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To change V-Sync, open the game’s video or graphics settings and choose On or Off beside V-Sync or Vertical Sync. You can also set a default in your graphics control panel: NVIDIA has global and per-game controls, while Intel Graphics Command Center provides per-game profiles. If the control is missing or does not take effect, try the game’s own setting and check the display mode and which GPU drives the display.
Where to find V-Sync in a game
Open the game’s Settings menu, then look under Video, Graphics, or Display. Find V-Sync or Vertical Sync and select On or Off. The exact menu names vary by game.
Using the game’s setting is often the simplest option. It may also be needed for windowed play or when a driver-level setting does not apply to the game. If you change V-Sync in both places, the game’s behavior can depend on the driver option and how that game handles the setting.
Change V-Sync in your graphics control panel
NVIDIA Control Panel
- Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Go to 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings.
- For a default that applies across programs, open Global Settings and change Vertical sync to On or Off.
- To change one game, open Program Settings, select that game, and set Vertical sync. Choose Use the application setting to let the game control it.
NVIDIA also documents Adaptive, Adaptive (half refresh rate), and Fast options. These are not simply alternative labels for On and Off; availability and behavior depend on the display and GPU. NVIDIA’s [Manage 3D Settings reference] says driver V-Sync options apply only when a display is connected to the NVIDIA GPU.
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Intel Graphics Command Center
- Open Intel Graphics Command Center.
- Go to Home > My Games and select the game or application.
- Choose Custom, then change Vertical Sync to Always On, Always Off, or Application Controlled.
Intel says these profile settings affect full-screen games or applications. Its [Enabling and Disabling Vertical Synchronization] article, last reviewed September 15, 2025, notes that the Intel Graphics Control Panel does not provide enable-or-disable controls for DirectX games in the version it describes. If you use that interface, check the game’s own setting when a driver control is unavailable.
AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition
For standard V-Sync, first check the game’s own display or graphics menu. AMD’s documentation focuses on Enhanced Sync, a separate option in AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, rather than providing a universal click-by-click path for ordinary V-Sync.
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AMD describes Enhanced Sync as an option that can reduce tearing with lower latency than traditional V-Sync in supported contexts. AMD lists support for DirectX 9, 10, 11, and 12, and Vulkan, but not OpenGL. It also cautions that Enhanced Sync is not intended for multimedia applications and may cause playback flicker or other unwanted behavior. See AMD’s [Enhanced Sync documentation] for its compatibility details.
Should you turn V-Sync on or off?
V-Sync synchronizes a game’s frame output with the display’s refresh rate. Intel describes it as synchronizing the game or application’s image frame rate with the monitor refresh rate to improve stability; NVIDIA says it can eliminate tearing. The choice comes down to the tradeoffs you notice in your game.
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| Setting | What it favors | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| On | Reducing visible screen tearing by synchronizing frames with the display | Frame output is tied to the display refresh rate; perceived smoothness and responsiveness depend on the game and setup |
| Off | Uncapped frame rates and potentially lower input latency | Tearing, jerkiness, or stuttering may be more noticeable |
- Try On if tearing distracts you and tear-free output matters more than an uncapped frame rate.
- Try Off if you prioritize uncapped frame rates or potentially lower latency and can tolerate tearing.
- Compare the same game and scene with each setting. Consider tearing, frame-rate consistency, perceived stutter, and input response; there is no universal winner across games, GPUs, and displays.
How V-Sync interacts with G-SYNC and display modes
Variable-refresh technologies and driver options can add another layer to the choice. NVIDIA’s guidance for a G-SYNC display describes using G-SYNC together with V-Sync and Reflex or Ultra Low Latency Mode. In that configuration, NVIDIA says tearing can be prevented and frame rate capped below refresh when the GPU is the limiting factor, with slightly more latency than uncapped Reflex. The result depends on the game, hardware, driver, and display mode, so use the game- and display-specific guidance rather than assuming one combination fits every setup.
NVIDIA also says its Control Panel V-Sync setting applies only to full-screen applications. For windowed play or laptops using NVIDIA Optimus (MS Hybrid), NVIDIA points users to the in-game V-Sync setting. A control-panel change may therefore appear ineffective even though the game’s own option works.
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Why can’t I change V-Sync in my graphics control panel?
- The game or API does not expose a driver override. Intel’s documented Graphics Control Panel version does not provide enable-or-disable controls for DirectX games; use the game menu where available.
- You are playing windowed. Some driver controls apply only to full-screen applications. Try the game’s V-Sync option, especially on NVIDIA systems.
- The display is connected to another GPU. NVIDIA says its control applies only when the display is connected to the NVIDIA GPU. This can matter on systems with integrated and discrete graphics.
- The game profile is not the one being used. In NVIDIA Control Panel, confirm the game under Program Settings; in Intel Graphics Command Center, select the game under Home > My Games.
- The driver presents a different set of options. Labels and availability can vary with driver version, GPU generation, display technology, and game. Use the option names shown in your current game and driver software.
For AMD systems, check the game’s display or graphics settings for ordinary V-Sync; Enhanced Sync is a distinct AMD option, not a universal substitute.
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