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Refresh Rate Test

This refresh rate test measures how many times per second your screen updates, in hertz (Hz). Keep this tab in front and your result appears in about 2 seconds.

– Hz

Measuring for about 2 seconds…

Measuring…

Keep this tab in front.

Frame times

Each bar is one frame. Dashed line: one refresh. × dropped frame · ▲ off the chart.

Motion check

All three squares move at the same speed. The top one moves every frame, the others every 2nd and 4th frame, so the top one should look smoothest.

What this test can't see
  • Cable signal. It times the frames your computer draws. It can't see whether the cable and monitor show every one of them.
  • Frame skipping. Some overclocked monitors accept a higher rate but drop frames inside. Only a camera can catch that.
  • Variable refresh range. With G-Sync or FreeSync, the rate follows the game. This test shows the browser's rate only.
  • Response time. How fast pixels change color decides blur and trails. Check that with the ghosting test.

How to use the refresh rate test

A refresh rate test measures how many times per second your screen shows a new image, in hertz (Hz). This one times your browser’s frames, so the number is the rate your screen runs at now, not the maximum on the box.

  1. Open this monitor refresh rate test on the screen you want to check. With two monitors, drag the window onto that screen first.
  2. Close heavy apps, keep this tab in front and wait 2 seconds.
  3. Pick your screen’s rating. For a 144 Hz test, pick 144. The label then shows whether your screen matches it.
  4. If the rate is wrong, follow the fix list, then press Restart.
  5. Press Play motion to compare the full, half and quarter frame rates.

It works as a monitor Hz test on a PC and as a screen refresh rate test on a phone or tablet. Nothing is installed or uploaded.

How the refresh rate test works

A Hz test, or hertz test, counts how many new images your screen shows each second. Browsers draw a page once per refresh with requestAnimationFrame, and this Hz tester records the time between those frames.

The result is the total time divided by the number of refreshes, which gives exact rates such as 59.94 or 143.98 Hz. A frame that misses a refresh lasts two. The test counts it as a dropped frame instead of lowering the rate.

Browsers round their timers to about 0.1 ms. Averaging hundreds of frames cancels that rounding, so the reading is accurate to a few hundredths of a hertz.

Diagram: the refresh rate test times each frame; a dropped frame shows as a bar twice as long6.9 ms = 144 Hz×dropped: 13.9 msEach bar is one frametime →
At 144 Hz most frames take 6.9 ms, one refresh. A dropped frame waits for the next refresh, so its bar is twice as tall.

The motion lanes work like a 60 vs 120 Hz test. On a 120 Hz screen, the squares move 120, 60 and 30 times a second. If the top two look the same, your screen is probably running at the lower rate.

It measures your screen, not your mouse polling rate. It also can’t see the cable signal, frame skipping inside the monitor, the variable refresh range or pixel response time.

Understanding your results

A monitor refresh rate test only helps if you know what the number means. Compare the big number with your screen’s rating, then read the stability line under it.

What you see What it means What to do
A match, such as 59.94 for 60 Hz Normal: many 60 Hz screens run at 59.94 Hz Nothing
Stuck at 60 Hz A setting, cable, port or adapter limits the rate Work through the fixes below
About 30 Hz Power saving halves the rate Plug in or turn off energy saver
Between 60 Hz and the rating The system picked a lower rate, or the cable can’t carry more Check the setting and the cable
Above the rating The rating is wrong, or an overclock mode is on Check the box or the monitor menu
Irregular Variable refresh (G-Sync, FreeSync) or a busy PC Turn variable refresh off for the test
Dropped frames only The rate is right, but the computer is busy Close heavy apps and tabs

Blur or trails behind moving objects are a different problem. Check them with the ghosting test.

Why a 144 Hz monitor shows 60 Hz (and how to fix it)

Many high refresh rate monitors start at 60 Hz until you change something. Work down this list, and press Restart after each change.

  1. Set the full rate in the system. Windows and macOS often pick 60 Hz for a new monitor (steps below).
  2. Use the right port and cable. Use DisplayPort, or the HDMI port and cable that your monitor’s manual lists for its top rate. Older HDMI versions stop at 60 Hz at high resolutions.
  3. Plug into the graphics card. On a desktop PC, the motherboard’s video ports often can’t drive high rates.
  4. Remove adapters, docks, KVM switches and hubs. Many pass only 60 Hz.
  5. Check the monitor menu. Some monitors need an overclock mode or a newer DisplayPort or HDMI version turned on first.
  6. Install the graphics driver. A generic display driver may only offer 60 Hz.
  7. Check the laptop settings. Windows 11’s dynamic refresh rate switches between 60 Hz and the top rate, and some laptops drop to 60 Hz on battery.
  8. Check the browser. Chrome’s Energy Saver can halve a page’s frame rate on battery, often to about 30 fps. Turning off hardware acceleration can also lower the frame rate. Safari has its own 60 fps setting (see below).
  9. Test one screen at a time. With two monitors at different rates, the browser can follow the other screen.
  10. Games set their own rate. With G-Sync or FreeSync on, the rate follows the game. With it off, a mismatch causes screen tearing.

