"Second Monitor Lagging While Gaming - How to Solve It?"

You come across your preferred YouTuber's gaming setup and decide to upgrade with dual monitors to enhance your gaming immersion. However, after a few gaming sessions, you notice your second monitor experiencing lag while playing games, leaving you irritated. This issue is quite prevalent among laptops such as Dell, Acer, HP, MSI, and others. Tools are available to help you understand why the second monitor is lagging during gameplay and provide solutions to rectify it, allowing you to resume gaming seamlessly.

Why Does My Second Monitor Have Input Lag When Gaming?

A dual monitor setup is known to enhance productivity, not just for gamers but also for software engineers and professionals across various industries. Upon investigating the issue, I found that even computers equipped with powerful GPUs were experiencing screen flickering on the secondary monitor. After extensive research, these are the most common reasons behind the flickering on the second monitor:

Now that we're aware of the possible causes of this error, it's time to learn how to resolve it. Keep reading!

Share this article on your social media to help more people.

What to Do If Your Second Monitor Lags While Gaming

This section contains 5 potential solutions to address lag on your second monitor. Though not all may be applicable, work your way through them to find the most suitable fix.

1. Solution 1: Change the Monitor Refresh Rate
2. Solution 2: Download and Install the Latest Windows Updates
3. Solution 3: Update Display and Monitor Drivers
4. Solution 4: Disable Hardware Acceleration
5. Solution 5: Disable Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling

1. Alter Monitor Refresh Rate To troubleshoot the issue, the first step is to modify the refresh rate of your monitors. Here's how you can do it: 1. **For Windows Users:** - Right-click on an empty area on your desktop and select "Display settings." - In the Display settings window, scroll down and click on "Advanced display settings." - Under the "Display" section, click on the monitor whose refresh rate you want to change. - Click on "Display adapter properties" and then navigate to the "Monitor" tab. - In the "Monitor Settings" section, you'll find the "Screen refresh rate" option. From the drop-down menu, choose a new refresh rate (common options are 60Hz, 75Hz, 120Hz, or 144Hz). - Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes. Your system will prompt you to confirm the change; if it appears stable, click "Keep changes," otherwise, choose "Revert." 1. **For Mac Users:** - Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Preferences." - Click on "Displays" and then choose the "Display" tab. - If you have multiple displays, click on the "Detect Displays" button to ensure the correct one is selected. - Click on the "Scaled" option under "Resolution" to reveal additional settings. - Look for the "Refresh Rate" options, and select the desired rate. Note that available options may vary depending on your hardware. 1. **For Linux Users:** - The process may vary depending on your DE (Desktop Environment), but generally: - Right-click on the desktop and choose "Screen Resolution" or "Display Settings." - Select the monitor you want to adjust and look for an option like "Refresh Rate," "Vertical Sync," or "Frequency." - Choose a new refresh rate from the list and apply the changes. You might need to use command-line tools like `xrandr` for some Linux distributions. Remember that not all monitors support every refresh rate, and selecting an unsupported rate can cause display issues. Always choose a rate that your monitor and graphics card support.

The issue of the second monitor lagging can be related to the refresh rate. If your graphics processing unit (GPU) is unable to display images at a specific refresh rate, you may encounter problems with your screen. There are two approaches to address this: either set the same refresh rate for both monitors or ensure that the refresh rates are integral multiples of each other.

Step 1. Press the Windows + I keys to open Settings.

Step 2. Go to System > Display. Click on Advanced Display.

Step 3. Scroll down to locate the Refresh rate option, click on the dropdown, and select 60 Hertz. Repeat this process for the other display if applicable.

Fix 2: Download and Install New Windows Updates

Sometimes, the issue might lie with Windows itself. If numerous users encounter the problem, Microsoft typically releases updates to address it. Attempt to download the latest updates to消除故障并解决延迟问题。

Step 1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

Step 2. Proceed to Windows Update on Windows 11 or Update & Security on Windows 10 via the left-hand pane.

Step 3. Click on Check for updates to see the available updates.

Step 4. Download & Install the latest updates to see if the second monitor stops lagging.

If you're encountering the issue where "Windows update keeps failing," you can seek assistance from the article below.

Translate into English

(Solved!) Windows Update Continuously Fails on Windows 11

This article discusses the reasons for Windows update failures on Windows 11 and provides solutions to fix the issue. Read more >>

Solution 3: Update Display and Monitor Drivers

Display adapters and monitor drivers facilitate the connection between hardware and software. If these drivers are outdated or corrupted, you can witness immediate impacts on your monitor, such as screen flickering. Therefore, it's essential to download the latest drivers to keep them updated and prevent such issues.

Step 1. Open the search and type Device Manager.

Step 2. Expand the Display Adapters section, right-click on your computer's display device, and select Update driver.

Step 3. On the next screen, you can choose how to search for drivers. Select "Search automatically for drivers" and proceed.

This image shows a screenshot of a computer display with the text "search automatically for drivers" in the context of troubleshooting a lagging second monitor issue while playing games. The image suggests that the user is looking for an update or the appropriate drivers to resolve the problem.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions and complete the process. Repeat this for any other display adapters and monitors you have.

Fix 4: Disable Hardware Acceleration

Contrary to its intended purpose, Hardware Acceleration can also hinder certain processes on your computer. This issue can contribute to lag on your second monitor while gaming. Therefore, disabling Hardware Acceleration is necessary to address this problem. Hardware Acceleration is a settings option within the application, and let's explore how to disable it in Google Chrome.

