Google Chrome to improve Multi-Monitor support for Windows 11 24H2

While Microsoft hasn’t announced the official release date for Windows 11 24H2 yet, Google is preparing to add support for the new operating system version to Chrome. In addition, Google has identified and is working to address video frame rate drops that have been affecting Chrome users in multi-monitor setups on Windows 11 24H2 Preview version.

Google’s Chrome browser is known for its adaptation to new Windows operating system updates. However, despite the upcoming release of Windows 11 24H2 (build 26100), the tech giant has been cautious about adding support for this version.

The initiative to support Windows 24H2/26100 in Chrome comes from a previous effort to integrate support for the 23H2 Windows version. The new version, released to the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, prompted Google to address a significant bug (360354541) related to video playback frame drops in multi-monitor setups with different refresh rates.

Chrome Gears Up for Windows 24H2: Addressing Video Frame Rate Issues in Multi-Monitor setups

The problem arises in setups where each monitor operates at a different refresh rate (e.g., 75Hz and 240Hz). When playing a 60fps video, users experience consistent stuttering and dropped frames, reducing the effective frame rate to about 45-50fps.

The primary impact of video frame drops in multi-monitor setups is a degraded viewing experience. When videos stutter or experience inconsistent playback, it can be frustrating and distracting.

To fix this issue, Google plans to use the Win11 DCompositionWaitForCompositorClock API. This API allows Chrome to get real-time information about the screen’s refresh rate, so it can adjust accordingly. This should make videos play more smoothly and reduce any stuttering.

A key part of this update is adding the 24H2 enum to Chromium. As one developer noted, “We normally only add a new version if there is some code in Chromium that needs to have conditional behavior on the version.” The current patch, which uses build number comparison, will be updated to include the 24H2 enum before moving forward with the change.

It’s important to note that Microsoft has not yet announced the official release date for Windows 11 24H2. This means that while preparations are underway, the exact timeline for when users can expect full support in Chrome remains uncertain.

In addition to improving multi-monitor video playback, Chrome is introducing new features such as AI data collection for extensions, a translate screen option integrated with Google Lens, and works to declutter the tab bar.