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VSync (vertical synchronization) coordinates a game’s frame presentation with your monitor’s refresh cycle to prevent screen tearing. Turn it on if tearing distracts you; turn it off if the lowest possible input latency matters more and you can tolerate tearing. If your monitor supports variable refresh rate (VRR)—such as FreeSync or G-SYNC—enable VRR, set a sensible frame-rate cap, and test the VSync setting recommended for your setup.
What is VSync?
VSync is short for vertical synchronization. It controls when a game presents a completed frame so that presentation is synchronized with the display’s refresh cycle. Its main purpose is to prevent screen tearing.
Your monitor’s refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is how often it updates the image. A 60 Hz display refreshes 60 times per second. A game’s frame rate, measured in frames per second (FPS), is how quickly the game renders frames. The two figures are related, but they are not the same: a 165 Hz monitor can be displaying a game that is rendering 92 FPS.
What is screen tearing?
A fixed-refresh display scans out its image on a schedule. If it starts showing a newly rendered frame partway through that process, the top and bottom—or other portions—of the image can come from different frames. The mismatch appears as a horizontal break or “tear,” often easiest to notice while panning the camera. Even a high frame rate does not inherently prevent tearing: a 240 FPS game can still tear on a 60 Hz display.
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VSync on versus off
| Setting | What to expect | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| VSync on | Usually prevents tearing on a fixed-refresh display. A completed frame may have to wait for a refresh opportunity, which can add latency. If the game misses refresh deadlines, motion can stutter or frame rate may drop in steps, depending on the implementation. | Tearing is distracting, and clean motion matters more than minimum input delay. |
| VSync off | Frames can generally be presented as they are ready, often reducing latency. Tearing may appear. The frame rate is not necessarily unlimited: an in-game cap, driver, compositor, power setting, or other timing mechanism may still restrict it. | You prioritize responsiveness, are benchmarking, or accept tearing. |
Traditional VSync does not always add a fixed amount of input lag, and it does not always cause stutter. The result depends on the game, frame queue, driver, GPU load, refresh rate, and how consistently the system meets frame deadlines. VSync addresses synchronization; it cannot fix shader-compilation pauses, asset-streaming hitches, a CPU bottleneck, or inconsistent frame times by itself.
When should you turn VSync on?
- You can see tearing and it bothers you. VSync is a straightforward first setting to try on a fixed-refresh monitor.
- You are playing a slower-paced game. In a story-driven game, strategy game, simulation, or adventure, tear-free motion may be worth more than the smallest possible input delay.
- Your frame rate is stable near the display’s refresh rate. Traditional VSync is generally most comfortable when the system can consistently meet its timing target.
- You want to limit unnecessary rendering. Synchronization or a separate FPS cap may reduce wasted GPU work, heat, power use, and fan noise when a game would otherwise render far more frames than the display can show. The outcome depends on the game and settings.
When should you turn VSync off?
- Minimum input latency is your priority. Competitive players often try VSync off first, accepting that tearing may be visible.
- You are benchmarking or comparing performance. A synchronization cap can obscure the system’s uncapped rendering rate.
- You already use another synchronization setup. With VRR, for example, the best configuration may include a frame cap and a particular VSync setting rather than relying on traditional VSync alone.
There is no universal rule that every competitive game should run with VSync off. Try the settings in the game you actually play: if tearing is too distracting, compare a capped VRR configuration or VSync on and judge both responsiveness and motion.
VSync and VRR: FreeSync, G-SYNC, and Adaptive-Sync
Variable refresh rate (VRR) lets a compatible monitor adjust its refresh timing to match the GPU’s frame delivery, within the monitor’s supported range. AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC are familiar VRR technologies; VESA Adaptive-Sync and HDMI VRR are also names you may encounter. They serve a similar purpose, but support, connection requirements, certification, operating range, and driver behavior can differ. AMD describes FreeSync as synchronizing display refresh with graphics-card frame rate to reduce tearing and stutter; NVIDIA describes G-SYNC as matching monitor refresh to GPU frame rate (AMD FreeSync; NVIDIA G-SYNC).
