How to check refresh rate on Windows 11
Windows 11 makes it easy to check and change your refresh rate. The setting is buried in the Advanced display menu, but the path is short:
- Right-click anywhere on the desktop and select Display settings.
- Scroll down and click Advanced display (under the "Related settings" section).
- Find the Choose a refresh rate dropdown. This shows every refresh rate your monitor supports at the current resolution.
- Pick the highest value. The screen will flicker briefly as the new rate applies.
- Click Keep changes when prompted, or it will revert after 15 seconds.
If the dropdown only shows 60 Hz on a monitor rated for 144 Hz or higher, see the troubleshooting section below — you almost certainly have a cable or driver issue.
How to check refresh rate on Windows 10
Windows 10 has the same setting in a slightly different location:
- Right-click the desktop and select Display settings.
- Scroll all the way down and click Advanced display settings.
- Click Display adapter properties for Display 1 (or whichever display you want to check).
- A small dialog opens. Click the Monitor tab.
- The Screen refresh rate dropdown shows all supported rates. Pick the highest one.
Windows 10 also exposes refresh rate in the new Settings UI as of version 2004. Path: Settings → System → Display → Advanced display settings → Refresh rate.
How to check refresh rate on macOS
Apple hides refresh rate settings in different places depending on the Mac:
- MacBook Pro 14/16 (M1 Pro/Max and newer): System Settings → Displays → your display → Refresh rate dropdown. ProMotion displays support 47.95 to 120 Hz.
- MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13: Refresh rate is fixed at 60 Hz. No user-facing setting.
- External displays: System Settings → Displays → your external display → Refresh rate. Only available on Apple Silicon Macs with high-refresh monitors connected via Thunderbolt or HDMI 2.1.
- iMac and Mac mini: Refresh rate is fixed by the connected monitor. macOS detects supported rates automatically; you usually do not need to change anything.
How to check refresh rate on Linux
Linux has the most options for refresh rate — and the most variability between distributions:
| Desktop | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GNOME | Settings → Displays → Resolution dropdown | Refresh rate is bundled with each resolution option. Pick a resolution+rate combo. |
| KDE Plasma | System Settings → Display and Monitor → Refresh rate | Separate dropdown per display. Supports adaptive sync toggle. |
| XFCE | Settings → Display → Refresh rate | Limited options. Use xrandr for more control. |
| Terminal (any) | Run `xrandr | grep '*'` | Shows the current mode including refresh rate. |
| Wayland | Run `wayland-info` or check /sys/class/drm | Wayland does not use xrandr. Some compositors expose refresh rate in their settings. |
How to check refresh rate in your browser
Sometimes the OS reports the right refresh rate but the monitor is silently running at a lower one — usually due to cable bandwidth limits or driver bugs. The browser test above measures the actual refresh rate using the requestAnimationFrame API, which fires in sync with the display refresh. If the browser test reports a lower number than the OS setting, something is wrong.
Troubleshooting: why is my refresh rate stuck at 60 Hz?
If you have a high-refresh monitor but can only select 60 Hz, work through this checklist:
- Check the cable. Old HDMI cables cap at 60 Hz. DisplayPort 1.4 supports up to 4K 240 Hz; HDMI 2.1 supports up to 4K 120 Hz. Use the cable that came with the monitor; if you need a longer one, buy a certified premium cable rated for your resolution and refresh rate.
- Update the GPU driver. Outdated drivers can fail to detect high-refresh modes. Download the latest NVIDIA, AMD or Intel driver from the manufacturer's website.
- Check the resolution. Some monitors only support their max refresh rate at lower resolutions. A 4K 144 Hz monitor might only do 144 Hz at 1440p. Check the monitor's spec sheet for the resolution/refresh rate matrix.
- Check the monitor OSD. Some monitors have a "Game Mode" or "OC Mode" that unlocks high refresh rates. Press the menu button on the monitor and look for performance options.
- Disconnect other monitors. Multi-monitor setups can cause refresh rate issues, especially on NVIDIA cards with Windows. Try unplugging other monitors and re-checking the refresh rate.
- Try a different port. Some monitors have multiple DisplayPort inputs; one might be DisplayPort 1.2 and another 1.4. Use the highest-version port.
- Create a custom resolution. In the NVIDIA or AMD control panel, you can create a custom resolution with a specific refresh rate. This is advanced and can damage the monitor if done wrong, but it is sometimes the only way to unlock the full refresh rate.
- Check the monitor's power mode. Some monitors drop to 60 Hz in power-saving mode. Check the OSD for eco mode or power saving settings.
Verifying with our refresh rate test
After changing any setting, run the test at the top of this page. The test reports the actual refresh rate your monitor is achieving, with a confidence score based on how tightly clustered the frame intervals are. If the confidence is below 80%, close other browser tabs, plug in your laptop, and try fullscreen mode for the most accurate reading.