Change your Mac screen's refresh rate (ProMotion, 120Hz or 60Hz)

Why it happens

Your Mac redraws the screen many times a second, measured in hertz (Hz). A higher rate makes scrolling and animation look smoother, while some video and design work needs a fixed rate like 60Hz. If the menu is set to a lower fixed rate, everything can feel less fluid.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Displays in the sidebar.

2. If you have more than one screen, click the one you want to change at the top of the window.

3. Open the Refresh rate pop-up menu and choose a rate. ProMotion lets the screen go up to 120Hz on its own; a fixed number keeps it at that rate.

   Displays›Refresh rate

4. The screen may go dark for a moment while it switches. That's normal, so give it a few seconds.

Still not fixed?

1. No Refresh rate menu? Some Mac screens run at one fixed rate and have nothing to change. ProMotion is on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models from 2021 onward.

2. For an external monitor stuck at 30Hz or 60Hz, use a certified DisplayPort, Thunderbolt or HDMI 2.1 cable, plugged straight into the Mac rather than through a hub. Then choose a higher rate again.

   Displays›Refresh rate

3. If the screen flickers after you change it, pick a different rate. Some screens flicker at low rates.

4. If a screen flickers or shows lines at every rate, even while your Mac starts up, it's likely hardware. Contact Apple Support or a repair shop.