Screen Tearing: How to Fix It

You're playing a game or scrolling a webpage, and suddenly the image splits — the top half of the screen shows one frame and the bottom half another, with a jagged horizontal break running across. That break is screen tearing, one of the most common and annoying display issues. The good news: it's almost always fixable, usually with a single setting. Here's what causes screen tearing and how to get rid of it.

What Is Screen Tearing?

Screen tearing happens when your monitor displays parts of two or more frames at the same time, producing a visible horizontal seam where the image doesn't line up. The tear can sit still or slide up and down the screen, and you'll usually see it most along vertical lines, edges, or text while the camera moves. Unlike ghosting (a blur behind moving objects) or flickering (the whole screen flashing), tearing is specifically a synchronization problem between your graphics card and your monitor.

What Causes Screen Tearing?

Your graphics card produces frames (measured in fps) and your monitor draws frames (measured in Hz). Normally they stay in step. Screen tearing happens when the graphics card sends a new frame in the middle of the monitor drawing the previous one — the monitor switches to the new frame partway down the screen, so the top and bottom show different images. It's most visible when:

• Your frame rate is far higher than the refresh rate (the GPU races ahead).
• Your frame rate is far lower or very uneven (stuttering).
• V-Sync and adaptive sync are both turned off.
• You're playing fast-moving games with lots of vertical edges.

How to Fix Screen Tearing

Try these in order; adaptive sync (step 2) is the real fix for most people.

1. Turn on V-Sync (vertical sync)

V-Sync forces the graphics card to wait until the monitor is ready for a new frame, so frames are never delivered mid-draw. Turn it on in your game's graphics settings or in your GPU control panel. It eliminates tearing cleanly but has two drawbacks: it caps your frame rate at the refresh rate, and if your frame rate drops below that, it can cause input lag and stuttering. Still, it's the simplest first fix.

2. Use FreeSync or G-SYNC (adaptive sync) — the best fix

If your monitor and graphics card support it, adaptive sync is the best solution to screen tearing. AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-SYNC make the monitor's refresh rate dynamically match your frame rate, so the GPU never has to deliver a frame mid-draw. You get smooth, tear-free motion with minimal input lag and no hard frame-rate cap. To enable it:

• Turn on FreeSync or G-SYNC in the monitor's OSD.
• Enable it in your GPU control panel (NVIDIA: Set up G-SYNC; AMD: under Displays).
• Turn V-Sync off in-game (or set it via the GPU control panel) so the two don't fight.
• Cap your frame rate a few fps below the refresh rate for the cleanest result.

3. Cap your frame rate to the refresh rate

If you don't have adaptive sync, capping your frame rate to (or just below) your monitor's refresh rate reduces how often the GPU can deliver a frame mid-draw. Most games have a frame-rate limiter in settings; you can also use your GPU control panel or tools like RTSS. This won't fully eliminate tearing on its own, but it makes it far less frequent.

4. Use a higher refresh rate monitor

Tearing is much less noticeable at higher refresh rates because each frame is on screen for less time and the misalignment is smaller. Moving from 60 Hz to 144 Hz doesn't stop tearing technically, but it makes it dramatically harder to see — many users stop noticing it entirely. See our guide on how to check your monitor refresh rate to make sure you're actually running at your panel's maximum.

5. Lower graphics settings and update drivers

A more stable, even frame rate tears less than a wildly fluctuating one. Lowering settings to smooth out your fps helps, and keeping your graphics driver updated ensures sync features work correctly.

6. Check cables and ports

Some tearing or signal issues come from running the wrong cable or port. Use a DisplayPort or HDMI cable rated for your refresh rate and resolution, plug directly into the graphics card, and make sure you're on a port that supports adaptive sync.

V-Sync vs. FreeSync vs. G-SYNC

These three get confused constantly:

• V-Sync: older, software-based, caps fps to the refresh rate. Kills tearing but adds input lag and can stutter. Free and universal.
• FreeSync (AMD): adaptive sync over DisplayPort/HDMI. Matches refresh rate to fps. Low lag, no hard cap. Works on many FreeSync monitors with NVIDIA cards too ("G-SYNC Compatible").
• G-SYNC (NVIDIA): NVIDIA's adaptive sync. Same benefit; native G-SYNC monitors add a hardware module for the best performance.

In short: V-Sync is the blunt fallback; FreeSync or G-SYNC is what you actually want.

Screen Tearing vs. Monitor Ghosting

Don't confuse tearing with other motion problems:

• Screen tearing: horizontal slices that don't line up → sync problem → fix with V-Sync, FreeSync, or G-SYNC.
• Ghosting: a blurry trail behind moving objects → slow pixel response → fix overdrive.
• Flickering: the whole screen flashing → cable, refresh rate, driver, or power.

If you see trails rather than horizontal seams, read our monitor ghosting guide; if the whole screen flashes, see monitor flickering.

Does Screen Tearing Damage Your Monitor?

No. Screen tearing is purely a synchronization issue — it looks bad, but it doesn't harm the panel or shorten its life. It's safe to live with if it doesn't bother you; the fixes above are about visual comfort, not protecting hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I still get screen tearing with V-Sync on?

Usually because your frame rate exceeds the refresh rate and V-Sync is set to "adaptive" or off in the GPU control panel, or because V-Sync is only half-working in a borderless window. Try setting V-Sync in the GPU control panel globally, or — better — enable FreeSync or G-SYNC and cap your fps a few frames below the refresh rate.

Is screen tearing normal on a 60Hz monitor?

Yes, it's very common. At 60 Hz each frame is on screen for roughly 16 ms, so any mismatch is easy to see. A higher refresh rate, V-Sync, or adaptive sync all reduce it.

FreeSync vs. G-SYNC: which do I need?

It depends on your graphics card. AMD cards use FreeSync; NVIDIA cards use G-SYNC (though most NVIDIA cards also work on FreeSync monitors labeled "G-SYNC Compatible"). Match the tech to your GPU.

The Bottom Line

Screen tearing is a horizontal seam caused by your graphics card and monitor falling out of sync. The quick fix is V-Sync; the real fix is adaptive sync — FreeSync or G-SYNC — paired with a frame-rate cap just below your refresh rate. Higher refresh rates and good cables make it less visible too. Tearing won't damage your monitor, so fix it only if it bothers you.