Fix G-SYNC not working in Microsoft Flight Simulator by checking monitor VRR, NVIDIA settings, display mode, refresh rate and FPS limits.
G-SYNC usually appears not to work in Microsoft Flight Simulator when Adaptive-Sync is disabled on the monitor, the NVIDIA profile covers the wrong executable, windowed-mode support is off, or FPS reaches the refresh-rate ceiling. Enable VRR end to end, use driver V-Sync, and cap FPS slightly below maximum refresh.
How do I make G-SYNC engage in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
On PC, G-SYNC must be enabled at the monitor, Windows, NVIDIA driver and application-profile levels; one missed layer can prevent activation.
- Confirm that G-SYNC applies to your system. These steps cover Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 on PC with an NVIDIA GPU and a G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible display. AMD GPUs use Adaptive-Sync or FreeSync instead. Xbox and the PS5 edition of MSFS 2024 use console VRR, not NVIDIA G-SYNC.
- Enable VRR in the monitor. Open the monitor's own controls and enable the setting labelled Adaptive-Sync, Variable Refresh Rate or G-SYNC. Temporarily disable motion-blur-reduction modes because many monitors cannot run them alongside VRR. Use a direct DisplayPort or compatible HDMI connection where possible; docks, adaptors and capture pass-through devices can remove VRR support.
- Check the Windows refresh rate. Under the Advanced display settings, select the MSFS monitor and choose its intended refresh rate. A 144 Hz panel left at 60 Hz gives G-SYNC a 60 Hz ceiling, regardless of the monitor's advertised maximum.
- Enable the correct G-SYNC mode. In NVIDIA Control Panel, open Set up G-SYNC, enable it for the selected display and choose windowed and full-screen mode if available. MSFS can use borderless presentation even when it looks full-screen, so the full-screen-only option may not activate.
- Configure the actual simulator profile. Under Manage 3D settings and Program Settings, select the detected Microsoft Flight Simulator or
FlightSimulator.exeprofile rather than the Xbox app, Microsoft Store or another launcher. Where offered, select G-SYNC or G-SYNC Compatible for Monitor Technology, Highest available for the preferred refresh rate, and On for driver V-Sync. Do not select Fixed Refresh. - Remove conflicting limits. Turn V-Sync off inside MSFS and set one FPS limit, preferably in the NVIDIA per-game profile. Remove duplicate limits from overlays or other utilities. Start two or three FPS below the active refresh rate, such as 141 FPS for 144 Hz or 117 FPS for 120 Hz.
- Verify it during a flight. Enable the G-SYNC Indicator from the NVIDIA Control Panel display menu, then load into the aircraft rather than testing only in the menus. A monitor refresh-rate display should generally move with the frame rate, although it may show multiplied refresh values when Low Framerate Compensation is operating.
For a concise screen-by-screen baseline, follow our monitor-to-driver G-SYNC setup checklist for MSFS 2024.
Why should NVIDIA V-Sync be on when MSFS V-Sync is off?
Driver V-Sync prevents tearing when output reaches the monitor's upper refresh limit, while G-SYNC controls refresh below that limit. The FPS cap keeps the simulator away from the V-Sync ceiling and its added latency.
| Setting | Recommended starting point | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor Adaptive-Sync | On | Allows the display to vary its refresh rate |
| NVIDIA G-SYNC mode | Windowed and full-screen | Covers MSFS borderless presentation |
| NVIDIA V-Sync | On | Stops tearing at the upper VRR boundary |
| MSFS V-Sync | Off | Avoids a competing synchronisation method |
| FPS cap | 2-3 FPS below active refresh | Keeps output inside the G-SYNC range |
This pairing is deliberate, not contradictory. Our explanation of how V-Sync interacts with MSFS covers the latency and frame-pacing trade-offs. If you need another limiting method, compare the available ways to set one reliable MSFS FPS cap rather than stacking several.
What if the G-SYNC indicator never appears?
A missing indicator normally points to the display connection, presentation mode or NVIDIA application profile rather than a graphics-quality setting inside MSFS.
- Set up G-SYNC is missing: confirm that VRR is enabled in the monitor and that the display is connected directly to the NVIDIA GPU. Install the NVIDIA graphics driver again if the page disappeared after a driver problem.
- G-SYNC works in another game only: reset the MSFS NVIDIA profile, launch the simulator once, then reselect the detected simulator executable and apply only the G-SYNC, V-Sync, refresh-rate and FPS-cap settings.
- It works in one display mode only: enable G-SYNC for both windowed and full-screen applications. Restart MSFS after changing its display mode.
- The monitor stays at maximum refresh while FPS changes: check that Fixed Refresh is not selected and that the NVIDIA profile and G-SYNC indicator belong to the same monitor running MSFS.
- Tearing appears only near maximum refresh: the FPS cap is missing, too high or applied to the wrong executable. Base the cap on the refresh rate selected in Windows, not the maximum printed on the monitor box.
- Brightness pulses or black flashes occur: sharp frame-rate changes, monitor overclocking or an unstable cable can trigger VRR flicker on some panels. Test a direct cable, disable the monitor overclock and stabilise FPS before concluding that G-SYNC is broken.
Why is the G-SYNC menu missing on a laptop or multi-monitor PC?
The display must be physically routed through the NVIDIA GPU. On some laptops, the internal panel is connected to the integrated GPU even when MSFS renders on NVIDIA hardware; selecting the NVIDIA GPU for the game does not change that wiring.
Use the laptop's discrete-GPU or MUX mode if it provides one, or test an external output known to connect to the NVIDIA GPU. On a desktop, connect the monitor to the graphics card rather than the motherboard. For diagnosis, disconnect docks and cloned displays, then test only the intended G-SYNC monitor.
Why does MSFS still stutter with G-SYNC active?
G-SYNC removes tearing and improves frame delivery inside the display's VRR range, but it cannot repair uneven frame times caused by the main thread, scenery streaming, traffic, add-ons, shader compilation or exhausted VRAM.
If the G-SYNC indicator is present but the image still pauses, the synchronisation system is probably working. Check our diagnostic steps for frame-time stutter at high reported FPS instead of repeatedly changing G-SYNC settings.
Does G-SYNC work with DLSS Frame Generation?
Yes, G-SYNC can operate with Frame Generation, but the displayed output must remain below the refresh ceiling. Some FPS counters include generated frames while others report only rendered frames, so verify behaviour with the G-SYNC indicator or monitor refresh display.
If NVIDIA Reflex or the driver already applies a below-refresh limit, do not add another external limiter. Frame Generation can improve apparent motion, but it does not remove base-frame latency or main-thread spikes.