GearCheckWhat refresh rate means
The refresh rate is how many times per second your screen draws a new image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz screen updates every 16.7 ms; a 144 Hz screen every 6.9 ms. Higher rates make scrolling, cursor movement and games look smoother and feel more responsive. To benefit in games, your computer also has to render that many frames per second.
| Refresh rate | Frame time | Common on |
|---|---|---|
| 60 Hz | 16.7 ms | Most office monitors, older laptops and TVs |
| 90 Hz | 11.1 ms | Mid-range phones, VR headsets |
| 120 Hz | 8.3 ms | Modern phones, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, TVs, consoles |
| 144 Hz | 6.9 ms | Gaming monitors and laptops |
| 165–180 Hz | 6.1–5.6 ms | Gaming monitors |
| 240 Hz and up | 4.2 ms or less | Esports monitors |
Getting the refresh rate you paid for
Windows 10 and 11
- Go to Settings → System → Display → Advanced display and pick the highest rate under Choose a refresh rate.
- Still capped at 60 Hz? Check the cable: use DisplayPort, or HDMI 2.0 or better. Docks and USB-C adapters often limit the rate.
- Some monitors need high refresh or “overclock” turned on in their own on-screen menu.
macOS
- System Settings → Displays → Refresh rate. MacBook Pros use ProMotion (up to 120 Hz) and lower it automatically when nothing moves.
Phones and tablets
- Android: Settings → Display → Motion smoothness or Refresh rate. iPhone Pro: turn off Limit Frame Rate under Accessibility → Motion. Low Power Mode caps both at 60 Hz.
Using the frame skipping test
If you've overclocked a monitor, it may accept a higher refresh rate but silently skip frames. Set your camera to a shutter speed of about 1/10 s and photograph the grid. Each refresh lights the next square, so a healthy screen shows an unbroken run of lit squares; gaps mean frames were skipped and you should lower the overclock.
More display tests
Check your screen resolution and scaling, look for bad pixels with the dead pixel test, or measure your mouse polling rate.
Frequently asked questions
How does the refresh rate test work?
Browsers redraw a page once per screen refresh. The test times hundreds of these redraws and takes the median interval: 16.7 ms means 60 Hz, 6.9 ms means 144 Hz, and so on. It then rounds to the nearest standard rate if it is within 4%.
Why does my 144 Hz monitor show 60 Hz?
The monitor is set to 60 Hz in your operating system, or the cable can’t carry more. On Windows go to Settings → System → Display → Advanced display and choose the highest refresh rate. Use DisplayPort or an HDMI 2.0/2.1 cable — many older HDMI cables and adapters limit you to 60 Hz.
Why does the result change?
Laptops on battery and phones in power-saving mode lower the refresh rate. Variable refresh (G-Sync, FreeSync, ProMotion, adaptive refresh on phones) can also lower it when nothing is moving. Keep the motion test running and the device plugged in for the most accurate result.
I have two monitors with different refresh rates. Which one is measured?
The one the browser window is on. Drag the window to the other screen, press Measure again, and it measures that one. Some systems run both screens at the lower rate when they are mirrored.
What are dropped frames?
A dropped frame is when the browser misses a screen refresh, so one image stays up for two refreshes and motion stutters. A few drops when you switch tabs are normal. Constant drops point to a busy computer, a background app or a GPU that is struggling.