where to find v sync on amd software | A 2026 Step-by-Step Breakdown

Locating the V-Sync Setting

Finding the Vertical Sync (V-Sync) toggle in the modern AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition is a straightforward process, though the interface has evolved significantly as of 2026. To begin, right-click on your Windows desktop and select "AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition." Alternatively, you can use the system tray icon or the default hotkey (Alt+R) to bring up the dashboard.

Once the software is open, look for the "Settings" gear icon located in the top right corner of the window. Clicking this will open the global configuration menu. From the horizontal tabs at the top, select "Graphics." This section contains the primary visual enhancements for your GPU. Scroll down through the options until you find "Wait for Vertical Refresh." This is the technical term AMD uses for V-Sync within its driver suite.

Global vs. Game Settings

AMD allows users to set V-Sync in two different ways: Globally or per-game. If you change the setting under the main "Graphics" tab, it applies to every application you run. However, many users prefer to customize this. By clicking on the "Gaming" tab at the top of the software, you can select a specific title from your library. This allows you to enable V-Sync for a screen-tearing prone game while keeping it off for competitive shooters where input lag is a concern.

Understanding Wait for Vertical Refresh

In the AMD Adrenalin interface, the V-Sync option is labeled as "Wait for Vertical Refresh." This setting dictates how the graphics card synchronizes its frame delivery with the monitor's refresh rate. As of 2026, the software typically offers four distinct modes to choose from:

Setting Mode	Function Description	Best Use Case
Always Off	Disables synchronization entirely, allowing maximum frame rates.	Competitive eSports and low-latency gaming.
Off, unless application specifies	Defers control to the in-game settings menu.	General gaming with manual in-game control.
On, unless application specifies	Forces V-Sync unless the game specifically turns it off.	Standard monitors without variable refresh tech.
Always On	Forces synchronization at the driver level regardless of game settings.	Fixing persistent screen tearing in older titles.

Enhanced Sync Technology

AMD also offers "Enhanced Sync" as an alternative to traditional V-Sync. Enhanced Sync is designed to reduce screen tearing while minimizing the input lag and stuttering associated with traditional V-Sync. It works by allowing the GPU to run at its maximum speed but only displaying the most recently completed frames that fit within the monitor's refresh cycle. This is often found directly above or below the "Wait for Vertical Refresh" toggle in the Graphics menu.

V-Sync and FreeSync Integration

For users with modern displays, V-Sync is often used in conjunction with AMD FreeSync. FreeSync is a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology that matches the monitor's refresh rate to the GPU's output in real-time. However, FreeSync only works within a specific range (e.g., 48Hz to 144Hz). If your frame rate exceeds the maximum refresh rate of your monitor, FreeSync stops working, and tearing can occur.

To maintain a tear-free experience even when frames exceed the monitor's limit, many enthusiasts recommend enabling both FreeSync and V-Sync (Wait for Vertical Refresh) within the AMD Software. This ensures that the frame rate is capped at the monitor's maximum limit, keeping the gameplay within the "FreeSync Range" at all times. This combination provides the smoothest visual experience currently available on Radeon hardware.

Troubleshooting V-Sync Issues

Sometimes, enabling "Wait for Vertical Refresh" in the AMD Software does not seem to affect the game. This is a common issue, especially in "Windowed Borderless" mode. For the driver-level V-Sync to take full effect, it is often necessary to set the game to "Exclusive Fullscreen" mode. Windows' own Desktop Window Manager (DWM) applies its own form of synchronization to windowed apps, which can sometimes conflict with AMD's driver settings.

Driver Overrides

If a game continues to tear despite the "Always On" setting, check if there is a conflict with "AMD Radeon Anti-Lag" or "AMD Chill." While these features are designed to improve performance, they occasionally override synchronization behaviors. AMD Chill, for instance, acts as a frame rate limiter. If you set the Chill maximum FPS to just below your monitor's refresh rate (e.g., 141 FPS for a 144Hz screen), it can act as a more efficient way to prevent tearing than traditional V-Sync.

V-Sync in Professional Contexts

While most discussions around V-Sync focus on gaming, it is also relevant for professional tasks such as video editing or crypto market analysis. When viewing high-frequency data charts or streaming live market updates, screen tearing can be distracting. For those monitoring assets on platforms like WEEX, ensuring a stable and synchronized display helps in maintaining focus during volatile market movements.

In professional environments, "Always On" is generally preferred to ensure visual consistency across multiple monitors, especially when using a mix of high-refresh-rate and standard 60Hz displays. AMD Software allows you to create "Display Groups" where V-Sync settings can be synchronized across an entire multi-monitor array.

Performance Impact

It is important to remember that V-Sync does come with a performance cost. By forcing the GPU to wait for the monitor, you are essentially introducing a delay. In 2026, with the power of the Radeon RX 7000 and 8000 series, this delay is minimal, but it is still measurable. If you are performing high-speed tasks, such as futures trading where every millisecond of visual update counts, you might prefer to use "Enhanced Sync" or a high-refresh-rate monitor with V-Sync disabled to get the most immediate data feedback possible.

Summary of Steps

To quickly find and enable V-Sync on AMD software as of now, follow these steps:

• Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
• Click the Settings (Gear) icon in the top right.
• Navigate to the Graphics tab.
• Locate Wait for Vertical Refresh.
• Change the dropdown to Always On or Enhanced Sync.

By following this path, you can eliminate screen tearing and customize your visual experience to match your specific hardware capabilities and gaming preferences.