Display · No. 14
Refresh Rate Test
This tool measures how often your display actually draws a new frame and reports the result in hertz. It starts on load, shows a live median reading with frame time and dropped frame estimates, and animates a moving object so you can judge motion smoothness with your own eyes.
Keep this tab visible while measuring. Browser throttling, battery saver, power settings, other busy tabs, and variable-refresh displays can lower or vary the reading. Dropped frames are estimated from long frame intervals in the rolling sample.
How the refresh rate test works
The test asks your browser to run an animation loop and records the time between each frame. The gap between frames is the frame time, and one second divided by that gap gives the refresh rate. A steady 60Hz display draws a frame roughly every 16.7 milliseconds, a 120Hz display every 8.3 milliseconds, and a 144Hz display every 6.9 milliseconds.
A single frame can vary, so the tool reports the median over a rolling window of recent frames rather than one instant reading. The rolling minimum and maximum show how much the rate wobbles, and the dropped frame estimate counts unusually long gaps where the display likely missed its target. A stable reading close to your panel rating means the pipeline from browser to screen is keeping up.
Why your monitor might be stuck at 60Hz
A high refresh monitor often ships set to 60Hz until you raise it manually. On Windows 11, open Settings, go to System, then Display, choose Advanced display, and set Choose a refresh rate to the highest value your monitor supports. If the fast option is missing, your cable or port may be the limit, so use a DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0 or newer cable and connect to the graphics card rather than the motherboard on a desktop.
On macOS, open System Settings, select Displays, and pick a higher rate under the refresh rate menu on supported models. If the number here still reads near 60 on a laptop, check that the device is plugged into power, since battery saver and low power mode commonly cap the refresh rate to save energy.
Browser factors matter too. A background tab, a busy processor, another heavy animation, or a variable refresh display can all pull the reading down or make it jump around. Close other demanding tabs, keep this tab in the foreground, and run the test again for a cleaner result.
What your result means
If the median sits close to your rated refresh rate with a small gap between minimum and maximum, your display is running as intended and the moving object should glide smoothly. A reading that lands well below the rating, or one that swings widely, points to a setting, cable, power, or driver issue worth chasing down.
Persistent stutter, flicker, or a rate that will not climb after you have raised the setting can signal a driver or hardware fault. Update your graphics driver, reseat or replace the video cable, and confirm the monitor firmware is current before assuming the panel is faulty.
It also helps to compare the reading against what your monitor advertises. If the median matches the rating but games still feel choppy, the bottleneck is likely your graphics card frame rate rather than the display, so the fix belongs in your game settings rather than your monitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know if my monitor is really running at 144Hz?
- Let this test run with the tab in the foreground and read the large Hz number, which is the median of recent frames. A result near 144 with a narrow minimum to maximum spread confirms your display is genuinely at 144Hz. If it reads closer to 60, your operating system is likely set to a lower refresh rate.
- Why is my refresh rate stuck at 60Hz?
- High refresh monitors often default to 60Hz until you raise it in display settings. The cable or port can also cap the rate, so use a DisplayPort or newer HDMI cable connected to your graphics card. On laptops, battery saver and low power mode frequently limit refresh rate until you plug in.
- How do I change my refresh rate in Windows 11?
- Open Settings, go to System, then Display, and select Advanced display. Set Choose a refresh rate to the highest value listed for your monitor. If the option you want is missing, your cable or connection is probably the limit.
- How do I change the refresh rate on a Mac?
- Open System Settings, choose Displays, and select a higher rate from the refresh rate menu on supported models. Not every Mac or external display exposes this control. If you do not see the option, the connected display may only support a fixed rate.
- Why does my measured refresh rate keep changing?
- Browser throttling, battery saver, a busy processor, other open tabs, and variable refresh displays can all make the reading move. Keep this tab visible, plug in the device, and close heavy background tabs for a steadier result. The rolling minimum and maximum show how much your rate is fluctuating.
- Is this browser refresh rate test accurate?
- It measures the rate your browser can actually present frames, which usually matches your display setting under good conditions. It is a reliable way to confirm whether a fast panel is enabled, though it is not a lab instrument. Readings can dip below the true rate when the system is busy or power saving is active.