Windows 11 to Bring Dynamic Refresh Rate Support for Apps: All Details

Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) will enable smoother scrolling for Microsoft Office apps in Windows 11.

By Tasneem Akolawala | Updated: 30 June 2021 16:37 IST

Windows 11 to Bring Dynamic Refresh Rate Support for Apps: All Details

Dynamic refresh rate can be found in Windows Insider builds (Dev channel) on supported devices

Highlights

DRR is supported in apps like Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge
DRR does not apply to games, Microsoft said
DRR will be supported on more apps in the future

Windows 11 is coming with Dynamic Refresh Rate for default apps that will lead to smoother scrolling and better battery life, as seen in the latest Windows Insider builds of the upcoming operating system. The feature automatically switches between higher and lower refresh rates depending on what is on the screen at any moment, lowering the frame rate for when you're mostly on a static page, for example. The Dynamic Refresh Rate feature can be seen in Windows Insider builds (Dev channel) on supported devices.

For instance, if you are using a laptop with a display capable of 120Hz with a Dynamic mode between 60Hz and 120Hz, the display will refresh at 60Hz for everyday productivity tasks, such as email, writing a document, and so forth to conserve battery life. It will then seamlessly switch to 120Hz for tasks such as inking and scrolling. According to Microsoft, to use DRR, you'll need a laptop with a display that supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and a refresh rate of at least 120Hz. Additionally, DRR requires a graphics driver (WDDM 3.0) that supports it (available through Windows Update).

Microsoft says DRR is currently supported in apps like Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Whiteboard, Microsoft Photos, Snip and Sketch, Drawboard PDF, Microsoft Sticky Notes, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft To-Do, and Inkodo for smoother inking, and DRR also enables smoother scrolling for Microsoft Office apps. The company says more apps will support DRR for smoother inking and scrolling in the future

Windows 11 May Roll Out in October, Insider Preview Available for Testing

All Insider members can try out DRR if they have a laptop with a compatible display and drivers. Microsoft says that it is working with its graphics display partners to bring updated graphics drivers that support DRR to the Windows Insiders Program.

Apart from DRR support, Microsoft Office is also getting a visual refresh and 64-bit ARM support alongside Windows 11 update. The next-gen Windows may debut for the general public as early as October 20. The Windows 11 preview includes features such as the centrally-placed Start menu and taskbar as well as new themes and sounds, among other things.

We discuss the return of PUBG Mobile, sorry, Battlegrounds Mobile India on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.