How the refresh rate test works
Your browser draws a new frame each time the screen refreshes. The test times those frames and shows the rate in hertz (Hz), the average time per frame, and how even the frames are. A 60 Hz screen shows about 16.7 ms per frame, 144 Hz shows 6.9 ms and 240 Hz shows 4.2 ms.
The graph shows each frame time. A flat line is good. Spikes are slow frames, which can come from a busy computer or a browser that is saving power. Keep this tab in the front and the window on the screen you want to test. With more than one monitor, the browser reports the rate of the screen the window is on.
Stuck at 60 Hz? How to fix it
- Set the refresh rate in the system. Windows: Settings, System, Display, Advanced display, Choose a refresh rate. Mac: System Settings, Displays, Refresh rate.
- Check the cable. Many HDMI cables and ports top out at 60 Hz at high resolutions. Use DisplayPort, or an HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 cable and port, for 120 Hz and above.
- Plug into the graphics card, not the motherboard, on a desktop PC with a separate GPU.
- Turn off power saving. Laptops on battery and phones in low power mode often drop to 60 Hz.
- Check the browser. Some browsers limit animation to 60 fps in power saving modes. Plug in a laptop and test again.
What refresh rate do you need?
| Rate | Feels like |
|---|---|
| 60 Hz | Standard for office work and video |
| 120 to 144 Hz | Clearly smoother scrolling and gaming |
| 165 to 240 Hz | Competitive gaming, smaller extra gain |
| 360 Hz and up | Esports, very small extra gain for most people |
To see how sharp motion looks at your rate, try the UFO motion test.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions people ask most about this test.
How do I check my monitor refresh rate?
Open this page. It measures the rate in Hz within a few seconds. You can also see the setting under Windows display settings or macOS display settings.
Why does my 144 Hz monitor show 60 Hz?
Usually the system setting is still on 60 Hz, or the cable or port cannot carry more. Check the fixes on this page.
Is the measured rate exact?
It is accurate to within about 1 Hz, and the page rounds to the nearest common rate. Variable refresh (G-Sync, FreeSync) can make the reading move around while nothing changes on screen.