Why is 4K only 60hz?
Ava Hall
Published Apr 18, 2026
There can be several causes for your display not running at 4K 60Hz: Make sure you are using a capable high-speed HDMI cable (minimum HDMI 2.0). Make sure your display is actually capable of displaying 4K 60Hz on the HDMI port you have connected AirServer to and that your display's settings are not forcing 30Hz.
Why is 4K limited to 60Hz?
As 4K technology is fairly new, especially to gaming, the standard HDMI is unfortunately non-compatible. So, an unsuitable HDMI cable is a pretty good reason why your 4k monitor is stuck at 30hz. In fact, even HDMI 2.0 isn't officially good enough when it comes to generating 60 Hz frequency at 4K.Does 4K go past 60Hz?
The difference here is that unlike the 240Hz monitors which are currently restricted to 1920 x 1080p resolution, until now 4K monitors have only been able to go up to a whopping 60Hz.Can you get 120Hz at 4K?
But while the previous generation of consoles maxed out at 60Hz over HDMI 2.0, both the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles have the capability to output at 120Hz at both 1080p and 4K over HDMI 2.1, when games support it. Put simply, this means smoother, flowing visuals as the TV refreshes faster.Why are most 4K monitors 60Hz?
4k resolution is not mainstream yet. 4k also requires fast driver circuits (read pricey) to display the HDMI/DP you plug in. 60Hz is the de facto refresh rate for monitors, no ones gonna buy it if you sell monitors with 30Hz. There are few manufacturers who have 4k at higher refresh rates (Asus for example).Stuck on 4k @ 30hz? How to get 4k @ 60hz on your PC
Is 4K 144Hz worth it?
4k @ 144Hz gaming monitors deliver the holy grail of gaming as they combine high pixel resolutions with a high refresh rate for a smooth and immersive gaming experience. However, this high refresh rate and resolution are demanding on graphics cards, and they need to support higher bandwidth.Is 120Hz better than 4K?
Is 120Hz Better Than 4K? Comparing a 4K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate is like comparing apples with oranges. Both offer different gaming enhancements, with a 4K display giving players a higher quality display, while 120Hz gives smoother visuals.Is HDMI 2.1 needed for PS5?
HDMI support on TVsIt is important to note that while the new consoles use HDMI 2.1 as the connection, it doesn't mean your TV also needs to support HDMI 2.1. Only brand new modern TVs and monitors are being shipped with HDMI 2.1 compatibility, and they are expensive and somewhat rare to find.