To fix screen tearing in PC games, turn on variable refresh rate (G-Sync or FreeSync) if your monitor supports it and cap your frame rate a few frames below the monitor’s maximum refresh rate. If your display lacks variable refresh, enable V-Sync, ideally through the graphics driver or the game, and accept a small increase in input delay. Tearing happens when the graphics card sends a new frame while the monitor is still drawing the previous one, so every fix is about keeping those two in step.
The right combination depends on your monitor, your cables, your graphics card and the game. This 2026 guide explains what tearing is, walks through a step-by-step fix, compares V-Sync, variable refresh rate and frame caps, and lists the settings that quietly cause problems. Menu names differ between drivers and games, so check the manufacturer documentation if an option below is labeled differently.
What Causes Screen Tearing
Tearing shows up as a horizontal line where the picture seems cut and shifted, most visible during fast side-to-side camera motion.
Mismatch between frames and refresh
A monitor refreshes at a fixed cadence, for example sixty or a hundred and forty-four times each second. A game produces frames at an uneven rate. When a new frame arrives mid-refresh, the screen shows parts of two frames at once. That seam is the tear.
Why it varies
Tearing is often worse when the frame rate is above the refresh rate, but it can also appear below it. Low frame rates without sync can show a tear at a changing position, while very high frame rates produce several thin tears. Different games and display modes also behave differently.
Tearing versus stutter
Stutter is uneven timing, while tearing is a visual seam. Some fixes, such as V-Sync, can reduce tearing but cause stutter when the frame rate dips below the refresh rate. Knowing which problem you have helps you choose the right tool.
Step-by-Step: Fix Tearing in Order
- Confirm the refresh rate. In the operating system display settings, check that the monitor is running at its highest supported refresh rate and that the cable and port support it. A high refresh monitor stuck at sixty hertz is a common cause of confusion.
- Use the right connection. Connect through a cable and port that support your monitor’s refresh rate and variable refresh feature. A DisplayPort connection is commonly used for variable refresh on PC monitors, and HDMI support depends on the monitor and graphics card, so check both manuals.
- Enable variable refresh rate on the monitor. Find the adaptive sync option in the monitor’s on-screen menu, which may be labeled G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync or adaptive sync, and switch it on.
- Enable it in the driver and the operating system. In your graphics driver control panel, turn on the matching feature, and in the Windows graphics settings enable variable refresh rate and the option for windowed games if present.
- Cap the frame rate. Set a limit a few frames below the monitor’s maximum refresh rate, using the game’s own limiter if it has a good one, or the driver. This keeps the game inside the variable refresh range.
- Handle V-Sync deliberately. With variable refresh rate working, many guides suggest enabling V-Sync in the driver for the game as a backstop at the top of the range, while limiting the frame rate yourself. Without variable refresh, enable V-Sync instead.
- Check the display mode. Try exclusive fullscreen if borderless mode still tears, and update your graphics driver.
- Test in a fast-motion scene. Pan the camera quickly and watch for seams. Change one thing at a time so you know what worked.
Safety note: change only documented driver and monitor options. Do not install unofficial firmware, and write down your original settings so you can restore them if a change causes a black screen or flicker.
V-Sync, Variable Refresh Rate and Frame Caps Compared
| Method | What it does | Best for | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-Sync | Holds frames until the monitor is ready to draw | Fixed refresh monitors, slower-paced games | Added input delay, stutter when frames fall below refresh |
| Variable refresh rate | Monitor refreshes when the frame is ready | Most modern gaming monitors | Needs compatible hardware, may flicker in some conditions |
| Frame cap | Limits frames so they match what the display can show | Pairing with VRR, reducing heat and noise | Does not remove tearing on its own without sync |
| Fast or enhanced sync modes | Driver features that reduce tearing without full V-Sync delay | High frame rate play on fixed refresh monitors | Behavior varies, may not suit every game |
| Borderless windowed mode | Uses the desktop compositor for presentation | Convenience and multitasking | May behave differently from fullscreen on some systems |
Variable Refresh Rate Settings in Detail
Where to enable it
You usually need to enable the feature in three places: the monitor menu, the graphics driver, and in the Windows graphics settings. Missing any of them can leave it silently off. Many monitors also show an on-screen indicator you can switch on to confirm it is active.
