The Short Answer
Yes, a 240Hz monitor is compatible with the Xbox Series X — with one condition: the console caps its output at 120Hz, so your 240Hz panel will only ever display a 120Hz signal from the Xbox. The monitor itself will work perfectly, but you cannot get 240 frames per second out of the Xbox Series X, no matter which monitor you buy. The Xbox Series X HDMI 2.1 output simply does not offer a 240Hz mode at any resolution.
Practically speaking, this means you can plug your Xbox into a 240Hz monitor today, enjoy 4K at up to 120Hz or 1440p at 120Hz, and the monitor will accept that signal without issue. The remaining 120Hz of the panel’s refresh range will sit unused during console gaming. If you also connect a gaming PC to the same monitor, you will see the full 240Hz there.
Compatibility at a Glance
| Factor | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video input | HDMI 2.0 or HDMI 2.1 port on the monitor | HDMI 2.1 is required for 4K at 120Hz with VRR; HDMI 2.0 limits you to 1440p at 120Hz |
| Cable | Ultra High Speed HDMI cable (48 Gbps) | The cable included with the Xbox Series X qualifies; older HDMI 2.0 cables may drop to lower refresh rates or resolutions |
| Monitor refresh rate | 240Hz capability (any brand) | The Xbox will drive it at 120Hz maximum; the extra headroom is unused on console |
| Console output modes | 120Hz setting enabled on the Xbox | Settings → General → TV & display options → Video modes → check “Allow 120Hz” |
| Adaptive sync | Monitor must support VRR over HDMI (HDMI Forum VRR) for tear-free 120Hz | FreeSync over HDMI works on many 240Hz gaming monitors; enable “Allow Variable Refresh Rate” in the same Video modes menu |
| Game support | The game itself must run at 120 FPS | A 120Hz output does nothing for titles locked at 60 FPS; check each game’s performance mode |
What Determines It
Interface (HDMI version and bandwidth)
What causes confusion: many 240Hz monitors advertise 240Hz only over DisplayPort, with HDMI as a secondary input. The Xbox Series X has no DisplayPort output — it uses HDMI exclusively.
How to check: look up your monitor’s specification sheet and find the HDMI port’s stated bandwidth. If the HDMI input is HDMI 2.1 (48 Gbps, sometimes labeled “HDMI 2.1 TMDS” or listed as supporting 4K 120Hz), you are fully set. If it is HDMI 2.0 (18 Gbps), the port typically tops out at 1440p at 120Hz or 4K at 60Hz.
What to do: connect the Xbox to the monitor’s HDMI input using an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. On the Xbox, go to Settings → General → TV & display options, set Resolution to your monitor’s native resolution, and set Refresh rate to 120Hz. Under Video modes on the same screen, enable “Allow 120Hz,” “Allow Variable Refresh Rate,” and, if your monitor supports it, “Allow Auto Low-Latency Mode.”
How to undo: return to the same Video modes menu and uncheck the boxes, or set Refresh rate back to 60Hz if you move the console to a different display that cannot handle 120Hz.
Power and display settings
What causes it: a monitor that is set to the wrong input, or an Xbox left in a low-power state that negotiates the display poorly, can result in a blank screen or a 60Hz-only handshake.
How to check: while a game is running, press the Xbox button, go to Profile & system → Settings → General → TV & display options → 4K TV details (or “Video modes info” depending on your firmware revision). This screen confirms what signal the console is actually sending — resolution, refresh rate, HDR, and VRR status.
What to do: if the display is stuck at 60Hz, power-cycle both devices at the wall for 30 seconds, confirm the monitor’s input source matches the port you used, and re-run the refresh rate selection. If the screen goes blank after enabling 120Hz, the Xbox will prompt you to confirm or revert within about 20 seconds; do nothing and it restores the prior setting automatically.
How to undo: in TV & display options, set Refresh rate back to 60Hz or 120Hz as needed; no permanent change is made by experimenting here.
Drivers and firmware (console and monitor)
What causes it: refresh-rate negotiation depends on the EDID data the monitor sends and the console’s system software. Outdated monitor firmware or an Xbox OS that predates a monitor’s HDMI 2.1 fixes can cause 120Hz to be missing from the drop-down menu entirely.
How to check: on the Xbox, go to Profile & system → Settings → System → Console info → OS version, then compare against the latest release notes on Microsoft’s support pages via a web browser. For the monitor, check the manufacturer’s support page for your exact model number for firmware updates — many modern 240Hz monitors receive HDMI handshake and VRR fixes this way.
