How do I permanently disable Variable Refresh Rate on external displays? (Monterey "feature")

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How do I permanently disable Variable Refresh Rate on external displays? (Monterey "feature")

I have a 13" MacBook Pro, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports, Intel, which I recently upgraded to Monterey. I am using 2 Dell S2721Q monitors connected via DisplayPort to a CalDigit TS3 dock. Everything was working perfectly on Big Sur. Now that I upgraded to Monterey, it introduced this "feature", this nonsense... the availability of Variable refresh rate on these screens (40hz - 60hz). When it is set to this, which is the default, they flicker and look just plain awful. I change it back to 60hz, which is what it was always using by default on Big Sur, but every time the Mac sleeps, the displays end up sleeping, and when everything wakes up, the refresh rate is set back to Variable.

What can I do to disable Variable refresh rate permanently, or to ensure that the fixed refresh rate setting applies? I'm also open to scripting something if there is a CLI tool that works on Monterey to set the refresh rate.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Oct 28, 2021 7:08 PM

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Answer 1

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dahveed311 Author

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Nov 5, 2021 8:30 AM in response to Shawn_Liu

Shawn_Liu wrote:

It works. I disabled "adaptive sync" on my screen. And there is no "variable" option in the mac setting anymore. Now it is default "60hz".

This will definitely work if the monitor has that capability. Unfortunately, the Dell S2721Q offers no such option :(

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Answer 2

Nov 1, 2021 2:44 AM in response to dahveed311

Looks like VRR support in Monterey is massively flawed. This flickering should not happen with a proper implementation of FreeSync / GSync support. Here are some links to other reports about the same issue:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/variable-refresh-rate-freesync-gsync-flicker.2320463/?post=30551784

https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/qg9qki/updated_to_monterey_monitor_is_flickering_help/

Please file a bug report with Apple to get both the automatic revert to VRR after sleep / reboot and the flickering fixed ASAP.

https://feedbackassistant.apple.com

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Answer 3

dahveed311 Author

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Nov 1, 2021 8:03 AM in response to majortom1967

It's nonsense. It is changing the default behavior to a configuration that results in problematic behavior, and the setting is not persistent.

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Answer 4

Nov 4, 2021 7:40 PM in response to majortom1967

It works. I disabled "adaptive sync" on my screen. And there is no "variable" option in the mac setting anymore. Now it is default "60hz".

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Answer 5

Oct 31, 2021 8:03 PM in response to dahveed311

I'm seeing the same issue with a Dell S2722QC monitor, but for me the flickering usually starts when I enter a video application in full screen mode. It does appear that the problem is associated with the VRR support in Monterey which defaults back to VRR even if you set the refresh rate to a fixed 60 Hz.

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Answer 6

dahveed311 Author

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35 points

Nov 1, 2021 8:10 AM in response to majortom1967

I think we're in violent agreement :)

I agree with you - I bought these monitors because I often use them on a Windows PC with FreeSync to games. It is nice to see it available for Mac gamers now, but need this fixed because it is making me crazy.

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Answer 7

Nov 1, 2021 8:54 AM in response to dahveed311

There's another thing I was thinking meanwhile: the adaptive sync option in Display prefs should be off by default and the refresh rate fixed (normally on 60Hz). If was on by default, in your case, it surprises me.

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Answer 8

Nov 1, 2021 9:11 AM in response to StrasserC

Agreed, everyone on this thread could help out by completing a feedback report to Apple. I sent one in this morning and included a short video of how the screen was behaving.

Video Example of Problem: https://1drv.ms/v/s!AkHZQTNUXxJ9h8VyO8doY0xH9kkdSg?e=FCHuUn

https://feedbackassistant.apple.com

Thanks for the links.

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