Monitor Stuck at 60Hz? Cable, Port and Setting Fixes

If a high-refresh monitor only offers 60Hz, the cause is almost always one of five things in the link between computer and screen: a setting that was never changed, a monitor input that does not support the mode, a cable that cannot carry it, an adapter or dock in the chain, or a computer port or driver that cannot output it. Check them in that order. Each check is free until you reach the cable.

The monitor is not usually at fault. Refresh rate depends on resolution, port, cable and source together, and the weakest of them sets the limit.

Step 1: Confirm what the computer and monitor report

Start by checking what the operating system offers. In Windows, the refresh rate list is in the display settings under the advanced display options, and it is set per display, so make sure you are looking at the right monitor if you have more than one. The menu names change between Windows versions, so follow the display settings for yours. On a console, check the video output settings. In a game, check the in-game display options as well, because some games have their own refresh rate setting.

Note down what you see before changing anything: the rate selected, the list of rates offered, the resolution, the port used and the cable in use. If you end up asking the maker's support team, or a forum, for help, those details save a lot of back and forth.

Two results are possible. If higher rates are listed and 60Hz is selected, choose the higher one and apply it. If higher rates are not listed at all, the link is not offering them, and the steps below find out why.

Step 2: The monitor, its inputs and its menu

A high refresh rate depends on resolution. The same monitor that reaches its top rate at one resolution may reach less at a higher one, and only on certain inputs. The manual's input table lists, for each port, the resolution and refresh combinations it supports. Read it for the exact port you use.

• Check which port supports your target mode. One HDMI port may support a mode that another does not, and a DisplayPort input may support more than HDMI.
• Look in the on-screen menu for settings that affect the input, such as the version or mode of an HDMI or DisplayPort input. Some monitors need that set to a higher mode before the full range appears. The manual explains what your monitor offers.
• Check for a separate high-refresh or overdrive setting. Some monitors only offer certain features at certain modes.
• If the monitor was a hand-me-down or second-hand, reset the menu to defaults and try again.

Our guide on DisplayPort versus HDMI explains the port differences in more depth.

Step 3: The cable

Cables are the most common hidden limit. A cable that carries a picture may still not carry the full mode. On HDMI, the group that runs the standard describes the Ultra High Speed HDMI cable as the one introduced with the HDMI 2.1 specification, intended for setups needing up to 48Gbps. An older cable can handle lower modes while falling short of the demanding ones. If you are not sure what an old HDMI cable is, replace it with one that is clearly labelled as Ultra High Speed. Our Ultra High Speed HDMI cable guide explains the label.

DisplayPort versions are backward compatible, as VESA's FAQ notes, and that is why a mismatch usually lands you at a lower mode and not a blank screen. It also means the monitor and cable may both be fine for 60Hz and nothing more. Use a DisplayPort cable that is certified or clearly marked for the version your monitor and graphics card use, and keep it short. Long runs can limit the mode; our guide on active versus passive cables for long runs covers that case.

USB-C needs its own care. The laptop's USB-C port must support video output, the cable must be rated to carry video, and some monitors share the link between video and USB data, so a setting that favors one can limit the other. The monitor's manual explains how its USB-C input behaves, and the laptop's manual lists what the port can output. A cable that charges a phone may not carry video at all.

Step 4: Adapters, docks, switches and the source port

Anything between the computer and the monitor can limit the mode: an adapter, a dock, a KVM switch, a splitter or a capture card. Take them out of the chain and test a direct cable. If the high rate appears, add the parts back one by one. VESA's FAQ also warns that using a USB-C to DisplayPort receptacle adapter with a standard DisplayPort cable may cause poor picture quality, intermittent operation or no video, and recommends a DP-certified adapter cable instead. Our guide to dock versus direct connection explains why docks limit what you can run.

Then look at the source. A computer's video ports may differ in what they output. A laptop's HDMI port, its USB-C port and a desktop graphics card's ports may each support different modes, and some laptops send certain ports through a separate graphics chip. The computer's manual or spec page lists what each port supports, and our monitor and GPU pairing guide covers matching a screen to a card.

Step 5: Resolution test and drivers

A quick diagnostic is to lower the resolution and see whether higher refresh rates appear. If they do, the link is too narrow for the combination you wanted, which points to the cable, the port, a dock or the monitor input. If lowering the resolution changes nothing, suspect the driver or a setting.

• Update the graphics driver from the graphics maker, then restart.
• Open the graphics control panel and check the display settings for the monitor, including the refresh rate list and any custom modes.
• Remove any custom resolution you added earlier and test with a standard mode.
• Turn off any scaling or HDR setting, test, and then turn them back on.
• If the screen is at 60Hz in the operating system but a game shows less, check the game's own setting and the display mode, such as full screen versus windowed.

If the monitor flickers, drops out or shows a No Signal message while you test, our guide to no signal and flickering fixes covers that case.

Where each fix points

Frequently Asked Questions