Screen tearing is when a horizontal line appears across your monitor during games or video playback. The top half shows one frame, the bottom shows another. Ugly. Easy to fix with the right sync setting.
The fix depends on your GPU brand and monitor capabilities. Here's the decision tree.
Enable V-Sync for the basic fix
V-Sync (Vertical Sync) is the original solution. It locks your frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate. Tearing stops because frames now arrive in sync.
Turn it on in-game first. Most games have V-Sync as an option in graphics settings. Pick On. Tearing should disappear.
The downside – V-Sync adds input lag and can cause stutters if FPS drops below your refresh rate. Modern alternatives are better.
Use G-Sync if you have it (NVIDIA)
G-Sync is NVIDIA's adaptive sync technology. It dynamically matches your monitor's refresh rate to whatever your GPU is putting out. No tearing, no lag, no stutter.
Requires a G-Sync compatible monitor (look for the badge) and NVIDIA GPU. Enable it in NVIDIA Control Panel > Display > Set up G-SYNC. Check the box, click apply.
Tearing disappears completely with this enabled. Has been the gold standard for tear-free gaming since 2013.
Use FreeSync if you have it (AMD)
FreeSync is AMD's version of the same idea. Works on FreeSync-compatible monitors with AMD GPUs.
Enable in AMD Adrenalin software. Click Gaming, click your game, find AMD FreeSync and toggle on. Or enable globally in Display settings.
Modern NVIDIA cards also work with FreeSync monitors – look for "G-Sync Compatible" in NVIDIA Control Panel.
Comparison of sync technologies
| Tech | GPU brand | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| V-Sync | Any | Eliminates tearing but adds input lag |
| Fast Sync | NVIDIA | Less lag than V-Sync, only at high FPS |
| G-Sync | NVIDIA | No tearing, no lag, smooth |
| FreeSync | AMD (NVIDIA can use too) | Same as G-Sync, cheaper monitors |
Cap your frame rate
Even with G-Sync or FreeSync, you can still get tearing when frame rate exceeds the monitor's max refresh. Cap FPS at 3-5 below max.
Examples – 144Hz monitor, cap at 141 FPS. 165Hz, cap at 162. 240Hz, cap at 237.
Set the cap in NVIDIA Control Panel under Manage 3D Settings > Max Frame Rate. Or in AMD Adrenalin under Frame Rate Target Control. Or use RivaTuner Statistics Server for game-specific caps.
Update graphics drivers
Sometimes tearing is caused by outdated drivers. Download the latest from:
- NVIDIA – nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
- AMD – amd.com/support
- Intel – intel.com/content/www/us/en/download-center/home.html
Pick your card model, download the driver, install. Restart. Test the game again. Recent drivers fix sync issues that older versions had.
Set borderless windowed mode
Games in true fullscreen can sometimes have sync issues with adaptive sync. Switch to Borderless Windowed mode. Most games have this option in graphics settings.
The game looks the same but Windows handles the rendering composition. G-Sync and FreeSync now apply correctly.
Check your cable and refresh rate
Cheap or damaged display cables can cause tearing. Use a quality DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1 cable. Older HDMI versions might not support high refresh rates properly.
Right-click desktop > Display settings > Advanced display. Verify your refresh rate is set to the monitor's max (144Hz, 240Hz, etc.). If it's stuck at 60Hz, the cable might be the limit or Windows didn't detect properly.
Test tearing without games
Visit testufo.com. Pick the UFO test. If you see tearing on this site at your monitor's refresh rate, your sync setup isn't working.
Test with V-Sync on and off in your GPU settings. Compare. The one without tearing is your current solution.
What GPU and monitor do you have? Tell me the models and I'll point to the best sync setup for your hardware.