Step 1. Open Google Chrome, and click on the three dots located next to your profile icon.

Step 2. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

Step 3. Navigate to the System settings and disable the "Use hardware acceleration when available" toggle.

Step 4. Close the app and reopen it to check if the issue has resolved itself.

Share this article on your social media to help more people.

Fix 5: Disable Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling

If your system is running Windows 10 or later with a supported GPU installed, the operating system automatically enables Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling by default. This feature is designed to enhance Windows' performance by utilizing GPU resources more efficiently. However, it might occasionally lead to performance issues or compatibility problems. To troubleshoot, we will disable this feature to see if it resolves the issue.

Step 1. Open Settings and go to Display settings.

Step 2. Scroll down and locate the Graphics section.

Step 3. Open it and select "Change default graphics settings."

Step 4. Disable the Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling option on the screen.

Now, restart your PC and check if you can play the games without any monitor lagging issues.

Bonus Tip: How to Prevent PC Game Save Loss

If your dual setup is causing issues, you might need to switch to a new or single monitor setup. Be aware that deleting game save files will result in losing your gameplay progress. Game saves store your advancement and enable you to resume from where you last saved. To prevent this, you can use a free backup tool like Todo Backup to create a backup of your game saves, ensuring you have a copy to fall back on.

Tools enable you to automatically back up files, directories, or the entire computer. You can create backups, clones, and even system images to ensure the safety of your device and files. Additionally, it provides cloud storage for keeping your backup data and encryption to safeguard crucial information.

The intuitive UI ensures effortless operation, while acclaimed algorithms facilitate advanced backups. Download Todo Backup now and safeguard your game saves with a backup.

Step 1. Download and install Todo Backup on your computer. Click the "Create Backup" button on the main interface.

Step 2. You need to back up your software applications, so select the option by clicking "Apps data".

Step 3. All the apps that can be backed up are displayed on the screen. (Currently, Outlook is supported, and we will progressively develop and support more application backups, such as game apps and other email clients like Thunderbird, Gmail, Microsoft 365 apps, and so on.) Scroll down to locate the app you need to back up, then click "OK".

Step 4. Follow the prompts and select the location where you want to store the backup. It is recommended to choose a Cloud service, NAS, or an external hard drive to prevent data loss in case of computer failure or crash.

Step 5. You can set up a customized backup by clicking the "Options" button. This allows you to schedule backups on a daily, weekly, monthly basis, or upon specific events. It also enables you to choose between differential or incremental backup based on your requirements.

Step 6. After finishing the settings, click "Backup Now" to initiate the backup process. The duration will depend on the size of your source data, but it shouldn't take too long.

To conclude,

The issue of a second monitor lagging while playing games is quite common, as gaming demands high system resources, which can lead to such problems. We hope that the solutions provided above will resolve the monitor lagging issues. Try them all to find the one that works best for you. In the meantime, it's crucial to protect your game progress by backing up your save files. Utilize a reliable tool like Todo Backup to create backups of essential game files for emergency situations and easily recover them later.

FAQs About Second Monitor Lagging While Gaming

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding lag on a second monitor while gaming. If you have similar concerns, I hope this will assist you.

1. Does a second monitor affect gaming performance?

Indeed, while multiple monitors can aid in boosting productivity, they can negatively affect gaming performance. Particularly when using low-end PCs, they may struggle to handle the resources demanded by both screens, leading to issues such as flickering, lagging, and stuttering.

2. Why can't I use my second monitor while gaming?

If you're using a low-end PC or encountering issues like flickering or lagging on the secondary monitor, it's advisable to discontinue using the second monitor. If your PC isn't capable of handling the resources required to run both displays seamlessly, your gaming performance will suffer.

3. Why won't my second monitor go to 144Hz? Your second monitor might not be able to display at 144Hz for several reasons. Here are some common issues and solutions: 1. **Monitor Compatibility**: Check if your second monitor is actually capable of 144Hz. Not all monitors support this high refresh rate. Look up the specifications or check the manual to confirm. 2. **Display Connection**: Ensure you're using the correct cable. HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 and newer versions typically support 144Hz. Older cables or connections like HDMI 1.4 or DVI may limit the refresh rate. 3. **Graphics Card Settings**: Make sure your graphics card (GPU) supports 144Hz and has the necessary drivers installed. Update your GPU drivers to the latest version if needed. 4. **Display Settings**: In your operating system's display settings, verify that the monitor is set to the correct resolution and refresh rate. Windows users can do this through "Display Settings," while Mac users can find it in "System Preferences" > " Displays." 5. **Dual Monitor Configuration**: Sometimes, the operating system might prioritize the primary monitor. Check if the second monitor is set as the main display in the display settings. 6. **Limited GPU Output**: If your GPU doesn't have enough bandwidth to drive both monitors at 144Hz simultaneously, you might need to lower the resolution on one or both displays. 7. **Software Limitations**: Some games or applications might cap the refresh rate, even if the hardware supports it. Check the game or app settings for any frame rate or refresh rate limitations. If none of these solutions work, there could be a hardware issue with either the monitor or the graphics card, and professional assistance might be required.

If your computer's display settings are not set to 144Hz, the second monitor won't display it. Alter the refresh rate to 144Hz or above to adjust the refresh rate of the secondary monitor.

4. Why is my laptop screen lagging but not my monitor?

If the lagging issue is with the laptop screen and not the external monitor, you need to examine the compatibility of the graphics card. If the cards are not compatible with higher refresh rates, they might struggle to handle the display rendering smoothly on the screen.