How to change the refresh rate on a Windows 10 computer, to improve your viewing or gaming experience

The refresh rate on your computer is something you might not even notice or think about on a day-to-day basis, but it does make a big difference in what you see on the screen.

The refresh rate indicates how often your computer screen refreshes, or shows a new picture. This directly affects how many frames per second you see, and how clear and crisp your picture is, especially when watching videos or playing video games. 

Computer screens with a higher refresh rate produce a clearer, sharper picture — so if you're noticing the image quality on your screen is less than desirable, you may want to raise your refresh rate. 

Here's how to change your refresh rate on Windows 10.

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How to change the refresh rate on Windows 10

1. Select the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of your screen.

2. Open your computer's Settings by clicking on the gear icon. 

3. On the Settings menu, click System. It should be the first option, with an icon of a laptop above it.

4. Under the System menu, click "Display," if it is not already selected.

5. At the bottom of the menu, click the link that reads "Display adapter properties."

6. In the pop-up menu, select the "Monitor" tab, in the middle.

7. On the Monitor Settings section of the menu, click the drop-down list under "Screen refresh rate" and select the desired rate. Remember, the higher the rate, the better the picture.

8. Click "Apply."

9. Click "Okay."

Certain PC monitors may not be able to support higher refresh rates, so make sure your PC is equipped for the refresh rate you prefer.

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