5 Effective Ways to Fix Screen Tear

Screen Tear

Screen tearing is a frustrating visual artifact that can occur when your monitor’s refresh rate and your graphics card’s frame rate are out of sync. This can result in jagged or torn lines, which can be distracting and even nauseating for some people. If you’re experiencing screen tearing, there are a few things you can do to try to fix it.

One of the most common causes of screen tearing is a mismatch between your monitor’s refresh rate and your graphics card’s frame rate. Your monitor’s refresh rate is the number of times per second that it updates the image on the screen. Your graphics card’s frame rate is the number of frames per second that it renders. If your monitor’s refresh rate is lower than your graphics card’s frame rate, you can experience screen tearing. To fix this, you can either increase your monitor’s refresh rate or decrease your graphics card’s frame rate.

Another potential cause of screen tearing is V-sync. V-sync is a technology that synchronizes your monitor’s refresh rate with your graphics card’s frame rate. This can help to eliminate screen tearing, but it can also introduce input lag. If you’re experiencing input lag with V-sync enabled, you can try disabling it to see if that improves the situation.

Troubleshooting Hardware Issues

Investigating and resolving hardware-related issues can improve gameplay and rectify screen tearing. Here are some common hardware problems and their corresponding solutions to alleviate screen tearing:

Issue	Solution
Outdated Graphics Drivers	Keeping graphics drivers up to date ensures optimal performance and compatibility with games. Visit the official websites of NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel to download and install the latest drivers specifically designed for your graphics card model.
Insufficient Power Supply	Screen tearing may occur when the power supply unit (PSU) fails to deliver adequate power to the graphics card. Verify that the PSU meets the minimum wattage requirements specified for your graphics card. If necessary, upgrade to a more powerful PSU to eliminate power-related issues.
Faulty Cables	Damaged or loose cables connecting the graphics card to the monitor can result in signal interference and screen tearing. Inspect the cables for any visible damage or loose connections. Replace any defective cables with high-quality ones to ensure a stable and reliable connection.
Defective Graphics Card	In rare cases, a faulty graphics card may be the underlying cause of screen tearing. If other troubleshooting steps have failed to resolve the issue, perform a stress test on the graphics card using benchmark software or intensive games. Persistent tearing or artifacts during the test indicate a potential hardware failure. Consider contacting the manufacturer for further assistance or replacement.

Updating Graphics Drivers

Updating your graphics drivers is an essential step in fixing screen tear. These drivers help your operating system and graphics card to communicate effectively and ensure that your games run smoothly. Here are the steps on how to update your graphics drivers:

Identify your graphics card model and manufacturer. This information can usually be found in your computer’s BIOS settings or by using a third-party utility like GPU-Z.
Visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer and navigate to the drivers section. Search for the latest drivers compatible with your card model and operating system.
Download the drivers and run the installation executable. Follow the prompts to install the new drivers.
Restart your computer to complete the installation process.

Here are some additional tips for updating your graphics drivers:

Tip	Description
Use a driver update tool	There are several third-party tools available that can automate the process of finding and installing the latest drivers for your computer.
Check for beta drivers	Beta drivers are often released by manufacturers to fix bugs and improve performance. However, they may also be less stable than official drivers.
Disable Windows Update	Windows Update can sometimes automatically install outdated or incompatible drivers. Disabling Windows Update can prevent this from happening.

Enabling Vertical Sync

Vertical Sync, or V-Sync, synchronizes the refresh rate of your monitor with the frame rate of your graphics card. This prevents screen tearing, which occurs when the monitor displays multiple frames at once because the graphics card is generating frames faster than the monitor can refresh.

How to enable V-Sync in your graphics card settings:

Graphics Card Manufacturer	Control Panel	V-Sync Option
Nvidia	Nvidia Control Panel	Vertical Sync
AMD	AMD Radeon Software	Enable V-Sync
Intel	Intel Graphics Control Panel	Vertical Sync

Once V-Sync is enabled, you may experience a slight decrease in performance, as your graphics card will be limited to the refresh rate of your monitor. However, this trade-off is worth it for the elimination of screen tearing.

Adjusting Monitor Refresh Rate

Adjusting your monitor’s refresh rate can often resolve screen tearing. The refresh rate determines how many times per second your monitor updates its image. A higher refresh rate reduces the time between updates, making the image smoother and reducing perceived tearing.

