-regarded tools make managing and monitoring refresh rate sync much easier – especially for users who switch between content types regularly.
CRU (Custom Resolution Utility)
A trusted utility that allows adding custom resolutions and refresh rates that the GPU driver does not expose by default. Particularly useful for unlocking 23Hz or 25Hz on monitors that do not natively list those rates. Works well with both NVIDIA and AMD cards.
RefreshRateControl
A lightweight tool that lets users switch display refresh rates quickly from the system tray without diving into Windows settings every time. Ideal for anyone who regularly switches between watching movies at 24Hz and browsing at 60Hz or higher.
Kodi Media Center
Beyond being a full media player, Kodi’s refresh rate whitelist feature is one of the most reliable automatic sync solutions available on Windows 11. It detects the frame rate of each video file and switches the display to match – completely hands-free once configured.
MPC-BE (Media Player Classic – Black Edition)
A lightweight but powerful media player with renderer options that support display sync natively. The MPC Video Renderer included with it is regularly updated and handles refresh rate sync cleanly without requiring third-party add-ons.
NVIDIA Control Panel / AMD Adrenalin Software
The official driver control panels from both manufacturers remain the most reliable place to configure G-SYNC, FreeSync, and VRR settings. These should always be the first stop before exploring third-party tools.
HWiNFO64
A detailed system monitoring tool that shows real-time GPU and display information, including current refresh rate output. Useful for confirming that a refresh rate change actually registered at the hardware level rather than just in the Windows settings panel.
Windows 11 Xbox Game Bar (built-in)
Often overlooked for video use, the Game Bar overlay can display real-time frame rate and performance stats during playback. Press ‘Windows + G’ to open it and enable the performance widget to monitor frame delivery during a video.
Choosing the Right Refresh Rate for Different Content Types
Not all content runs at the same frame rate, so the ideal refresh rate setting varies depending on what is being watched.
- Movies and streaming films: 24Hz or 48Hz works best – most cinematic content is mastered at 23.976fps
- TV shows and sports: 50Hz or 60Hz is ideal, since broadcast content typically runs at 25fps or 29.97fps
- YouTube and online video: 60Hz covers the majority of online content which is uploaded at 30fps or 60fps
- Gaming: Match the monitor’s maximum refresh rate (144Hz, 165Hz, etc.) and use VRR for best results
Understanding what gets watched most often makes it easier to pick the right default refresh rate – or to know which whitelist entries to add in Kodi or a similar player.
For more helpful guides on display settings, media playback, and tech optimization, explore the full guides section for step-by-step tutorials on a wide range of topics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What refresh rate should be used for watching movies on Windows 11?
For movies, a refresh rate of 24Hz or 48Hz is ideal since most films are produced at 23.976fps. Setting the display to 24Hz eliminates judder that occurs when the monitor refreshes at 60Hz and has to repeat or drop frames to compensate.
Does Dynamic Refresh Rate work on all Windows 11 monitors?
No, Dynamic Refresh Rate requires a monitor that supports variable refresh rates along with a compatible GPU and up-to-date graphics driver. Most monitors with HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4 and VRR support are compatible. Older monitors without these features will not show the Dynamic option.
Why does video still stutter even after changing the refresh rate in Windows 11?
Stutter after a refresh rate change can come from an outdated GPU driver, an incompatible video renderer in the media player, or hardware that does not fully support the selected sync method. Updating drivers and checking the media player’s renderer settings usually resolves the issue.
Is VRR the same as G-SYNC or FreeSync?
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) is the umbrella term for technology that adjusts the display refresh rate dynamically. G-SYNC is NVIDIA’s implementation and FreeSync is AMD’s. Both achieve the same goal – keeping the monitor in sync with the GPU output – but through slightly different hardware implementations.
Can refresh rate sync improve streaming video quality on Windows 11?
Yes, syncing the refresh rate to the frame rate of streaming content reduces judder and makes motion look cleaner and more natural. This is especially noticeable on 24fps content played on a 60Hz display, where mismatched rates cause uneven frame pacing.
Does Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling help with playback smoothness?
Yes, enabling HAGS reduces the latency between the GPU and the display, which supports more consistent frame delivery. When combined with Dynamic Refresh Rate or VRR, it contributes to noticeably smoother playback across video and gaming content.