Monitor Stuck at 60Hz? How to Enable 144Hz

By Jayadeep · Updated June 2026

Quick answer: If your monitor is stuck at 60Hz, the higher rate is usually just not selected in Windows, or your cable cannot carry it. Choose the higher rate in display settings, use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+, and update your graphics driver.

Confirm what it is running now: open the refresh rate test.

1. Set the refresh rate in Windows

Go to Settings → System → Display → Advanced display. Under Refresh rate, pick your monitor's highest option (such as 144Hz). Windows often leaves this at 60Hz by default even when the monitor supports more.

2. Use a cable that supports the rate

Cabling is the most common hardware cause. Use DisplayPort where possible, or HDMI 2.0 or newer — older HDMI and DVI cables and ports cap high resolutions at 60Hz. Check that the cable is rated for your resolution and refresh rate.

3. Update the graphics driver

Update your GPU driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel. Then set the rate in their control panel too (for example NVIDIA Control Panel → Change resolution), since it can override Windows.

4. Plug into the graphics card, not the motherboard

On a desktop with a dedicated GPU, make sure the cable goes into the graphics card's ports, not the motherboard's. Also confirm the monitor's own menu is not limiting the rate.

Confirm the change

Re-run the refresh rate test. For what the numbers mean, see our guide on refresh rate explained.

Why Your Monitor Is Stuck at 60Hz

If your monitor supports a high refresh rate but Windows only offers 60 Hz, the higher rate is almost always being blocked by one of three things: the cable, the graphics settings, or the driver. The most common culprit is the cable — an older HDMI cable or an HDMI input that maxes out at 60 Hz for your resolution simply can't carry more. The good news is that this is fixable without new hardware in many cases, just by changing a setting or swapping to the right cable. Confirm what rate you're actually getting with the refresh rate test.

Step-by-Step Fixes

Select the rate in Windows. Settings → System → Display → Advanced display → "Choose a refresh rate," and pick the highest available. Often the higher rate is there and was never selected.
Use the right cable and port. For high refresh rates, use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0 or newer; an old HDMI 1.4 cable or port often limits you to 60 Hz at 1080p and well below that at higher resolutions.
Check the GPU control panel. In the NVIDIA Control Panel ("Change resolution") or AMD Software ("Display"), the higher rate sometimes has to be enabled there too.
Update the graphics driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel, since an outdated driver can hide the higher rates.
Mind the bandwidth. High resolution and high refresh together demand more bandwidth — you may need to lower one slightly, or use DisplayPort, to run both.

The Cable and Bandwidth Trap

Refresh rate, resolution and cable bandwidth are linked, and this trips up a lot of people. A cable that happily runs 1080p at 144 Hz might only manage 60 Hz at 4K, because higher resolutions eat into the available bandwidth. HDMI versions matter: HDMI 1.4 is limited, HDMI 2.0 handles 1080p and 1440p at high rates and 4K at 60 Hz, and HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort are needed for 4K at 120 Hz and beyond. If you've selected the right rate and updated drivers but still can't get it, a better cable into a capable port is usually the missing piece.

Other Causes

A few less common things keep a monitor at 60 Hz. The monitor may have a higher rate hidden behind an overclock or "OC" toggle in its on-screen menu that needs enabling. A faulty or very cheap cable can fail to report the monitor's full capability. And running through an adapter or a docking station can cap the rate, so connecting the monitor directly to the GPU is worth testing. After any change, re-check with the refresh rate test to confirm the display is genuinely running faster.

Laptops and External Displays

Laptops add their own twists to the 60 Hz problem. An external monitor plugged into a laptop is often limited by how it's connected: a USB-C port has to support DisplayPort "alt mode" with enough bandwidth, and many docking stations and USB-C hubs cap the resolution and refresh they can pass through. Connecting the monitor directly to the laptop's video output, rather than through a dock, frequently unlocks the higher rate. On laptops with both integrated and discrete graphics, the external port is sometimes wired to one or the other, so the rate can depend on which GPU drives it. The laptop's own internal display has a fixed maximum set by its panel, which you can't exceed. As always, after connecting, select the rate in Advanced display settings and confirm it with the refresh rate test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my monitor stuck at 60Hz?

The higher rate is usually blocked by the cable, a setting, or the driver. Select the rate in Settings → System → Display → Advanced display, use a DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+ cable, enable it in your GPU control panel, and update the graphics driver.

What cable do I need for 144Hz?

Use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0 or newer for 144 Hz at 1080p or 1440p. Old HDMI 1.4 cables and ports typically cap you at 60 Hz. For 4K at 120 Hz and above, you need HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort and a cable rated for that bandwidth.

I selected 144Hz but it's still 60 — why?

Check the cable and port first, since HDMI 1.4 limits the rate, then enable the higher rate in your NVIDIA or AMD control panel and update the graphics driver. Connecting directly to the GPU instead of through a dock or adapter often helps too.

Does resolution affect the maximum refresh rate?

Yes. Higher resolutions use more cable bandwidth, so a cable that runs 1080p at 144 Hz may only manage 60 Hz at 4K. To run both high, use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1, or lower one of the two settings slightly.

Why is my external monitor stuck at 60Hz on a laptop?

The connection is usually the limit — a USB-C port or dock that doesn't pass enough bandwidth for a higher rate. Connect the monitor directly to the laptop's video output instead of through a dock, then select the higher rate in Display settings.

Can a docking station limit refresh rate?

Yes. Many docks and USB-C hubs cap the resolution and refresh rate they can carry, leaving you stuck at 60 Hz. Connecting the display directly to the computer's video port usually unlocks the monitor's full rate.

Do I need to enable the refresh rate in my GPU control panel?

Sometimes, yes. The NVIDIA Control Panel ('Change resolution') and AMD Software ('Display') have their own refresh-rate setting that must be set to the higher value, in addition to selecting it in Windows Display settings.