Finding Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate

To find your current refresh rate:

Operating System

Instructions

Windows

Right-click on the desktop and select “Display Settings.” Scroll down to “Advanced Display Settings” and click on it. Under “Refresh rate,” you will find the current rate.

MacOS

Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.” Go to “Displays” and select your monitor. The refresh rate will be listed in the “Refresh Rate” drop-down menu.

Setting the Refresh Rate

To change the refresh rate:

Go to your monitor’s settings menu by pressing the buttons on the monitor or using a software interface.
Find the “Refresh Rate” setting and select the highest refresh rate available for your monitor.
Save the changes.

Troubleshooting

If setting the refresh rate to the highest value does not resolve the screen tearing, try the following:

Connect your monitor using a different cable (e.g., DisplayPort instead of HDMI).
Update your graphics card drivers.
Check for any other software that may be causing the screen tearing, such as video capture or overclocking software.

Checking Frame Rate

Frame rate is the number of times per second that a display device updates its image. A higher frame rate results in smoother motion and reduced screen tearing. To check your frame rate:

Using a third-party tool

There are several free and paid software tools available that can display your frame rate. Some popular options include:

FRAPS
MSI Afterburner
EVGA Precision X1

Once you have downloaded and installed a frame rate tracking tool, run it and play the game that you’re experiencing screen tearing in. The tool will display your frame rate in real-time.

Using Windows Performance Monitor

Windows Performance Monitor is a built-in tool that can be used to monitor your system’s performance, including frame rate. To use Windows Performance Monitor:

Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “perfmon” and press Enter.
In the Performance Monitor window, expand the “Monitoring Tools” branch and select “Data Collector Sets.”
Right-click on “User Defined” and select “New.”
In the “New Data Collector Set” window, enter a name for the data collector set and click “Create.”
Right-click on the new data collector set and select “New Counter.”
In the “Add Counters” window, select “Performance Monitor Items” and then select “\\\\System\\Graphics\\Frame Rate” from the list.
Click “Add” and then click “OK.”
Start the data collector set by right-clicking on it and selecting “Start.”
Play the game that you’re experiencing screen tearing in.
To view the frame rate data, right-click on the data collector set and select “View Report.”

Frame Rate	Description
< 30 FPS	Poor performance; screen tearing is likely to occur
30-60 FPS	Acceptable performance; screen tearing may still occur occasionally
> 60 FPS	Good performance; screen tearing is unlikely to occur

Disabling Game Mode

Game Mode is a feature found on some TVs and monitors that is designed to reduce input lag. However, in some cases, it can also cause screen tearing. If you are experiencing screen tearing, try disabling Game Mode to see if it resolves the issue. Here’s how to disable Game Mode on different devices:

Table: Disabling Game Mode on Different Devices

Once Game Mode is disabled, restart your game and check if the screen tearing issue has been resolved.

Repairing Corrupted System Files

Step 1: Run System File Checker (SFC)

SFC is a built-in Windows tool that scans and repairs corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:

Press Windows key + R.
Type “cmd” (without quotes) and press Enter.
In the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” (without quotes) and press Enter.

Step 2: Run Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM)

DISM is another built-in Windows tool that can repair more severe system file corruption. To use it, follow these steps:

Press Windows key + R.
Type “cmd” (without quotes) and press Enter.
In the Command Prompt window, type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” (without quotes) and press Enter.

Step 3: Use a Third-Party File Repair Utility

If SFC and DISM fail to repair the corrupted system files, you can try a third-party file repair utility. Some popular options include:

Utility	Description
Reimage Repair	Scans and repairs corrupted system files, registry entries, and malware.
Restoro	Replaces damaged system files with healthy ones from a backup repository.
System Mechanic	Identifies and repairs corrupted system files, registry errors, and other performance issues.

Step 4: Reset Your PC

As a last resort, you can reset your PC to its factory settings. This will delete all your personal files and settings, so be sure to back up your data before proceeding. To reset your PC, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
Click on “Get started” under the “Reset this PC” section.
Choose the option to “Keep my files” or “Remove everything”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.

Reinstalling the Game

Reinstalling the game can sometimes fix screen tearing issues. This is because a fresh installation can remove any corrupted files or settings that may be causing the problem. To reinstall the game, follow these steps:

Uninstall the game from your computer.
Delete any remaining game files from your computer.
Restart your computer.
Download the latest version of the game from the official website.
Install the game and launch it.

