Key takeaways
- Open your monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) using the physical buttons or joystick.
- Find the setting labeled Adaptive-Sync, FreeSync, G-Sync, or VRR and switch it on.
- Some monitors offer “Standard” and “Extended/Ultimate” ranges, choose the wider range for the full refresh window.
- This monitor-side toggle is the step people most often forget, and adaptive sync will not work without it.
What's inside
Screen tearing, that ugly horizontal split across the image when the action moves fast, is one of the most distracting flaws in PC gaming, and adaptive sync technology exists to eliminate it. G-Sync (NVIDIA) and FreeSync (AMD) synchronize your monitor’s refresh rate to your GPU’s frame output in real time, so every frame displays whole and stutter-free. The catch is that on many systems, adaptive sync is off by default and needs to be switched on in a couple of places.
This guide walks through enabling variable refresh rate the right way: turning it on at the monitor, activating it in your GPU control panel, and pairing it with the correct V-Sync and frame cap settings so it works flawlessly. Whether your display is a G-Sync-ready panel like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 or a FreeSync gaming monitor such as the ASUS TUF VG259QM5A, the steps are nearly identical, and getting them right delivers a genuinely tear-free picture.
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Watch: How to Enable G-Sync or FreeSync — Video Review
Confirm Your Hardware Supports It
Adaptive sync needs both a compatible monitor and a compatible GPU, connected the right way. Nearly all modern gaming monitors support FreeSync or are G-Sync Compatible, and both NVIDIA and AMD cards now work with the open VESA Adaptive-Sync standard, so cross-brand pairings usually work. Use a DisplayPort connection for the most reliable adaptive sync; a certified DisplayPort 1.4 cable like the Capshi or IVANKY cords guarantees the bandwidth and handshake needed. HDMI 2.1 also supports VRR on newer displays.
Turn It On at the Monitor
- Open your monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) using the physical buttons or joystick.
- Find the setting labeled Adaptive-Sync, FreeSync, G-Sync, or VRR and switch it on.
- Some monitors offer “Standard” and “Extended/Ultimate” ranges, choose the wider range for the full refresh window.
- This monitor-side toggle is the step people most often forget, and adaptive sync will not work without it.
Enable It in the GPU Control Panel
On NVIDIA, open the NVIDIA App or Control Panel, go to Set up G-SYNC, and enable it for your display, ticking the option to enable it for windowed and full-screen mode. On AMD, open Adrenalin, go to the display settings, and switch on AMD FreeSync. Verify it is active, NVIDIA can show a G-Sync indicator overlay, and AMD reports FreeSync status per game. If the option is greyed out, recheck your cable and that the monitor-side toggle is on.
The Critical V-Sync and Frame Cap Settings
Adaptive sync only works within your monitor’s refresh range, so you must keep your frame rate inside it. The proven recipe: enable G-Sync/FreeSync, turn V-Sync ON in the GPU control panel (not in-game), and cap your frame rate about 3fps below your monitor’s max refresh (for example 141fps on a 144Hz panel). This combination lets adaptive sync handle everything below the cap tear-free while V-Sync catches any frames that exceed the range, giving you the smoothest, lowest-latency result.
Tips
- Always enable the setting at the monitor first; the GPU control panel toggle alone does nothing without it.
- Use a certified DisplayPort 1.4 (or better) cable for the most reliable adaptive sync handshake.
- Cap your frame rate a few frames below your max refresh to keep it inside the adaptive sync window.
- Set V-Sync on in the driver, not in-game, to eliminate tearing above the refresh range without adding much latency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will FreeSync work with an NVIDIA card?
In most cases yes. Many FreeSync monitors are certified G-Sync Compatible, and both vendors now support the VESA Adaptive-Sync standard, so an NVIDIA GPU can drive a FreeSync display over DisplayPort. Look for the G-Sync Compatible label to be sure.
Does adaptive sync add input lag?
Properly configured, the added latency is negligible. Capping your frame rate just below the refresh ceiling keeps you inside the adaptive sync range and actually avoids the larger lag that traditional V-Sync alone would introduce.
Why is the G-Sync option missing in my control panel?
Usually because the monitor-side setting is off, the cable is HDMI on a DisplayPort-only feature, or the driver is outdated. Enable VRR in the monitor OSD, use a DisplayPort connection, and update your GPU driver, then the option should appear.
Should I cap my frame rate?
Yes. A cap a few frames below your monitor’s maximum refresh keeps frames within the adaptive sync window at all times, which is where the technology works. Without a cap, frames that exceed the range fall back to tearing or V-Sync lag.
Conclusion
Enabling G-Sync or FreeSync eliminates screen tearing and smooths out your gameplay, but only when set up correctly. Turn adaptive sync on at the monitor, enable it in your GPU control panel, use a good DisplayPort cable, and pair it with driver V-Sync plus a frame cap just below your refresh rate. Follow that recipe and you get a flawless, tear-free image on any compatible display.
