Modify Windows Refresh Rate Overrides in Regedit

This guide explains how to manually configure and override display refresh rates in Windows using the Registry Editor (Regedit). By modifying specific registry keys, you can force the operating system or graphics subsystem to use custom refresh rates when standard display settings or graphics control panels do not provide the necessary options.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
  3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

Step 2: Navigate to the Display Adapter Key

Navigate through the left-hand folder tree to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Under this key, you will see subkeys labeled with four-digit numbers (such as 0000, 0001, 0002).

  1. Click on 0000.
  2. Look at the DriverDesc string in the right-hand pane to confirm it matches your active graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
  3. If it does not match, check 0001 or subsequent numbers until you locate your primary display adapter.

Step 3: Configure Refresh Rate Overrides

Depending on your graphics hardware and requirements, you can create or edit override values within your active adapter key.

Method A: DirectDraw Force Refresh Rate (For Legacy/DirectX Applications)

  1. Navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\DirectDraw

    (If the DirectDraw key does not exist under Microsoft, right-click Microsoft, select New > Key, and name it DirectDraw.)

  2. Right-click an empty space in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it ForceRefreshRate.

  3. Double-click ForceRefreshRate.

  4. Set the Base to Decimal.

  5. In the Value data field, enter your desired target refresh rate (e.g., 60, 120, 144, or 240).

  6. Click OK.

Method B: Driver-Level Display Mode Overrides

  1. Inside the active adapter key (e.g., {4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0000):
  2. Right-click an empty area in the right pane, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it OverrideRefreshRate.
  3. Double-click the new value, select Decimal, and enter the target refresh rate in Hz.
  4. Click OK.

Step 4: Apply Changes and Restart

  1. Close the Registry Editor.
  2. Restart your computer to apply the new registry parameters.
  3. After rebooting, right-click the desktop, select Display settings > Advanced display, and verify that the target refresh rate is active.