If you are still experiencing screen tearing after reinstalling the game, try the following additional steps:

Update your graphics card drivers.
Change the game’s graphics settings to a lower resolution or detail level.
Disable VSync in the game’s settings.
Enable G-Sync or FreeSync in your monitor’s settings.
Try using a different monitor or TV.
Contact the game’s developer for support.

Cause	Solution
Corrupted game files	Reinstall the game
Outdated graphics drivers	Update your graphics card drivers
High graphics settings	Lower the game’s graphics settings
VSync disabled	Enable VSync in the game’s settings
G-Sync or FreeSync disabled	Enable G-Sync or FreeSync in your monitor’s settings
Faulty monitor or TV	Try using a different monitor or TV

Adjusting Graphics Settings

Adjusting graphics settings can often resolve screen tearing. Here are some specific settings to consider:

Vertical Sync (Vsync)

Vsync synchronizes the frame rate of the game with the refresh rate of the monitor. This ensures that each frame is fully rendered before being displayed, eliminating tearing.

Triple Buffering

Triple buffering creates an additional frame buffer between the game and the monitor. This allows the game to render three frames ahead of time, reducing the chances of tearing.

Adaptive Sync Technologies (G-Sync, FreeSync)

Adaptive sync technologies dynamically adjust the refresh rate of the monitor to match the frame rate of the game. This eliminates tearing by ensuring that each frame is displayed at the correct time.

Advanced Settings

Some graphics cards offer advanced settings that can further improve screen tearing. These settings may include:

Low Latency Mode

Low latency mode reduces input lag by sending frames to the monitor as soon as they are rendered, even if Vsync is enabled.

Fast Sync

Fast Sync is a hybrid technology that combines Vsync and adaptive sync. It provides the benefits of Vsync without introducing significant input lag.

Custom Frame Rate Limits

Setting a custom frame rate limit can prevent the game from exceeding the refresh rate of the monitor, reducing tearing.

Setting	Description
Vsync	Synchronizes the frame rate with the monitor’s refresh rate.
Triple Buffering	Creates an extra buffer to reduce tearing.
Adaptive Sync (G-Sync, FreeSync)	Adjusts the refresh rate of the monitor to match the frame rate of the game.
Low Latency Mode	Reduces input lag by sending frames to the monitor as soon as they are rendered.
Fast Sync	Hybrid technology that combines Vsync and adaptive sync.
Custom Frame Rate Limits	Prevents the game from exceeding the monitor’s refresh rate.

Contacting Tech Support

If all else fails and you’re unable to resolve the issue on your own, contacting tech support is the next step. Here are some tips for getting the help you need:

Gather information: Before contacting tech support, gather as much information about your system as possible. This includes your computer model, operating system, graphics card, and any other relevant details.
Be specific: When explaining the issue to tech support, be as specific as possible. Describe the symptoms you’re experiencing, including when the screen tearing occurs and any other relevant details.
Provide documentation: If possible, take screenshots or videos of the screen tearing and provide them to tech support. This will help them visualize the issue and provide more accurate troubleshooting assistance.
Be patient: Resolving screen tearing issues can sometimes take time. Be patient with tech support as they work through the troubleshooting process.

Contact Options	Advantages	Disadvantages
Email	– Convenient and asynchronous – Allows for detailed explanations and documentation	– May take longer for a response – Not suitable for urgent issues
Live chat	– Real-time support – Allows for quick clarification and troubleshooting	– May be limited to specific hours or availability – Can be impersonal
Phone call	– Immediate assistance – Allows for direct conversation and feedback	– Can be time-consuming – May require additional information to be gathered

How to Fix Screen Tear

Screen tearing is a visual artifact that can occur when the refresh rate of your monitor is not in sync with the frame rate of your graphics card. This can result in a choppy, distorted image that can be distracting and unpleasant to look at.

There are a few things you can do to fix screen tear, including:

Enable VSync. VSync is a technology that synchronizes the refresh rate of your monitor with the frame rate of your graphics card. This can help to eliminate screen tearing, but it can also introduce input lag.
Use a higher refresh rate monitor. A higher refresh rate monitor will be able to display more frames per second, which can help to reduce screen tearing.
Update your graphics card drivers. Outdated graphics card drivers can sometimes cause screen tearing. Make sure to update your drivers to the latest version to see if that fixes the problem.
Change your graphics card settings. Some graphics cards have settings that can help to reduce screen tearing. For example, you can try enabling triple buffering or setting the maximum frame rate to a value below the refresh rate of your monitor.