How to Check Your Monitor's Refresh Rate (Windows, Mac and Browser)
On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display › Advanced display: the current rate is shown under "Choose a refresh rate", and you can change it there. On a Mac, open System Settings › Displays and check the Refresh Rate menu (shown on displays that support more than one rate). To see the rate your screen is actually running at right now, run an in-browser refresh rate test. If a 120 Hz or faster monitor shows 60 Hz, change the setting first, then check the cable, the port and the graphics driver.
Check the refresh rate on Windows 11
- Right-click the desktop and choose Display settings (or open Settings › System › Display).
- Scroll down and select Advanced display.
- If you have more than one screen, pick the monitor at the top.
- The current value is next to Choose a refresh rate. Open the menu to select a higher rate.
On Windows 10 the path is Settings › System › Display › Advanced display settings › Refresh rate. NVIDIA Control Panel (Display › Change resolution) and AMD Software (Display tab) show and set the same value.
Check the refresh rate on a Mac
- Open the Apple menu › System Settings › Displays.
- Select the display, then look at the Refresh Rate menu. MacBook Pros with ProMotion show "ProMotion" (up to 120 Hz, adaptive).
- If there's no Refresh Rate menu, the display only offers one rate at the current resolution.
Check the rate it's actually running at
Settings show what's selected; a refresh rate testshows what's being drawn. Browsers run their animation callback once per screen refresh, so timing a few hundred frames reveals the active rate. It's the quickest way to confirm a new 144 Hz or 240 Hz monitor is really running at full speed.
Stuck at 60 Hz? Check these in order
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Rate never changed | New monitors often start at 60 Hz. Select the higher rate in display settings. |
| Cable or port can't carry it | Use DisplayPort, or the HDMI port and cable version the monitor's manual specifies for high refresh. Old HDMI cables often cap at 60 Hz. |
| Plugged into the motherboard | On a desktop with a graphics card, connect the monitor to the card's outputs, not the ports next to USB on the motherboard. |
| Monitor input setting | Some monitors need a high-refresh or DisplayPort version option enabled in their on-screen menu. |
| Outdated graphics driver | Install the latest driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel, then check the list of rates again. |
| Power saving | Plug in the laptop and turn off battery saver; browsers can also slow animation in energy-saving modes. |