Screen tearing happens when your graphics card sends a new frame while the monitor is partway through drawing the previous one, so the fix is to sync the two. Turn on adaptive sync, sold as G-Sync or FreeSync, if your monitor supports it, or enable V-Sync, and confirm the display is running at its full refresh rate.
What causes screen tearing on a monitor
A monitor redraws the picture a fixed number of times per second, called its refresh rate. A graphics card produces frames at whatever pace the game allows, and that pace rises and falls constantly. When the two are out of step, the monitor can end up showing the top of one frame and the bottom of the next in the same refresh.
The result is a horizontal seam where the image looks sliced and shifted sideways. It shows up most in horizontal movement, such as a camera panning across a landscape or a fast turn in a shooter. Tearing is not a sign of a failing monitor or graphics card. It is a timing mismatch, and it is also a separate issue from screen flickering, which has different causes.
V-Sync, adaptive sync and frame caps compared
| Option | What it does | Trade off | Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-Sync | Holds each new frame until the monitor finishes its current refresh | Adds input lag and can stutter when frame rate drops | Any setup, found in game or driver settings |
| Adaptive V-Sync | Turns V-Sync on only when frame rate exceeds refresh rate | Tearing can return below the refresh rate | Supported graphics driver |
| G-Sync or FreeSync | The monitor changes its refresh rate to match the frames it receives | Works only within the monitor’s supported range | Compatible monitor and graphics card |
| Frame rate cap | Limits frames so the card does not outrun the display | Reduces tearing but may not remove it alone | Game setting or driver setting |
For most gamers with a recent monitor, variable refresh is the best option because it removes tearing without the lag that V-Sync adds. G-Sync comes from Nvidia and FreeSync from AMD.
Checking the refresh rate your PC is actually using
- In Windows 11, launch Settings, choose System, then Display, and select Advanced display.
- Find the refresh rate dropdown and choose the highest rate your monitor lists.
- On a Mac with a supported display, open System Settings, choose Displays, and check the Refresh Rate menu.
- Look up your monitor’s manual to see which port and cable support its top refresh rate.
- Reconnect with that port and cable if the higher rate does not appear in the list.
New monitors often ship running at a lower default, and plenty of people game for months on a high refresh screen without ever switching it on.
Turning on G-Sync or FreeSync
Variable refresh usually needs to be enabled in two places. First, open the monitor’s on screen menu with the buttons on its frame and look for a setting named adaptive sync, FreeSync or something similar. Some monitors ship with it turned off.
Then open the graphics card software. On Nvidia cards that is the Nvidia Control Panel, and on AMD cards it is the AMD Software app. Look in the display section for the G-Sync or FreeSync toggle and switch it on. Run games in full screen mode where possible, and consider capping the frame rate a little below the monitor’s maximum so the card stays inside the variable refresh range.
Tearing in videos, browsers and older laptops
Tearing during video playback or scrolling is less common, but it happens. Update the graphics driver from the card or laptop maker’s website first, since fixes often arrive that way. Try a different video player or browser, and toggle hardware acceleration in the browser settings to see whether the tearing changes.
Laptops that switch between two graphics chips can tear when an app runs on the wrong one. The graphics control panel usually lets you assign an app to the dedicated chip. If tearing appears only on an external screen, check its refresh rate separately, because each display has its own setting.
Frequently asked questions
Does screen tearing damage my monitor?
No. Screen tearing is a timing mismatch between the graphics card and the display, not a hardware fault. It looks bad and can be distracting in games, but it does not harm the monitor or the card. If you see lines or artifacts even on a still desktop, that points to a different problem.
Should I turn V-Sync on or off?
Turn V-Sync on if tearing bothers you and you have no G-Sync or FreeSync support. It removes tearing but adds some input lag, which competitive players often notice. If your monitor supports variable refresh, use that instead, since it prevents tearing without the same delay.
Why do I still get tearing with FreeSync on?
Variable refresh works only inside the monitor's supported range. If the game runs faster than the maximum refresh rate or drops below the minimum, tearing can return. Capping the frame rate slightly below the maximum and confirming FreeSync is enabled in both the monitor menu and the graphics software usually fixes it.
Does FreeSync work with Nvidia graphics cards?
Often, yes. Nvidia supports many FreeSync and other adaptive sync monitors on GeForce GTX 10 series and newer cards through its G-Sync Compatible program, usually over DisplayPort. Nvidia's validated models work reliably. On other monitors you can switch the feature on in the Nvidia Control Panel, though Nvidia says it may work fully, partly or not at all.
What is FreeSync Premium?
FreeSync Premium is AMD's middle tier of adaptive sync certification. Beyond basic FreeSync, it requires a higher refresh rate and low framerate compensation, which shows frames more than once when a game drops below the monitor's minimum refresh rate, keeping variable refresh active. FreeSync Premium Pro adds requirements for HDR.
