Updated November 13, 2026
Your monitor is rated for 240 Hz, but Windows 11 shows 120 Hz as the highest available refresh rate. Start with the monitor's native resolution and the input you're using. A display can support 240 Hz through one input and offer a lower maximum through another.
If 240 Hz used to work on the same setup, start by reconnecting the display before changing drivers or buying a cable.
Quick Answer
Open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display and select the affected monitor.
Check Choose a refresh rate. If 240 Hz is listed without an asterisk, select it. Then reopen Advanced display and confirm the monitor is running at both 240 Hz and its native resolution. If 240 Hz has an asterisk, see the resolution check below.
If 120 Hz is the highest option, check the monitor's supported modes for the exact input and resolution. Connect the monitor directly to a compatible PC video output with the supplied or a known-good cable. Bypass any dock, adapter, or KVM for this test.
If 240 Hz worked before, reseat the video cable and power-cycle the monitor. Recheck Advanced display after reconnecting. See Fix 3.
.webp "240 Hz Monitor Stuck at 120 Hz in Windows 11")
| What you see | Start here |
|---|---|
| 240 Hz has never appeared | Check the monitor's input and resolution limits |
| 240 Hz appears with an asterisk (*) | Check what the asterisk means before selecting it |
| 240 Hz used to work and disappeared | Reseat the cable and power-cycle the monitor |
| 240 Hz works directly but drops through a dock | Test the dock with one display connected |
1. 240 Hz Has Never Appeared in Windows 11
Find the exact monitor model on its label or in its on-screen menu. In the manual or spec sheet, look for supported display modes, preset timings, or maximum resolution. Find the row that matches both the native resolution and the input you're using.
For example, the Alienware AW2723DF supports 2560 × 1440 at 240 Hz over DisplayPort and up to 144 Hz over HDMI at that resolution. The Alienware AW3225QF supports 3840 × 2160 at 240 Hz over compatible HDMI 2.1 FRL or DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC). These are different monitors with different input limits. See the AW2723DF specifications and the AW3225QF specifications.
Once you find an input that supports your target mode:
- Check that your PC or laptop output supports that resolution and refresh rate. On a desktop with a dedicated graphics card, use a compatible output on the card. On a laptop, check the specifications for the exact HDMI or USB-C port you're using. For USB-C, confirm the port supports video and check which display modes it can carry.
- Connect the monitor directly with the supplied cable for that input or a known-good cable that supports the mode.
- In the monitor's on-screen menu, check any input-version or high-bandwidth setting specified in the manual. Use the setting the manufacturer lists for 240 Hz.
- Open Advanced display again and check whether 240 Hz is available at the native resolution.
2. 240 Hz Appears With an Asterisk or Lowers the Resolution
Windows adds an asterisk (*) next to a refresh rate that requires a different resolution. If you're at 2560 × 1440 and Windows lists 240 Hz*, selecting that option will change the resolution. See Microsoft's refresh-rate guide.
If that happens, check the resolution after applying the change. You can also open Advanced display → Display adapter properties for Display [number] → List All Modes, where available, to check the resolution and refresh-rate combinations Windows currently offers.
If the monitor's specs list 240 Hz at native resolution on your chosen input, test that input with a direct connection. If your setup only offers 240 Hz at a lower resolution, decide whether you prefer the higher refresh rate or the sharper native image while you isolate the limit.
3. 240 Hz Used to Work but Disappeared
If Windows dropped to 120 Hz after sleep, a restart, or moving your setup, test the last connection that reached 240 Hz.
- Reseat the video cable at both the PC and monitor ends.
- Turn off the monitor, disconnect its power briefly, then reconnect it and turn it back on.
- Open Advanced display and check both the resolution and the refresh-rate list. If 240 Hz returns, test another sleep-and-wake cycle or restart to see whether it stays available.
- If it keeps disappearing, try a known-good cable and another output or monitor input that supports the same mode. Change one item at a time so you can see which change affects the result.
If the refresh rate only dropped after enabling HDR, temporarily turn HDR off under Settings → System → Display → HDR for the affected monitor. If 240 Hz returns, check the monitor and GPU specifications for support at your resolution with HDR enabled over that connection. Turn HDR back on after the test if you want to keep using it.
4. 240 Hz Works Directly but Disappears Through a Dock or With Two Screens
Connect just the 240 Hz monitor directly to the PC and check the rate at native resolution. If it works, reconnect the dock, adapter, or KVM by itself and test again before reconnecting any additional screens. Microsoft recommends removing docks and adapters when isolating external display problems. See Microsoft's external monitor troubleshooting guide.
If adding a dock brings the ceiling back to 120 Hz, look up its display resolution table. Check the exact input from the laptop, the dock's output, and how many screens are connected. Dock specifications can list different limits for single- and multiple-display setups. See this example dock display table.
If you're mirroring two displays, press Win + P → Extend and check Advanced display again. If 240 Hz only disappears when a second monitor is connected, test the high-refresh display directly from the PC and add the second screen on a separate output where possible.
5. Check the Graphics Driver if 240 Hz Is Still Missing
If the same cable, input, and resolution previously worked, check whether Windows installed a display driver around the time 240 Hz disappeared. Open Settings → Windows Update → Update history and look under Driver Updates.
If the problem started immediately after a graphics-driver change, check Device Manager → Display adapters → your graphics adapter → Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver. If the button is unavailable, check your PC or GPU manufacturer's driver downloads for the previous version that worked. For more on checking the installed version, see how to tell if Windows Update replaced your NVIDIA or AMD driver.
If 240 Hz is still missing, try the monitor on another PC with a video output that supports the same mode. Before contacting support, record the monitor model, GPU or laptop model, native resolution, connection type, and highest available refresh rate. Include whether 240 Hz ever worked on that setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my 240 Hz monitor only show 120 Hz in Windows 11?
Windows can only list the refresh rates available for the selected display and its current connection. Check whether your exact monitor input and PC output support 240 Hz at the native resolution. Then bypass any dock, adapter, or KVM and check Advanced display again.
Can HDMI run a monitor at 240 Hz?
Yes, when the monitor input, PC output, and cable support 240 Hz at the resolution you want. Check the specifications for both devices. Some monitors offer 240 Hz at native resolution only over DisplayPort.
Why does selecting 240 Hz lower my resolution?
An asterisk next to 240 Hz means Windows needs to change the resolution to use that rate. Check the monitor manual for an input that supports both 240 Hz and your native resolution.
Why does my game show 120 FPS when Windows shows 240 Hz?
Windows is reporting the display's refresh rate. Your game's FPS counter shows how many frames it renders per second. Check the game's FPS limit and display mode. See our guide to Windows refresh rates, G-SYNC, and Alt-Tab for game-only checks.
Can I force 240 Hz with a custom resolution?
Start with a display mode the monitor and PC output are designed to support. A custom resolution cannot increase a port or dock's bandwidth. If 240 Hz is missing at native resolution, try a supported input and direct connection first.
Final Thoughts
If your 240 Hz monitor is stuck at 120 Hz in Windows 11, the limit is usually the connection rather than Windows itself. Confirm the monitor's supported mode for your exact input and resolution, then test a direct connection with a known-good cable.
If 240 Hz used to work, reseat the cable and power-cycle the monitor before touching drivers. If a dock or second monitor is involved, isolate each component one at a time. And if 240 Hz still won't appear, check your GPU driver history and record your hardware details for support.
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