How to Enable or Disable Variable Refresh Rate for Games in Windows 11

What is Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)?

Normally a monitor refreshes at a fixed rate, such as 60 or 144 times per second. A game’s frame rate often doesn’t match that, and the mismatch causes screen tearing or stutter. VRR lets the monitor change its refresh rate to match the frames the game is producing, so motion looks smoother.

If your monitor and graphics card both support it, Windows 11 can use VRR to improve games. The Windows setting mainly helps games that run in a window or in borderless mode. Games running in exclusive full screen usually use the VRR settings in your graphics driver instead.

Before You Begin

Check these things first, because they are the usual reasons the option is missing or doesn’t work:

• Your monitor must support VRR. Check the monitor’s specifications for FreeSync, G-SYNC or “Adaptive-Sync”. Many monitors also have VRR switched off in their own on-screen menu, so look there if everything else checks out.
• Your graphics drivers must be up to date. Install the 💿 latest driver from AMD, Nvidia or Intel, or through Windows Update 🔃. An old or generic driver can hide the option.
• Your PC and monitor must both support VRR. If either one doesn’t, you won’t see the option in Windows 11. It is not greyed out, it simply isn’t listed. The cable matters too, as VRR normally needs a DisplayPort or HDMI connection that supports it.

Changing the setting does not normally need a restart. If you turn it off, any game that was using it goes back to a fixed refresh rate, and you can switch it back on the same way at any time.

Summary

• VRR helps your monitor show smoother games. It matches the screen refresh rate to the game’s frame rate.
• It works best on VRR-supported monitors and with updated graphics drivers.
• You can easily turn VRR on or off in Windows 11 Settings. Go to System › Display › Graphics › Advanced graphics settings.
• Advanced users can also use Registry Editor to enable or disable VRR.

Learn More

For official details, check out the Microsoft Dev Blog.

How to Turn VRR On or Off Using Windows Settings

1. Open Windows Settings. Click the Start button. Then click the Settings gear icon. Or press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. In Settings, click on System on the left side.
3. Click on Display on the right side.
4. Scroll down. Find Related settings. Then click on Graphics.
5. Scroll down. Click Advanced graphics settings.
6. Find the option Variable refresh rate. Switch it On to enable VRR.
7. To turn it off, just switch the toggle back to Off.

How to Turn VRR On or Off Using Registry Editor (Advanced Users)

If you're comfortable with advanced settings, you can change Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) on or off in Windows 11 using the Registry Editor. This method requires administrator rights and lets you control VRR by changing specific system files when standard settings aren't enough.

⚠️ Admin Privileges Required

1. Open the Registry Editor Registry Editor:

   • Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
   • Type regedit and press Enter.
2. Navigate to this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\DirectX\UserGpuPreferences
3. If UserGpuPreferences does not exist, right-click on DirectX. Select New › Key. Name it UserGpuPreferences.
4. In the UserGpuPreferences folder, right-click on the right side. Select New › String Value.
5. Name the new string DirectXUserGlobalSettings.
6. Double-click this new string. Set its Value data:
   

   
   
   • Enter VRROptimizeEnable=1 to turn VRR On.
   
   
   • Enter VRROptimizeEnable=0 to turn VRR Off.
   
   

   
   

   

Back up the registry, a central database for system settings, before making any modifications to prevent potential data loss or system instability.

Summary

• VRR helps your monitor show smoother games. It matches the screen refresh rate to the game's frame rate.
• It works best on VRR-supported monitors and with updated graphics drivers.
• You can easily turn VRR on or off in Windows 11 Settings. Go to System › Display › Graphics › Advanced graphics settings.
• Advanced users can also use Registry Editor to enable or disable VRR.

Learn More

For official details, check out the Microsoft Dev Blog.