Refresh Rate Test

Your browser draws one frame for every refresh of your screen. This test counts those frames to show the real refresh rate of the monitor this window is on, with a live frame-time graph and a motion comparison.

Detected refresh rate

—Hz

Measuring…

Measured: —
Frame time: —
Jitter: —
Stability: —
Dropped: 0

Measuring your display. Keep this tab in front for a few seconds.

Frame time, last 120 framesframe time expected dropped

With several monitors, the rate follows the screen this window is on. Drag the window to another monitor and the test re-measures it.

Motion comparison

All three ships fly at the same speed. The top one moves on every frame your screen shows; the others only update 60 or 30 times per second. The smoother and sharper the top ship looks compared to the rest, the more your refresh rate helps.

— fps (your screen)

60 fps

30 fps

What is refresh rate?

Refresh rate is how many times per second your monitor draws a new image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz screen updates 60 times per second, so each frame stays visible for about 16.7 ms. At 144 Hz a frame lasts about 6.9 ms, and at 240 Hz about 4.2 ms. More refreshes mean smoother motion, less blur when you move the mouse and slightly lower input lag — which is why high refresh rate monitors are popular for fast games.

Hz vs FPS

Hz describes the monitor; FPS (frames per second) describes how many images your graphics card or game produces. They are related but not the same. If a game renders 200 FPS on a 60 Hz monitor, you still only see 60 updates per second. If it renders 90 FPS on a 144 Hz monitor, some refreshes repeat the previous image. To get the full benefit, both numbers need to be high.

Why your 144 Hz monitor may show 60 Hz

Windows display settings. New monitors often start at 60 Hz. Open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display and pick the highest rate under “Choose a refresh rate”.
Cable or port. Older HDMI versions and cheap or long cables may not carry high refresh rates at high resolutions. DisplayPort, or a newer HDMI port and a certified cable, usually solves it. Check your monitor’s manual for which input supports the full rate.
Plugged into the motherboard. On a desktop with a graphics card, the cable must go into the ports on the graphics card, not the ones on the back panel near USB ports.
Power saving. Laptops on battery, battery saver modes and some browser energy settings can lower the refresh rate or limit animation to 30 or 60 frames per second.
Variable refresh rate and dynamic modes. VRR, dynamic refresh rate on laptops and adaptive modes on phones change the rate depending on what is on screen. The desktop and browser may run lower than the maximum.
Monitor menu. Some monitors need overclock or a specific mode enabled in their own on-screen menu before the highest rate appears in the operating system.

How to change the refresh rate

Windows 10 and 11

Right-click the desktop and choose Display settings.
Select the monitor at the top if you have more than one, then open Advanced display.
Choose the highest value under refresh rate and keep the changes. Then run this test again.

macOS

Open System Settings → Displays and select the display.
Pick the highest value in the Refresh rate menu. On MacBooks with ProMotion, choose ProMotion for an adaptive rate up to 120 Hz.

If the higher rate is missing from the list, check the cable, the port and the graphics driver first. With several monitors connected, each one has its own setting, and this test measures the one the browser window is on. Now that your screen is fast, put it to work with the reaction time test or the aim trainer.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this refresh rate test?

Browsers draw one animation frame per screen refresh, so the measured rate normally lands within a fraction of a hertz of the real one. The result is less reliable when the computer is busy, in battery saver mode or when the tab is in the background, and the test warns you when the numbers look throttled.

Why does the test show 60 Hz on my 144 Hz monitor?

Most often the refresh rate in the operating system is still set to 60 Hz. Other common causes are a cable or port that cannot carry the higher rate, the monitor being plugged into the motherboard instead of the graphics card, or a laptop power saving mode.

Why is the measured value not a round number?

Many displays run slightly off their nominal rate, such as 59.94 Hz or 143.9 Hz, and browsers add a little timing noise. The test snaps to the nearest standard rate when the measurement is within about 3% and also shows the exact measured value.

Does this work with G-Sync, FreeSync or VRR?

Mostly yes. Variable refresh rate usually only kicks in for full-screen games, and on the desktop the browser normally runs at the display’s maximum rate. If VRR is active for the browser, the result can vary a little more from frame to frame.

What are dropped frames?

A dropped frame is a refresh where the browser did not manage to draw a new image in time, so the previous one stayed on screen. A few drops while the page loads or when you switch windows are normal. Constant drops point to a busy system or power saving.

Can I test a phone or tablet?

Yes. Phones with 90, 120 or 144 Hz screens often lower the rate to save battery, especially in low-power mode or when nothing on screen is moving. Touch and scroll the page for a moment, then check the result again.

More free tests

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