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VRR can provide smooth, tear-free presentation with less of the fixed-refresh compromise of traditional VSync, but it is not an unlimited guarantee. It works within the display’s supported VRR range. If a game exceeds the monitor’s maximum refresh rate, tearing may return unless a cap or VSync behavior prevents it; performance below the VRR range can also behave differently depending on the display and setup.
A practical VRR setup
- Enable Adaptive-Sync or FreeSync in the monitor’s on-screen menu if the display requires it.
- Enable the corresponding VRR feature in your GPU software.
- Set Windows to the display’s intended refresh rate.
- Cap the game’s FPS a little below the monitor’s maximum refresh rate. This is a starting point, not a universal law: for example, try about 141 FPS on a 144 Hz display, then adjust based on frame times and behavior.
- Test the game’s VSync setting and the driver’s per-game setting. Which combination works best depends on the GPU, game, and presentation mode.
NVIDIA’s guidance for G-SYNC users seeking tear-free output discusses keeping VSync enabled alongside NVIDIA Reflex or Ultra Low Latency Mode; Reflex can help avoid VSync back-pressure, though NVIDIA notes the result may have slightly more latency than uncapped Reflex. See the NVIDIA system latency guide. Avoid assuming a global driver setting behaves identically in full-screen, borderless, or hybrid-laptop configurations.
NVIDIA G-SYNC setup
In NVIDIA Control Panel, open Display > Set up G-SYNC, enable G-SYNC/G-SYNC Compatible, choose full-screen or windowed-and-full-screen operation, select the relevant display, and apply. Then check Manage 3D settings for the relevant monitor technology and per-game options. NVIDIA’s setup instructions provide the current control-panel details.
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AMD FreeSync and Enhanced Sync
FreeSync is enabled separately from traditional VSync where supported. AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition calls its traditional VSync control Wait for Vertical Refresh. AMD’s Enhanced Sync is an alternative intended to reduce tearing without imposing the same frame-rate limit as traditional VSync. It is not a universal replacement for VRR, and its behavior and usefulness depend on the game and graphics API. See AMD’s VSync and Enhanced Sync guidance and Enhanced Sync overview.
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For a game-specific change, check its Adrenalin application profile as well as global graphics settings. AMD notes that new application profiles can inherit global graphics and display settings, so a profile may not behave as expected if you only check one place.
Starting settings by setup
| Your setup | Reasonable first test |
|---|---|
| Fixed-refresh 60 Hz monitor | If tearing is visible, turn VSync on. If it feels delayed, try it off and compare; an FPS cap near 60 can also reduce excess rendering. |
| Fixed-refresh high-refresh monitor | Use the monitor’s actual refresh rate. Try VSync on for tear-free play or off for minimum latency; higher refresh can make tearing less conspicuous, but does not eliminate it. |
| VRR display | Enable VRR, set Windows to the intended refresh rate, and test a cap below the maximum. Try the VSync combination appropriate to your GPU and game. |
| Competitive game | Compare VSync off with VRR plus a cap. Use the game’s low-latency feature if available; NVIDIA Reflex and AMD Anti-Lag are features, not substitutes that guarantee identical results in every game. |
| Laptop | Check the display actually used by the game and its refresh rate. A cap or VSync can reduce unnecessary GPU work, but hybrid graphics and power settings can affect behavior. |
| Multiple monitors | Confirm the game is using the intended display and that Windows and the GPU panel have the expected refresh rate and VRR settings for it. |
For VRR caps, rough starting points are 57–59 FPS for 60 Hz, about 140–141 for 144 Hz, 160–162 for 165 Hz, and 235–237 for 240 Hz. These are examples, not prescriptions. Your monitor’s VRR range, actual refresh rate, game limiter, and frame-time variance may call for a different cap.
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How to check refresh rate in Windows
- Open Start > Settings > System > Display.
- Select the display you are configuring if more than one is connected.
- Open Advanced display and check the current refresh rate and available options.
- Use the same page to check reported VRR support where available. Also check the monitor’s own menu and the GPU software: a capable monitor may still need VRR enabled there.
Microsoft documents this path for Windows 10 and Windows 11 in its guide to changing your monitor’s refresh rate. Windows 11 may also show Dynamic Refresh Rate on compatible hardware; it is separate from simply setting a fixed gaming refresh rate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to change VSync
In the game: Open its graphics, display, or video settings and look for VSync, Vertical Sync, or a similar option. The game’s own setting is usually the simplest place to start. Change one setting at a time so you can tell what fixed the problem.
