Fix: You Cannot Select 240Hz in Windows 11 (Cable, Port and Driver Checks)

You open Windows 11 display settings, expect to see 240 Hz in the refresh rate list, and the highest choice is 60 or 144 Hz instead. In almost every case the cause is one of four things: the cable or port, a monitor menu setting, the graphics driver, or a resolution that cannot carry 240 Hz. The quickest fix is to connect a DisplayPort cable straight to the graphics card, switch on the monitor’s high refresh mode, and reinstall the GPU driver. This applies to Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 with NVIDIA, AMD or Intel graphics, and the checks take about 20 to 30 minutes.

Quick Answer

• Plug a DisplayPort cable into a port on the graphics card, not the motherboard video output, and select that input on the monitor.
• Open the monitor’s on-screen menu and turn on its overclock or high refresh option, and set the DisplayPort or HDMI version to the newest one it offers.
• Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and pick 240 Hz under Choose a refresh rate.
• If 240 Hz is still missing, install the current driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel, then try Display adapter properties > List All Modes.

Before You Start

Nothing here is risky, but a few precautions save time. Make sure you know the exact model of your monitor and graphics card, because the maximum refresh rate often depends on resolution. A panel sold as 240 Hz may reach that speed only at its native resolution, and some models need a specific input port to do it. The monitor’s manual or the manufacturer’s product page lists which port supports the top refresh rate.

Keep a second display or a known-good cable on hand if possible. If you create a custom resolution later in this guide and the screen goes black, Windows normally reverts after about fifteen seconds, but having another way to see the desktop is a useful fallback. Sign in with an administrator account, because driver installation and Device Manager changes require it. Create a restore point before reinstalling drivers: search for Create a restore point, select your system drive, and choose Create.

Also note what you are connected to. A monitor plugged into a motherboard video port uses the processor’s integrated graphics, which may be capped far below 240 Hz, so the setting you want is often simply missing there.

Method 1: Check the Cable, Port and Monitor Menu

Bandwidth is the most common reason the option is missing. Windows only lists refresh rates that the connection and the monitor’s reported capabilities can both support, so a limited cable removes 240 Hz from the list entirely.

1. Shut down the PC and look at the back of the graphics card. The video ports on the card sit in a row near the expansion slots, while the motherboard’s ports sit higher up in the I/O panel. Move the cable to the card if it is on the motherboard.
2. Use a DisplayPort cable that is certified for DisplayPort 1.4 where possible. For 1080p and 1440p panels this is usually the simplest route to 240 Hz. For HDMI, both the monitor and the graphics card need an HDMI port that supports the required mode, and the cable should be marked Ultra High Speed. Older or generic HDMI cables are a frequent cause of missing high refresh rates.
3. Remove adapters, switches, extension cables and docking stations while you troubleshoot. A DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter or a cheap splitter can limit bandwidth without any warning.
4. On the monitor, press the menu button and look for a setting named Overclock, OC, Refresh Rate, DisplayPort Version or HDMI Mode. Turn on the high refresh mode and select DisplayPort 1.4 or the HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 option if the menu offers a choice. Some monitors ship with a compatibility setting that holds the panel at a lower speed.
5. Many monitors have two HDMI ports where only one supports the top speed. Check the manual and try the other port.
6. Power the monitor on, boot Windows, and open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. If you use more than one monitor, choose the correct one from the dropdown at the top first. Open Choose a refresh rate and look for 240 Hz.

Why this works: Windows builds its list of modes from the display’s identification data and the link the graphics card negotiates. If the cable or port cannot carry the signal, the higher mode is never offered.

Method 2: Repair the Graphics Driver

If Device Manager shows Microsoft Basic Display Adapter under Display adapters, Windows is using a generic fallback driver that offers only a few modes. Even with the correct brand showing, a corrupted or old driver can hide the faster option.

