Symptoms
- Horizontal line where the top and bottom of the image seem misaligned
- Most noticeable during fast horizontal motion, like panning a camera
- Happens mainly in games or fast-scrolling content
- Tearing changes or disappears when frame rate changes
Likely causes
- CommonVSync disabled in the game or appVSync synchronizes the frame rate to the monitor's refresh rate, and turning it off is the most common cause of tearing.
- CommonFrame rate exceeding the monitor's refresh rateRendering more frames than the monitor can display causes visible tears without sync enabled.
- CommonAdaptive sync (G-Sync/FreeSync) not enabledThese technologies dynamically match refresh rate to frame rate, eliminating tearing without VSync's input lag.
- PossibleCable or port not supporting adaptive syncAdaptive sync often requires DisplayPort or a compatible HDMI version.
What to do
- Enable VSync in the game's graphics settings and see if tearing stops.
- If your monitor and graphics card support G-Sync or FreeSync, enable it both in the graphics driver control panel and in the monitor's on-screen menu.
- Cap the frame rate at or slightly below the monitor's refresh rate using the game's settings or the graphics driver's frame limiter.
- Confirm you're connected via DisplayPort if using adaptive sync, since some HDMI setups don't support it reliably.
- In the graphics driver control panel, confirm adaptive sync is set to apply for the specific game or globally.
- If tearing persists with VSync on, try enabling both VSync and a frame rate cap slightly below the refresh rate together.
Tools and parts
- None
When to call a pro
This is a settings issue rather than a hardware fault; if adaptive sync doesn't work despite being enabled everywhere, confirm your monitor and GPU are actually a supported combination on the manufacturer's site.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.