What is Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11 and How to Turn it On
Nov. 29, 2021Now thatWindows 11is here, and is rolling out to more and more PCs and laptops over time, chances are you’re exploring all the new features available in the new OS. Though there are a lot of newfeatures in Windows 11, one of the most refreshing (pun intended) change is the addition of ‘Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR)’. So, if you have justupgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11, and you’re wondering what is DRR on Windows 11, here’s everything you need to know about Dynamic Refresh Rate, and how to enable DRR on Windows 11.
Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11
This guide explains and covers all the questions that could come to your mind about DRR in Windows 11. Use the table below to skip to your specific question or read the whole thing for more information.
Before we begin explaining what is DRR, it is important to understand what isRefresh Rateitself. Put simply, Refresh Rate is thespeedat which a display constantly refreshes to create asense of motion. Refresh rates are measured inHertz (Hz)which is the number of times the display refreshes every second. A higher refresh rate means that more frames will appear in one second and the motion will be smoother. To see the difference, check out the example below.
As you can clearly see, the phone with 120 Hz feels much smoother and fluid to the eye. Displays come in various refresh rates and gaming monitors expressly offer higher refresh rates as a feature. Moreover, technologies likeNvidia DLSSare based on providing higher frame rates.
Dynamic Refresh Rateis a new feature in Windows 11 that is catered toward higher refresh rate displays. The DRR feature gives the control of refresh rate to Windows and lets it set it dynamically. What this means is that Windows 11 will switchback and forthbetween a lower and higher refresh rate depending on what you’re doing. The Dynamic Refresh Rate feature has been included in Windows 11 to optimize power consumption and prolong battery life.
For instance –If you have a display with a120Hzrefresh rate, DRR will monitor your use cases and adjust the refresh rate accordingly. For everyday tasks like email, documents that don’t require a lot of smooth motion, the refresh rate will be 60Hz to save battery life. However, when it comes to scrolling through and inking which needs smoother motion, Dynamic Refresh Rate will be set to 120Hz to be more responsive. However, keep in mind that DRR isonly availablefor laptop displays and nothing else.
With most newer mid-range laptops coming with high refresh rate displays, it’s only natural to want to use that power. However, the higher the refresh rate, the more battery percentage it uses up. Furthermore, systems with higher refresh rates run on it all the time. You need tomanuallyset it down to 60Hz when needed. Doing that every five minutes for apps is just not feasible.
Using Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11 takes away the work from your end. Since DRR is system-dependent theentire process is automatedand the user won’t have to lift a finger. This will ensure you get thatfine balancebetween fluidity and battery life all the time. DRR isonly avaiablefor a select few apps ofAdobeandMicrosoftfor now on Windows 11. However, the feature is expected to be rolled out for more apps in time.
To use Dynamic Refresh Rate in Windows 11 you will need a laptop display that supportsvariable refresh rate(VRR) and a refresh rate of atleast 120Hz. For those who don’t know, Variable Refresh Rate is a technology built into select displays that helps themeliminate screen tearingduring gaming. VRR is important for Dynamic Refresh Rate because it gives it the power to adjust the refresh rate back and forth.
To find out if your laptop display supports Variable Refresh Rate onWindows 11, follow the steps below:
Windows 10 users, follow these steps to see if your laptop display supports VRR.
Apart from that, DRR also requires the latestWindows Graphics Driver (wddm) 3.0that is available through Windows Update. You can check the version of WDDM you have through the following steps:
As of now, Dynamic Refresh Rate isonly availablein the Windows Insider Program Dev Channel. Therefore, if you’re a part of it and have the Windows 11 preview build, follow the steps below to enable DRR on your laptop.
And that’s it! Dynamic Refresh Rate is now enabled on your laptop and you will start to see the changes immediately. In case you meet the DRR requirements and still don’t see the option,don’t worry. Microsoft is currently working with manufacturers to get the feature pushed out to all systems so it’s natural if you don’t see it just yet. Come back to this setting later on after an update or two.
You can also disable Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) if you want to, by just heading to the same settings and choosing a different refresh rate from the drop down menu.
Simply,No. The good thing about Windows 11’s Dynamic Refresh Rate is that it does not go anywhere near your games or their settings. So whatever games you have will continue to run at the same configuration you left them and will remain untouched.
Well that was our guide to help you understand and start using DRR on Windows 11. Hopefully, you have enabled dynamic refresh rate on your Windows 11 PC, and you’re enjoying a smoother experience with better battery life. If your PC isn’t supporting dynamic refresh rate yet, don’t worry because Microsoft is working with PC makers to bring the feature to more laptops with high refresh rate screens.
If you have any doubts, let us know in the comments, and share your experience with DRR as well.
Combining his love for Literature and Tech, Upanishad dived into the world of technology journalism with fire. Now he writes about anything and everything while keeping a keen eye on his first love of gaming. Often found chronically walking around the office.
