Refresh Rate Test
Measure the refresh rate your browser actually gets from your monitor (60, 120, 144, 165, 240 Hz and more), and fix a high-refresh screen stuck at 60 Hz.
How to test
- 01Close other heavy tabs and plug a laptop in (battery saving can cap the rate).
- 02Press Measure and keep this tab in front for three seconds.
- 03Compare the result with the rate your monitor is sold at.
What it measures
The page counts how often your browser draws a new frame over three seconds and takes the typical interval between frames. On a computer with nothing capping it, that matches your display's refresh rate: 60, 120, 144, 165, 240 Hz and so on.
It measures what your browser actually gets, which is what games and video in the browser get too. A monitor sold at 144 Hz that reads 60 here is running at 60.
Why it can read lower than your monitor's rating
- The operating system is still set to 60 Hz: the most common reason by far.
- The cable or port can't carry the rate at your resolution. HDMI 2.0 tops out at 60 Hz at 4K; DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1 carry more.
- On a laptop, battery saving lowers the refresh rate.
- The browser caps drawing: background tabs, power-saving modes, and some Safari settings.
- With two monitors at different rates, some browsers follow the slower one. Move the window to the screen you're testing.
What your result means
It matches the monitor's rating
Your screen runs at its full refresh rate.
Nothing to do.
60 Hz on a 120/144/165/240 Hz monitor
Something is capping it: the OS setting, the cable or port, or the browser.
Follow the fixes below.
An uneven number, like 57 or 141
Dropped frames: the browser couldn't keep up.
Close other tabs and apps, then measure again.
Half the expected rate
Often a power-saving mode, or the tab was in the background.
Plug in, keep the tab in front, and measure again.
How to fix it
Windows
- Settings → System → Display → Advanced display → Choose a refresh rate.
- Use DisplayPort, or HDMI 2.1 for high rates at 4K: HDMI 2.0 tops out at 60 Hz at 4K.
- Plug into the graphics card, not the motherboard, on a desktop.
- Turn off battery saver on a laptop.
macOS
- System Settings → Displays → Refresh rate.
- Safari may limit pages to 60 frames per second; try Chrome or Firefox to confirm your display's full rate.
Cable and monitor
- Use the cable that came with the monitor.
- Check the monitor's menu: some ship with the high-refresh mode or overclock turned off.
Questions
Is this measurement accurate?
It measures how often your browser draws frames, which normally matches the display's refresh rate. Browsers can cap it (battery saving, background tabs, some Safari settings), so a low reading means 'check your settings', not 'your monitor is broken'.
Why does my 144 Hz monitor show 60 Hz?
Usually the refresh rate in the OS is still 60 Hz, or the cable or port can't carry more. The fixes list covers both.
Does G-Sync or FreeSync change the result?
Variable refresh can make the number move slightly, but a steady page like this one should still show close to your maximum rate.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you see, say or film is sent to us or stored anywhere.