The supported range
Variable refresh rate works within a range of refresh rates defined by the monitor. If your frame rate falls below the bottom of the range, behavior depends on whether the monitor can repeat frames to stay in range. Check the monitor’s specifications, and consider raising your lowest frame rates by trimming heavy settings.
Flicker and brightness shifts
Some monitors, particularly certain panel types, show brightness changes or flicker in dark scenes when the refresh rate swings widely. If you notice this, a tighter frame cap, a different cable, or disabling variable refresh in that game can help. Check the manufacturer’s notes for known issues.
Choosing a Frame Cap
A frame cap keeps your frame rate inside the range where sync works well. A common approach is to set the limit a few frames below the maximum refresh rate, which keeps the game from hitting the top limit and falling back to a sync mode that adds delay. Use an in-game limiter if it is well implemented, because it usually produces smoother frame pacing, and use the driver limiter otherwise. On a fixed refresh monitor with V-Sync, a cap equal to the refresh rate is sensible, and a lower cap, such as half of the refresh rate, may be better if the system cannot hold the full rate steadily.
Special Cases: Laptops, Multiple Monitors and Old Games
Laptops with hybrid graphics
Many laptops route the picture through integrated graphics, which can interfere with variable refresh rate and sync features. Look for a graphics mode setting in the laptop’s utility or BIOS that lets the dedicated GPU drive the display directly, and consult the manufacturer’s documentation.
Multiple monitors
Running a second monitor with a different refresh rate can cause tearing or reduced smoothness in windowed or borderless games, since the desktop compositor handles the presentation. Try fullscreen, or set both displays to compatible refresh rates, and see whether the issue disappears.
Older or poorly optimized games
Some games have broken in-game V-Sync or ignore frame caps. In those cases, forcing V-Sync or a cap from the driver control panel is often more reliable. If a game is very old, a compatibility wrapper may help, but follow the project’s official instructions and download only from trusted sources.
Problems That Look Like Tearing
Not every visual glitch is tearing. Horizontal lines that stay in the same place may be a cable or display fault. Repeating stripes can come from poor signal quality, and brief black flashes can be linked to variable refresh settings. Judder when panning is often uneven frame pacing, which you address with a frame cap or by lowering heavy settings. If swapping the cable, trying another port, or testing another game changes the behavior, you have narrowed the cause. If artifacts appear on the desktop as well, check the monitor and cable before changing game settings.
Checklist Before You Change Settings
- Update your graphics driver.
- Check the refresh rate in the operating system.
- Check the cable and port against your monitor’s specifications.
- Confirm variable refresh rate is enabled in the monitor, driver and operating system.
- Pick a frame cap you can hold consistently.
Common Mistakes
- Turning on V-Sync in the game while variable refresh rate is also active, without capping the frame rate, which can add delay.
- Leaving the monitor at a low refresh rate in the operating system.
- Using an old or unsupported cable that cannot carry the refresh rate or variable refresh feature.
- Capping the frame rate exactly at the maximum refresh rate, instead of a little below it.
- Forgetting that some games override driver settings, so the in-game option has to be set too.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need V-Sync with G-Sync or FreeSync?
It depends on your setup. Many guides use V-Sync as a backstop together with a frame cap, but behavior varies by driver and game, so check your graphics vendor’s current guidance.
Does V-Sync add input lag?
It can, because frames wait for the display to be ready. The effect is small in slow games and more noticeable in fast competitive ones, which is why variable refresh and a frame cap are often preferred.
Why do I still get tearing with variable refresh rate on?
The feature may be disabled in one of the three places, the game may be in a windowed mode that bypasses it, or your frame rate may be outside the supported range. Check each step and verify with the monitor’s indicator.
Can a 60 Hz monitor avoid tearing?
Yes. Use V-Sync and a stable frame cap at the refresh rate, and try the driver’s alternative sync modes if delay is a concern. A monitor with variable refresh rate gives a cleaner result.
