Screen tearing is that horizontal split where the top half of the image shows one frame and the bottom shows another, most obvious when you pan the camera. It happens when your GPU and monitor are out of sync: the display refreshes partway through the GPU drawing a new frame. There are several ways to fix it, and the best one depends on your monitor.
Why tearing happens
Your monitor refreshes at a fixed rate, say 144 times per second, while your GPU produces frames at whatever rate it can. When a fresh frame arrives mid-refresh, the display shows part of the old frame and part of the new one, creating the tear line. The higher your frame rate relative to refresh, the more tears you may see.
| Fix | Removes tearing? | Input lag | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-Sync / FreeSync (VRR) | Yes, in range | Very low | Monitor supports VRR |
| V-Sync | Yes | Adds noticeable lag | Fixed-refresh monitor |
| Frame cap only | Reduces | Low | Paired with VRR |
| Fast Sync / Enhanced Sync | Mostly | Low, needs high FPS | FPS well above refresh |
The best fix: variable refresh rate
Enable G-Sync or FreeSync
If your monitor supports VRR, this is the ideal solution. It makes the display refresh exactly when each frame is ready, eliminating tearing without the input lag of traditional V-Sync. Enable it in the monitor OSD and in your GPU control panel. Then cap your frame rate two to three frames below your refresh rate (for example 141 on 144 Hz) so you stay inside the VRR range, where it works, rather than spilling above it and tearing again.
If you do not have VRR
On a fixed-refresh monitor, V-Sync removes tearing by holding frames to the refresh rate, but it adds input lag and can cause stutter if frame rate dips below refresh. A gentler option is capping your frame rate at exactly your refresh rate, which reduces tearing with less lag than V-Sync. Fast Sync or Enhanced Sync work well only when your frame rate sits far above refresh.
Per-game versus global sync settings
You can control tearing globally in your GPU control panel or per game, and combining the right options gives you tear-free frames with the least possible input lag.
The low-lag recipe with VRR
The widely recommended setup for a variable-refresh monitor is: enable G-Sync or FreeSync, turn V-Sync on in the GPU control panel (not in the game), and set a global frame-rate cap two to three frames below your refresh rate. The control-panel V-Sync here acts only as a backstop to catch frames at the very top of the range, while the cap keeps you inside VRR so it rarely engages, preserving low latency.
Where to set the cap
Cap in the GPU driver or a reliable in-game limiter rather than relying on the monitor. An in-engine limiter often gives the lowest latency, but a driver-level cap is more consistent across titles. Either way, the cap is what keeps the GPU from outrunning the panel and reintroducing tears at the top of the VRR window.
Fixed-refresh compromises
Without VRR, you are choosing between some tearing and some lag. Capping at exactly your refresh rate reduces tearing with modest latency. Traditional V-Sync removes it fully but adds lag and can stutter below refresh. Fast Sync or Enhanced Sync suit only games running far above your refresh rate.
FAQ
Is V-Sync or G-Sync better for tearing?
G-Sync (or FreeSync) is better in almost every way: it removes tearing with far less input lag and no stutter when frame rate varies. V-Sync is the fallback for monitors without variable refresh rate, and its added latency is why competitive players avoid it when they can use VRR instead.
Why do I still see tearing with G-Sync on?
Usually because your frame rate is exceeding the monitor’s refresh rate, pushing you outside the VRR range at the top. Cap your frame rate a few frames below refresh so the GPU never outruns the panel, and confirm VRR is enabled both in the monitor menu and the GPU control panel.
Bottom line: Tearing is a GPU-to-display sync problem. The best fix is variable refresh rate plus a frame cap just below your refresh rate. Without VRR, cap at refresh or use V-Sync, accepting some input lag. Match the method to your monitor and you can eliminate tearing without giving up responsiveness.
