Screen tearing, where the image looks split into misaligned strips during motion, happens when your graphics card sends new frames out of sync with the monitor's refresh cycle. The monitor ends up showing parts of two different frames at once. It is most visible when your frame rate is higher or uneven compared with the screen's refresh rate. Turning on V-Sync or an adaptive sync feature usually fixes it.
Why this happens
Your monitor refreshes at a fixed rate, for example 60 or 144 times per second. Your graphics card produces frames at its own pace, which changes with the scene. When the card delivers a new frame partway through a refresh, the top of the screen shows the old frame and the bottom shows the new one, creating a visible horizontal split.
Tearing is worse when frame rate and refresh rate are not aligned, such as an uncapped frame rate running far above the refresh rate, or a frame rate that swings up and down.
Is this normal?
Some tearing is a normal side effect of a graphics card and a fixed refresh monitor working independently, especially with synchronization turned off. It is not a defect, and modern sync features are designed specifically to prevent it.
Does it cause any problems?
Tearing does not damage your hardware. It only affects how the image looks, breaking immersion and making fast motion appear jagged. Some fixes for it, such as standard V-Sync, can add a little input lag, which is why adaptive sync is often preferred.
How to fix or check it
- Turn on V-Sync in the game's graphics settings. This locks frame output to the refresh rate and removes tearing, though it may add slight input lag.
- If your monitor and graphics card support it, enable adaptive sync: G-Sync for Nvidia or FreeSync for AMD. This matches the refresh rate to your frame rate and removes tearing with little lag.
- Enable the feature in your graphics control panel too. In the Nvidia or AMD software, switch on G-Sync or FreeSync for the game.
- Cap your frame rate at or just below your refresh rate using the game or graphics software, which reduces tearing on its own.
- Make sure your monitor is running at its full refresh rate in the operating system's display settings.
- Update your graphics driver, since sync features and stability improve with current drivers.
Frequently asked questions
Does V-Sync stop screen tearing?
Yes. V-Sync ties your frame output to the monitor's refresh rate, which removes tearing. The trade-off is a little added input lag and, if frame rate drops below the refresh rate, some stutter.
Is G-Sync or FreeSync better than V-Sync?
For most gamers, yes. G-Sync and FreeSync adjust the monitor's refresh to match your frame rate, removing tearing with much less input lag than standard V-Sync, but both the monitor and graphics card must support them.
Does screen tearing damage my monitor?
No. Tearing is only a visual mismatch between frames and refresh cycles. It does not harm the monitor or graphics card in any way.