1. Right-click Start, open Device Manager, and expand Display adapters. Note the GPU name.
2. Download the latest driver for that exact GPU from the NVIDIA, AMD or Intel support site. Do not rely on Windows Update alone for the newest release.
3. Run the installer. With NVIDIA, choose Custom (Advanced) and tick Perform a clean installation. With AMD, follow the installer, and avoid the Factory Reset option unless Windows Update is paused, since AMD has warned about a rare conflict if a Windows update lands mid-install.
4. Restart the PC when asked and return to Advanced display.
5. If the problem remains, expand Monitors in Device Manager, right-click your monitor, choose Uninstall device, and then pick Action > Scan for hardware changes. Windows rereads the monitor’s identification data and rebuilds the mode list. Leave the display adapter itself alone for this step.

A cleaner full wipe with a driver removal utility is covered in our guide on clean installing NVIDIA drivers with DDU, and it also applies to other brands with small changes.

Method 3: Use List All Modes or a Custom Resolution

Sometimes the driver supports 240 Hz but the Windows dropdown does not show it. Two tools can surface it.

1. In Advanced display, select Display adapter properties for Display 1, open the Adapter tab, and choose List All Modes. Pick the entry with your native resolution and 240 Hertz, and select OK. This only shows modes the driver already accepts, so it is safe.
2. With NVIDIA, right-click the desktop, open NVIDIA Control Panel, and go to Display > Change resolution. Choose your monitor and look at the Refresh rate list. If 240 Hz is absent, select Customize, then Create Custom Resolution, set the refresh rate to 240, and leave the timing values at their defaults unless your monitor’s manual lists others. Select Test and only choose Save if the picture is stable.
3. With AMD, open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, search for Custom Resolution, accept the notice, choose Create New, enter the resolution and 240 Hz, and apply it.
4. Return to Advanced display and select the new rate.

Be careful with forced modes. A signal the monitor cannot handle can produce a blank screen, flicker or an out-of-range message, and not every panel accepts custom timings. If that happens, wait for the screen to revert or boot into Safe Mode and remove the custom mode.

If It Did Not Work

• Try a different cable and a different GPU output. Faulty ports are uncommon but possible, and a second DisplayPort output on the same card is a quick check.
• Confirm the resolution. Select your monitor’s native resolution first, then open the refresh rate list again, because 240 Hz may appear only at that resolution.
• Check the monitor’s own manual for notes such as “240 Hz requires DisplayPort” or limits when HDR or certain color formats are enabled. Turn HDR off temporarily under Settings > System > Display to see whether the list changes.
• Disconnect other monitors. Some graphics cards limit total bandwidth when several high-resolution displays are attached, so test the 240 Hz screen alone.
• Look at Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System for display driver entries such as “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered,” which point to driver instability.
• Update the motherboard BIOS and chipset drivers if you recently changed graphics cards, because a link that negotiates the wrong speed on the PCIe slot can occasionally accompany display glitches.

Common Questions

Does Windows 11 limit refresh rate over HDMI?

No. Windows 11 does not impose its own cap. The limits come from the HDMI version on your graphics card and monitor, the cable, and the resolution you choose. That is why swapping to DisplayPort often fixes the problem on monitors that support it.

Why does my monitor show 240 Hz in its box but 144 Hz in Windows?

Many monitors reach their top speed only on one input or after an overclock option is enabled in the on-screen menu. Check the input and menu settings before changing anything in Windows.

Can I use 240 Hz at 4K?

Only if the whole chain supports it. A 4K signal at 240 Hz typically needs DisplayPort compression or an HDMI 2.1 connection on both ends. If either device lacks it, Windows will not offer the rate.

Is it safe to create a custom resolution?

It is generally safe when you keep default timings and use the Test button, but it is not guaranteed. Some monitors reject unsupported modes, and the mode may disappear after a driver update.

Do I need a monitor driver from the manufacturer?

Usually not. Most modern monitors work with the built-in Generic PnP Monitor entry, and the real limit is the cable and graphics driver. Use a vendor driver only if the manual specifically asks for it.

Update History

• October 14, 2026 – Initial publication; steps checked against Windows 11 24H2/25H2 and current driver releases.
• Menus can differ slightly by Windows build, BIOS vendor and driver version; check your own screens against the steps.

Sources

• Microsoft Support documentation on changing the screen refresh rate in Windows 11
• NVIDIA support documentation on custom resolutions in NVIDIA Control Panel
• AMD support documentation on Custom Resolutions and driver installation in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition
• Monitor manufacturer manuals on input ports and refresh rate modes