NVIDIA: For a driver-level or per-game adjustment, open NVIDIA Control Panel and go to Manage 3D settings, then choose global settings or a program profile. In-game and driver behavior can vary with the game’s presentation mode, so check both if the setting appears ignored.
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AMD: In AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, open graphics settings and locate Wait for Vertical Refresh for traditional VSync. Use the game’s profile when changing only one title, and check whether its settings inherit the global profile.
Names and available controls can vary with software version, game, and GPU. Avoid enabling conflicting overrides in several places until you know which one is taking effect.
Other synchronization modes you may see
- Adaptive VSync: NVIDIA’s option synchronizes when frame rate is above the refresh-rate target and disables synchronization when it falls below, aiming to avoid the abrupt low-frame-rate behavior of traditional VSync. Its behavior and availability depend on the system; see NVIDIA’s explanation.
- Fast Sync: A specialized NVIDIA mode intended to present recently completed frames without traditional VSync’s usual queueing behavior. It is most relevant when the game renders substantially faster than the display refresh rate, not a general-purpose VRR replacement.
- Enhanced Sync: AMD’s alternative described above, intended to reduce tearing without the same frame-rate limit as traditional VSync. Consult AMD’s feature information for its limitations.
- Triple buffering: Some games or graphics APIs offer this alongside VSync. It can affect how frames are queued and may reduce certain frame-rate drops, but implementation varies; a checkbox is not a guarantee of lower latency or stutter-free play.
- FPS limiter: A game, driver, or external limiter can cap rendering without being the same thing as VSync. Limiter latency and frame pacing differ, so test the option built into the game first, then compare alternatives if needed.
Troubleshoot tearing, stutter, and input lag
VSync is on, but I still see tearing
- Confirm the game is using the display you intend, especially with multiple monitors.
- Check whether the game’s own VSync option overrides or conflicts with the driver setting.
- Confirm the monitor is set to its intended refresh rate and that VRR is enabled in both the monitor menu and GPU software, if applicable.
- Compare full-screen and borderless modes; global driver settings may not apply the same way in every mode.
- On Windows 11, check whether Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Default graphics settings offers Optimizations for windowed games. Microsoft says this feature can enable modern presentation behavior and VRR for supported games and displays; see its Windows 11 guidance.
VSync is on, but the game stutters
- Verify Windows is using the intended monitor refresh rate.
- Check both FPS and frame-time behavior with an overlay; a high average FPS can hide uneven delivery.
- See whether performance repeatedly falls below the refresh target. Traditional VSync can expose missed timing windows.
- Try a modest FPS cap, reduce demanding settings such as ray tracing, shadows, volumetrics, or resolution, and retest.
- If supported, compare VRR or Adaptive VSync. Also compare the game’s own setting with the driver-level one.
- Test full-screen and borderless presentation, and consider CPU limits or background activity if frame times remain erratic.
Controls feel delayed
Try VSync off, then compare with VRR and an FPS cap if your monitor supports it. Use an in-game low-latency feature where available—such as NVIDIA Reflex in supported games—and aim for consistent frame times, not merely the highest FPS number. NVIDIA says Reflex operates independently of Ultra Low Latency Mode and overrides that functionality when both are enabled. Input response varies by game and setup, so there is no reliable fixed latency penalty that applies to every VSync configuration.
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Disabling VSync removes one synchronization mechanism, not every possible limiter. Check the game’s frame-rate setting, driver cap, menu or cutscene limit, CPU bottleneck, laptop power mode, compositor or presentation path, and any frame-generation or latency features. Microsoft notes that other timing or presentation mechanisms can still throttle delivery when VSync is disabled: Variable refresh rate displays.
Bottom line: choose the trade-off you prefer
On a fixed-refresh monitor, turn VSync on if tearing is the problem; turn it off if you prefer lower latency and accept tearing. On a VRR display, enable VRR, use a cap below the monitor’s maximum as a starting point, and test the VSync behavior recommended for your GPU and game. If motion still feels wrong, check refresh rate and frame times before assuming VSync alone is the cause.
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