Test your monitor's refresh rate
Let the page measure for a few seconds: you'll see the actual refresh rate in Hz, the frame time and dropped frames. 144 Hz monitor stuck at 60 Hz? The fixes are explained below.
- Real Hz measured
- Frame time (ms)
- Motion test
- Free
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How do you check your monitor's Hz?
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Open the page on the monitor to test
Move the browser window onto that monitor, close demanding apps and don't touch anything while it measures.
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Read the measured refresh rate
The tool shows the real Hz, the frame time in milliseconds, a stability graph and the number of dropped frames.
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Run the motion test
An object moves across the screen at several speeds: watch how smooth it is and whether it leaves a trail.
What the test measures
Actual refresh rate
The rate at which your browser displays frames on this monitor: 60, 75, 120, 144, 165, 240 Hz or more.
Frame time
How long each frame lasts in milliseconds: 16.7 ms at 60 Hz, 6.9 ms at 144 Hz, 4.2 ms at 240 Hz.
Stability and dropped frames
A graph shows how steady the display is, and the tool counts dropped frames, a sign of slowdowns.
Motion test
An object moves at several speeds so you can judge smoothness and spot motion blur or ghosting.
144 Hz monitor stuck at 60 Hz: how to fix it
It's the most common problem: Windows doesn't always pick a new monitor's highest refresh rate. On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Display, then Advanced display, and select the highest value under “Choose a refresh rate”. On macOS, go to System Settings > Displays. Next, check the cable: many monitors can't reach their maximum refresh rate over HDMI, depending on the port version; use the DisplayPort cable that came with the monitor if you can. On a desktop PC, plug it into the graphics card, not the motherboard's video output. On a laptop, battery or power saving mode can limit the screen to 60 Hz. Finally, make sure hardware acceleration is turned on in your browser, then run the test again.
Hz and milliseconds: what the result means
The refresh rate, in hertz (Hz), tells you how many times per second the screen shows a new image. Frame time is 1,000 divided by the refresh rate: 16.7 ms at 60 Hz, 13.3 ms at 75 Hz, 8.3 ms at 120 Hz, 6.9 ms at 144 Hz, 6.1 ms at 165 Hz and 4.2 ms at 240 Hz. A slightly lower reading, such as 59.9 or 143.9 Hz, is normal. A few dropped frames now and then are nothing to worry about; in bursts, they point to an overloaded computer or a power saving mode. Keep in mind that in games, a 144 Hz monitor only shows 144 different images per second if the graphics card renders at least as many (144 fps).
Motion test: smoothness, blur and ghosting
The motion test moves an object across the screen at several speeds. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother and sharper the motion looks, because each frame stays on screen for less time: the difference between 60 and 144 Hz is obvious. Then look at the trail behind the object. A little blur is normal. A strong dark trail, called ghosting, comes from pixels that change color too slowly; a light or colored halo, known as inverse ghosting or overshoot, means overdrive is set too high. Adjust that setting, often called “Overdrive” or “Response Time”, in your monitor's on-screen menu, then run the test again. To check the pixels on the same monitor, use the “Dead Pixel Test”.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my monitor is really running at 144 Hz?
Open this test on that monitor: if it shows about 144 Hz and 6.9 ms per frame, you're all set. If it shows 60 Hz, change the refresh rate in the Windows or macOS display settings, then check the cable.
Why is my 144 Hz monitor stuck at 60 Hz?
Most often, the refresh rate was never changed in the display settings, the cable or HDMI port in use can't go higher, or the monitor is plugged into the motherboard instead of the graphics card. On a laptop, battery mode can also limit the screen to 60 Hz.
HDMI or DisplayPort for 144 Hz?
On a PC, DisplayPort is the safest choice: it supports the maximum refresh rate on most gaming monitors. Over HDMI, it depends on the port version on the monitor and the graphics card; check the monitor's spec sheet.
How many milliseconds is 144 Hz?
6.9 ms per frame, because 1,000 / 144 = 6.94. For comparison, 60 Hz is 16.7 ms, 120 Hz is 8.3 ms and 240 Hz is 4.2 ms.
What is ghosting on a monitor?
It's a trail that follows moving objects, caused by pixels that change color too slowly. The monitor's overdrive setting can reduce it, but set too high, it creates a light halo behind the object.