How to check your monitor refresh rate in Windows and macOS

The big number above is your current rate. Here’s where to see or change the setting.

Windows 11 and 10

In Windows 11, open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display, then pick the highest value under Choose a refresh rate. With two monitors, select the right display at the top first. Windows 10 has the same list under Advanced display settings.

macOS

Open System Settings → Displays and pick a value under Refresh Rate. Built-in ProMotion displays can show ProMotion instead, which changes the rate as needed.

The monitor’s own menu

Most monitors show the incoming signal on an information or status page of the on-screen menu. If it says 60 Hz there too, the computer is sending 60 Hz.

Is 60 Hz good? Refresh rates compared

60 Hz is fine for office work, reading and most video. Higher rates make scrolling and motion look smoother, and each new image reaches you sooner.

Refresh rate Time per frame Good for
60 Hz 16.7 ms Office work and video
75 Hz 13.3 ms A small step up for office screens
120 Hz 8.3 ms Phones, consoles and laptops
144 Hz 6.9 ms PC gaming
165–180 Hz 6.1–5.6 ms Fast PC gaming
240 Hz 4.2 ms Competitive gaming
360–540 Hz 2.8–1.9 ms Esports

A higher rate only helps if your computer can draw that many frames per second. Above 240 Hz, most people notice only a small difference.

Refresh rate test on iPhone, Android and laptops

iPhone and iPad

Safari runs pages near 60 fps by default, even on 120 Hz ProMotion screens. To test 120 Hz, open Settings → Apps → Safari → Advanced → Feature Flags and turn off Prefer Page Rendering Updates near 60fps. Low Power Mode and Accessibility → Motion → Limit Frame Rate also cap the screen at 60 Hz.

Android

Look in Settings → Display (Display & touch on a Pixel) for Smooth Display, Motion smoothness or Screen refresh rate, depending on the brand. Battery saver and adaptive refresh can drop the rate to 60 Hz or lower while you browse.

Laptops

Plug in before you test. Low Power Mode on Apple devices caps the screen at 60 Hz, and so can battery saver on Windows and Android.

Laptops with a dynamic refresh rate change speed as you work, so set a fixed rate for a steady reading.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Hz test?

A Hz test measures how many times per second something repeats. For a screen, it counts how many new images appear each second, so 60 Hz means 60 images per second. This page is a Hz tester for monitors, laptops and phones. Audio Hz tests are different: they play tones to check speakers or your hearing.

How do I check my monitor refresh rate?

Open this page on that monitor and wait about 2 seconds. The big number is the rate it runs at right now. To see the setting, open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display in Windows, or System Settings → Displays on a Mac. The monitor's information menu also shows the signal it receives.

What is my monitor refresh rate?

It's the big number at the top of this page, measured on the screen this window is on. A 144 Hz monitor that reads 60 Hz usually needs a settings change, another cable or port, or no adapter in between. Pick your screen's rating and the page lists the fixes in order.

How many Hz is considered good?

60 Hz is good for office work, reading and video. For games, 120 to 165 Hz looks clearly smoother and is a common choice. Competitive players often use 240 Hz or more. A higher rate only helps when your computer can draw that many frames per second, so match the monitor to your graphics card.

Is it safe to increase monitor refresh rate?

Yes, for any rate your system lists for that monitor. The monitor tells the computer which rates it supports. Going beyond them with custom resolutions or an overclock mode can cause frame skipping or a black screen. Windows asks you to keep a new display setting and switches back after a few seconds if you don't answer.

How do I test monitor refresh rate on a Mac?

Open this page on the screen you want to check and wait 2 seconds. On ProMotion screens, Safari stays near 60 fps unless you turn off its 60 fps preference in Feature Flags. Firefox can show the full 120 Hz, but Chrome's 120 Hz support is still inconsistent. You can change the rate itself in System Settings → Displays.

Does the refresh rate test work on iPhone?

Yes. Open the page and wait 2 seconds. On ProMotion iPhones, Safari reads about 60 Hz until you turn off Prefer Page Rendering Updates near 60fps in Safari's Feature Flags. Low Power Mode and the Limit Frame Rate setting under Accessibility → Motion also cap the screen at 60 Hz.

  • Monitor Ghosting Test

    Moving-object motion test (UFO-style) at several speeds and backgrounds to reveal ghosting, overshoot (inverse ghosting) and motion blur.

  • Dead Pixel Test

    Full-screen solid colors (white, black, red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow, gray) to spot dead, stuck and hot pixels and more.

  • Stuck Pixel Fixer

    Flashes a small, movable, resizable RGB noise square over a stuck pixel for 10-60 minutes to try to revive it.

All monitor tests

Written and tested by Tanveer Azam Ansari. I check each tool by hand on real monitors, keyboards, mice and controllers in current desktop and phone browsers before it goes live.

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