Several workarounds exist to alleviate or potentially resolve this issue. While not all methods guarantee a complete fix, starting with the first suggestion and progressing through the list may improve the situation significantly. However, it’s important to recognize that if screen tearing is a result of hardware limitations, specifically the monitor’s specifications, it may not be resolved without replacing the monitor with a model that supports technologies like NVIDIA’s G-Sync or AMD’s FreeSync, which can dynamically adjust the refresh rate to match the content’s frame rate.
1. Changing Resolution and Refresh Rate
Incorrect resolution or refresh rate is often the primary cause of screen tearing. Adjusting these settings can sometimes significantly reduce the problem, though it might not always provide a complete solution.
2. Enabling / Disabling VSync
VSync, or Vertical Sync, is a common technology across many graphics systems, including those by NVIDIA and AMD, to help reduce screen tearing by synchronizing the frame rate with the monitor’s refresh rate. Screen tearing can occur when frame rates are not in sync with the display, whether too high or too low. To experiment with VSync settings, follow these steps: Note: Some find that setting VSync to Adaptive can resolve the issue.
For AMD users, similar functionality can be managed using the Wait for Vertical Refresh setting. Consider adjusting this setting to Always on.
3. Disabling ‘Game-mode’ and Full-screen Optimizations
Windows’ ‘Game mode’ aims to optimize system performance for gameplay. This mode recognizes games and attempts to prioritize their performance, including features like game recording and screenshot capturing. Disabling these features may reduce screen tearing:
If disabling ‘Game mode’ doesn’t work, try disabling full-screen optimizations, which can also affect screen tearing.
For games launched via Steam, adjusting launch options to include ‘-windowed -noborder‘ may help.
4. Checking Graphics Drivers
Outdated or improperly updated graphics drivers could cause screen tearing.
Next, check if the screen tearing persists. If so, try one of the following:
5. Turning Off Frame Limit
The Frame Limit is an in-game feature allowing the restriction of the maximum number of frames output to the monitor. Although helpful for lower-spec hardware, it can lead to screen tearing. In your game or application, locate the settings and turn off the Frame Limit. Make sure to reboot your machine to apply the changes.
6. Disabling Smooth Scrolling
Smooth scrolling in Windows creates a seamless experience when navigating through content. Although usually beneficial, it has been known to cause screen tearing in some instances. To fix this, consider disabling the Smooth Scrolling feature and then restart your computer to test for improvements.
7. Using High-Performance Power Plan
Adequate power and priority rendered through the GPU is crucial for optimal gameplay. To enhance performance, switch to a more power-focused plan, such as “High Performance” or “Ultimate High Performance.” Laptop users should be wary of increased thermal output and battery usage with these settings. To change power plans:
8. Using Another Browser
Screen tearing within a browser suggests an issue with that specific browser rather than your entire system. Consider switching browsers to see if the problem is browser-specific or a broader issue. This step will help you narrow down the cause and address it accordingly.
Bonus Tips:
In addition to the solutions above, try these additional steps based on your situation:
Enabling Windows Aero ThemeSetting appearance to ‘Best under 3D-settings‘Adjusting the game’s output FPSExperimenting with OpenSync and G-Sync settings