What to do: update the Xbox by going to Settings → System → Updates & downloads → Check for updates. For the monitor, download the firmware tool from the manufacturer (often a Windows utility delivered as an .exe, or a firmware.bin file placed in the root directory of a FAT32-formatted USB drive and applied via the monitor’s on-screen display menu) and follow the model-specific instructions.
How to undo: firmware updates are generally not reversible; if an update causes issues, roll back by contacting the manufacturer for the previous firmware file, which most brands will supply.
Form factor and cable routing
What causes it: some 240Hz ultrawide or high-density monitors route their HDMI and DisplayPort inputs through a hub or internal board that adds handshake latency or limits HDMI bandwidth. Passive adapters (HDMI-to-DisplayPort cables sold cheaply online) almost never carry a 120Hz 4K signal.
How to check: if your monitor only has DisplayPort inputs plus a single HDMI, verify in the manual whether that HDMI port is full-bandwidth 2.1 or a reduced-capability port. Avoid adapters entirely — a direct Ultra High Speed HDMI cable run is the only reliable connection.
What to do: use the certified cable bundled with the Xbox Series X, plugged directly from console to monitor with no adapters, switches, or receivers in between. HDMI 2.1 AV receivers and switches must explicitly support 48 Gbps passthrough; anything less will silently drop the signal to 4K 60Hz.
How to undo: simply unplug any adapter or intermediate device and reconnect the console directly to the monitor.
How to Check Yours
Work through this sequence in order:
- Find your monitor’s model number on the rear label or in the on-screen display menu under Information, then search the manufacturer’s spec page for the HDMI port version and maximum refresh rate over HDMI.
- Confirm you have an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable — certified ones carry the “Ultra High Speed” label printed on the connector or sheath. The Xbox Series X’s included cable is fine.
- On the Xbox, open Profile & system → Settings → General → TV & display options. If “120Hz” appears in the Refresh rate drop-down, your chain supports it. If it does not appear, the bottleneck is the cable, the monitor’s HDMI port, or the handshake — retest after a power cycle.
- Select 120Hz, then open the Video modes sub-menu and tick “Allow 120Hz,” “Allow Variable Refresh Rate,” and “Allow Auto Low-Latency Mode.”
- Verify the live signal with the 4K TV details screen, and test with a game that has a 120 FPS performance mode to confirm smooth output.
If It’s Not Compatible
If your 240Hz monitor’s HDMI input tops out at HDMI 2.0, you still have workable options:
- Run 1440p at 120Hz. Most HDMI 2.0 gaming monitors accept 1440p at 120Hz, which is an excellent balance for competitive shooters. Set the console’s Resolution to 1440p in TV & display options and enable 120Hz.
- Accept 4K at 60Hz for cinematic games. Slower-paced titles lose little at 60 FPS, and the monitor’s 240Hz panel will still render those frames with minimal latency.
- Add an HDMI 2.1-capable monitor for the console and keep the 240Hz panel for PC use. Entry-level 4K 120Hz HDMI 2.1 gaming displays are widely available and have come down in price through 2026.
- Use FreeSync over HDMI if VRR is unsupported. If “Allow Variable Refresh Rate” grays out, check the monitor’s OSD for a FreeSync or Adaptive-Sync toggle (usually under Game or Sync settings) and enable it, then re-check the Xbox menu.
FAQ
Will a 240Hz monitor make my Xbox Series X games run faster?
No. Frame rate is determined by the console’s hardware and the game’s performance mode, not by the display. The Xbox Series X outputs a maximum of 120 FPS, so a 240Hz monitor displays those 120 frames exactly as a 120Hz monitor would.
Can I use a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter to get 240Hz?
No, and the direction matters: the Xbox outputs HDMI only, and active HDMI-to-DisplayPort converters that actually carry 4K 120Hz are rare, expensive, and frequently introduce handshake failures. A direct HDMI cable is always the correct choice.
Is a 240Hz monitor still worth buying if I mainly play on Xbox?
It depends on your other devices. If you also game on a PC that can push high frame rates, a 240Hz monitor is a great dual-use purchase — the Xbox will use it happily at 120Hz. If the console is your only gaming device, a native 120Hz HDMI 2.1 monitor costs less and delivers the identical Xbox experience.
Why does my Xbox only show 60Hz in the refresh rate menu?
The drop-down only lists modes the console detects as supported, based on the monitor’s EDID data. Common fixes: swap in a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, power-cycle both devices, enable FreeSync or Adaptive-Sync in the monitor’s OSD, update the monitor’s firmware and the Xbox OS, and make sure you are plugged into the monitor’s full-bandwidth HDMI port rather than a secondary one.
