How to Check Your Monitor Refresh Rate Online

If you bought a 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz, or 240Hz monitor, do not assume it is already running at that speed. Many displays stay at 60Hz until the operating system, cable, port, or power settings are configured correctly. The quickest way to check is to run a browser-based refresh rate test and compare the result with your display settings.

Open the refresh rate test, keep the tab focused, and wait a few seconds for the average reading to settle. The number you see is the refresh rate your browser is actually presenting, in hertz (Hz).

What refresh rate means

Refresh rate is how many times per second your display redraws the image. A 60Hz screen refreshes about 60 times per second; a 144Hz screen refreshes about 144 times per second. Higher refresh rates can make motion feel smoother and reduce perceived blur, especially when the content also produces enough frames.

Refresh rate vs FPS

Refresh rate and FPS are related, but they are not the same thing. Refresh rate is what the display can show. FPS is how many frames a game, video, or app produces. Your visible smoothness is limited by the lower of the two. A 144Hz monitor will not make a 45 FPS game look like 144 FPS, and a game running at 144 FPS will not look fully smooth if the monitor is still set to 60Hz.

How to run an online refresh rate test correctly

1. Open the refresh rate test.
2. Keep the browser tab focused. Background tabs can be throttled.
3. Move the browser window onto the monitor you want to test.
4. Wait a few seconds for the average reading to stabilize.
5. Run the test again after changing display settings, cable, or power mode.

A browser test is a useful real-world indicator, but it is not a lab instrument. Variable refresh rate, power management, background throttling, and browser behavior can cause small variations.

Why does my 144Hz monitor show 60Hz?

If a high-refresh monitor reads as 60Hz, check these common causes first:

• Operating system setting: the display may still be set to 60Hz in Windows, macOS, or Linux display settings.
• Wrong monitor selected: on multi-monitor setups, the browser window may be on a slower display.
• Cable or port limit: some cable/port combinations cannot carry high refresh rates at the selected resolution.
• Monitor on-screen menu: some displays require a high-refresh or overclock mode to be enabled in the monitor settings.
• Laptop power mode: battery saver or hybrid graphics modes can limit refresh rate.
• Browser throttling: minimized, unfocused, or background tabs may not report the expected number.

Check resolution and scaling too

Refresh rate is only one part of display setup. If the screen looks soft or UI elements feel wrong, run the screen resolution test as well. Confirm that the monitor is using its native resolution and that scaling is set intentionally, not accidentally.

When to run a ghosting test

After you confirm the display is running at the expected Hz, test motion clarity. Use the monitor ghosting test to look for dark trails, bright overshoot, or motion blur. If the refresh rate is correct but movement still looks smeared, response time or overdrive settings may be the next thing to check.

Quick checklist

• Run the refresh rate test with the tab focused.
• Make sure the browser window is on the monitor you are testing.
• Check OS display settings for the selected Hz.
• Confirm the cable and port support the resolution and refresh rate you want.
• Check laptop power mode if you are on battery.
• Use the resolution test if the image looks soft.
• Use the ghosting test if motion still looks blurry.

The best first step is simple: run the online refresh rate test, wait for the reading to stabilize, and then adjust one setting at a time until the number matches what your display should support.