What Is VRR? How Variable Refresh Rate Works

Variable refresh rate (VRR) lets your TV or monitor adjust its refresh rate on the fly to match the frame rate your console or PC is running at. As the frame rate rises and falls, the picture stays free of screen tearing and stutter.

Every display refreshes at a fixed rate, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz TV draws a new image 60 times per second. Your console or PC renders frames at its own pace, measured in frames per second (FPS), and in demanding scenes that pace drops below the display’s refresh rate.

When the two don’t match, you get screen tearing or stutter. Screen tearing happens when the display shows parts of two frames at once, so the image looks split. Stutter happens when the console holds a frame for an extra refresh to avoid tearing, which is what V-Sync does, and motion looks uneven.

With VRR, the display waits for each new frame and refreshes when it arrives. A game running at 52 FPS gets a 52 Hz refresh. VRR only works inside a set range, for example 48 to 120 Hz. Below that range, VRR stops unless your display or graphics card supports Low Framerate Compensation (LFC), which shows each frame two or more times to stay inside the range.

VRR comes in three formats:

• HDMI Forum VRR: the standard that’s part of HDMI 2.1. PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and many recent TVs use it.
• AMD FreeSync: AMD’s version, common on gaming monitors. Xbox and AMD graphics cards support it.
• NVIDIA G-SYNC: NVIDIA’s version for its graphics cards. NVIDIA cards also work with many FreeSync and HDMI Forum VRR displays, which are listed as G-SYNC Compatible.

Your source and your display need to support the same format. If you use a capture card, it also needs to support VRR passthrough.

• PlayStation 5: HDMI Forum VRR. You turn it on under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
• Xbox Series X|S: HDMI Forum VRR and AMD FreeSync. Xbox One X|S also support VRR.
• PC: depends on your graphics card and driver settings. AMD cards use FreeSync, and NVIDIA cards use G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible.
• Nintendo Switch 2: VRR has worked on the built-in screen in handheld mode since launch. System update 23.0.0 (September 2026) added VRR in TV mode, which also needs a dock update, a VRR-capable TV, and a game that supports it. What’s the best capture card for Nintendo Switch 2 covers capture options.

Your console connects to the HDMI IN port on the capture card. The HDMI OUT port sends the signal on to your TV or monitor so you can play, which is called passthrough. The USB port sends it to your computer, where you record or stream. Passthrough vs Capture: What’s the Difference on a Capture Card explains this in more detail.

If your capture card supports VRR passthrough, your display receives the variable refresh signal and you play without tearing.

Capture cards record and stream at a constant frame rate, such as 60 FPS, and most streaming platforms, including Twitch and Kick, top out at 60 FPS. When the game’s frame rate dips, the capture repeats frames to fill the gap, so your recording keeps the same frame rate with VRR on or off.

If your capture card supports VRR passthrough, leave VRR on. If it doesn’t, your display gets a fixed refresh rate through it. A few things help VRR work reliably through a capture card:

• Turn VRR on at the display. Some TVs and monitors need VRR or FreeSync enabled in their own on-screen menu.
• Check your VRR range. VRR works within a set frame rate range that depends on your display, capture card, and game. HD60 X, for example, supports 48 to 120 Hz. If the frame rate drops below that range, VRR switches off until it recovers.
• On HD60 X and 4K S, Nintendo Switch 2 drops to 1440p or 1080p when VRR and HDR are both on. For 4K with VRR, turn off HDR Output in the Switch 2 settings.
• If Nintendo Switch 2 freezes when a VRR game starts, select the Switch 2 VRR EDID in Elgato Studio. Nintendo Switch 2 freezes with VRR when using Elgato 4K S, 4K X or 4K Pro has the steps.
• Check for flicker after a game starts. If the screen flickers or loses signal when a game launches, VRR or 120 Hz output is the usual cause. Turn off VRR on your console first, then 120 Hz output, then lower the output resolution, testing after each step. If it still flickers, contact Elgato Support.

With VRR on at your console and your display, and a capture card that supports VRR passthrough, you play without tearing while your recording or stream keeps a steady frame rate. The Capture Card Selector recommends a model based on your setup.