Windows 11 to Support Ultra-High Refresh Rate Monitors
Microsoft is preparing to enable support for display monitors with refresh rates exceeding 1000Hz in upcoming releases of Windows 11, a move poised to benefit competitive gamers and hardware manufacturers. The update removes a longstanding limitation within the operating system’s display stack, allowing it to natively recognize and utilize these ultra-fast refresh rates.
The change, initially identified in preview builds, means Windows 11 can now enumerate and display refresh rates of 1000 Hz and higher in system settings, a significant departure from previous constraints. This development addresses a key demand from the gaming community and hardware vendors who have been showcasing increasingly high-refresh panels at industry events. The ability to support these higher refresh rates could influence consumer purchasing decisions as new monitor technologies become more widely available.
Historically, Windows and associated drivers treated refresh rates as values rarely exceeding a few hundred hertz. According to reports, recent Insider and Release Preview drops have surfaced references to an “extreme display refresh rate” capability within Windows 11. This allows the OS to accept higher numbers from display drivers and connected monitors.
Microsoft has confirmed on the Windows Blog that PCs running Windows 11 will soon support 1000Hz refresh rate monitors. Further updates suggest the system may even be capable of handling refresh rates as high as 5000Hz, as noted in recent reports. The change impacts how the OS handles display device capability negotiation and telemetry reporting.
The update to support higher refresh rates is currently available in Release Preview builds 26100.8106 and 26200.8106. Windows 11 extends extreme display refresh rates up to 1000 Hz.
