5 Reasons on Why is My 144hz Monitor Running at 60hz

By: Editorial Team

Most gamers rely on 144Hz monitors to play competitive games. These monitors have a high refresh rate that provides a more enjoyable and responsive gaming experience.

So you’ve invested in a 144Hz monitor and plugged it into your system. Unfortunately, you realize that your 144Hz monitor is running at 60Hz.

What could be the problem? This guide will cover what’s causing your 144Hz monitor to run at 60Hz and how to fix the problem.

Why Does My Monitor Say 60Hz When It’s 144Hz?

Owning a 144Hz monitor does not necessarily mean it will run at 144Hz. That said, if your monitor is running at 60Hz, it could be due to the settings or the other reasons including:

  • Your monitor is set by default at 60Hz
  • Outdated graphics drivers
  • Your Console does not support 144Hz
  • You’ve plugged the cables in the wrong ports
  • You are using the wrong HDMI or Display port

Can A 144Hz Monitor Run At 60Hz?

Yes, it’s possible to set a 144Hz monitor to run at 60Hz. Amazingly, a 144Hz monitor can work at any refresh rate that’s below 144Hz.

However, there would be no reason to drop down the refresh rate as more is always better!

How To Fix 144Hz Monitor Running at 60HZ

How Do I Fix 60Hz To 144Hz?

Here are some of the ways to adjust the refresh rate of your monitor from 60Hz to 144Hz.

Set Your Monitor To 144Hz

Your monitor might be running at 60Hz because that’s the default setting. Luckily, you can adjust your monitor to run at 144Hz instead.

Below are the steps you need to take if you are using Windows 10:

  1. Click on the start menu
  2. Select settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings
  3. Look for the refresh rate drop-down and select 144Hz
  4. Select “OK” or “Apply,” and the refresh rate will go from 60Hz to 144Hz

If you are on Windows 7/Windows 8, follow these steps:

  1. Right click a blank space on your desktop and click screen resolution
  2. Click on the advanced settings option and then select the Monitor tab
  3. Under monitor settings, click the screen refresh rate drop-down and select the 144Hz refresh rate option
  4. Click “Apply,” and you’ll be good to go!

If you’ve done all these steps but nothing seems to change, try out the following options:

Use A Display Port Connector

How you connect the monitor to your computer matters a lot. If you can’t enable 144Hz on your monitor, there is a chance you are using DVI to HDMI.

To enable a higher refresh rate you must connect your monitor to the PC via a display port.

Also, you have to ensure that you are using a 144Hz compatible cable. Don’t expect a standard HDMI cable to support 144Hz. Invest in an HDMI 2.0 cable at the very minimum.

Update Monitor Drivers

If your monitor is still locked at 60Hz, try updating your monitor drivers. Monitor issues can stem from drivers that are out of date. So, if you haven’t updated your drivers in a long time, do so immediately.

Know which graphics card you are using when searching for updates. However, the best option is to turn on automatic driver updates.

This way, your graphics card, and 144Hz monitor will always work perfectly.

gaming monitor
Set Your Monitor To Run at 144Hz

Final Thoughts

You have no reasons to get stuck at 60Hz with a 144Hz monitor. Just use the tricks provided above to increase your monitor’s refresh rate to 144Hz, and enjoy a fantastic gaming experience.