How to Test Your Monitor Refresh Rate: 5 Easy Methods

You bought a 144Hz monitor, but does it actually run at 144Hz? Many users discover months later that their display has been running at 60Hz the entire time because of a wrong cable, an outdated driver, or an overlooked Windows setting. Testing your monitor's refresh rate is quick, and confirming it is set correctly can transform your experience.

This guide covers five reliable methods to test and verify your monitor refresh rate, plus the most common reasons it might be stuck below its maximum.

Why Refresh Rate Matters

Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), is how many times per second your monitor redraws the image. A higher refresh rate produces smoother motion, reduces eye strain during long sessions, and lowers input lag in games. Most modern monitors support at least 60Hz, with gaming displays offering 144Hz, 240Hz, or even 360Hz.

If your monitor is capable of 144Hz but is set to 60Hz, you are leaving performance on the table. The good news is that checking and fixing this takes only a few minutes.

Method 1: Use Windows Display Settings

The easiest way to check your refresh rate is through Windows itself.

1. Right-click the desktop and select Display settings.
2. Scroll down and click Advanced display.
3. Look for the Choose a refresh rate dropdown.

This dropdown shows the refresh rate Windows is currently using and lists other supported rates. If your monitor supports 144Hz but the dropdown only shows 60Hz, something is preventing the higher rate — usually the cable, the port, or the driver.

Windows 11 Steps

On Windows 11, the path is slightly different:

1. Open Settings > System > Display.
2. Scroll to the bottom and select Advanced display.
3. The refresh rate appears next to Choose a refresh rate.

If you have multiple monitors, select the one you want to check from the dropdown at the top.

Method 2: Use a Browser-Based Refresh Rate Tester

Online tools can measure the actual refresh rate by rendering frames as fast as the browser allows and counting them. This is useful because it tests what the display is actually doing, not just what Windows reports.

You can use our FPS Test tool, which measures real-time frame rendering and works as an effective refresh rate checker. If the tool reports around 60 FPS on a monitor you expected to be 144Hz, you know the refresh rate is not set correctly.

Tip: Close other tabs and disable browser extensions for the most accurate reading. Hardware acceleration must be enabled in your browser settings.

Method 3: Check With the GPU Control Panel

Your graphics driver control panel provides more detailed information than Windows, including supported resolutions and refresh rates for each port.

NVIDIA Control Panel

1. Right-click the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Go to Change resolution under the Display tree.
3. The refresh rate dropdown shows the current rate and all supported rates.

AMD Adrenalin Software

1. Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition.
2. Go to the Gaming tab > Display.
3. The current refresh rate and supported options are listed here.

If the maximum refresh rate is missing from these panels, the issue is almost always the cable or the port you are using.

Method 4: Use the Monitor's Built-In Menu

Most monitors have a physical menu button that opens an on-screen display (OSD). This menu usually shows the current resolution and refresh rate as reported by the monitor itself.

1. Press the menu button on your monitor.
2. Navigate to the information or status section.
3. Look for the refresh rate value.

This is the most reliable check because it reports what the monitor hardware is actually receiving, independent of Windows or the GPU driver. If the OSD shows 144Hz, your monitor is running at 144Hz regardless of what any software says.

Method 5: Run a Refresh Rate Test Animation

Some websites host UFO refresh rate tests that animate an object moving across the screen at different speeds. By comparing the smoothness of motion at 60Hz versus 144Hz versus 240Hz, you can visually confirm which refresh rate is active.

At 60Hz, the moving object appears to stutter or leave obvious gaps. At 144Hz, the motion is noticeably smoother, with the object appearing to glide. At 240Hz, the motion is buttery smooth with almost no visible gaps.

This visual test is less precise than the numeric methods above, but it is a great way to demonstrate the difference to someone who has never seen a high refresh rate display in action.

Common Reasons Your Refresh Rate Is Stuck at 60Hz

If your monitor supports a higher refresh rate but you cannot select it, one of these is usually the cause.

Wrong Cable

The cable is the most common culprit. Older HDMI cables and some cheap DisplayPort cables do not have enough bandwidth for high refresh rates. As a general rule:

• HDMI 2.0: Supports 1080p at 144Hz, but not 4K at 144Hz.
• HDMI 2.1: Supports 4K at 120Hz and higher.
• DisplayPort 1.2: Supports 1080p at 240Hz and 1440p at 144Hz.
• DisplayPort 1.4: Supports 4K at 144Hz with compression.

If you are using the cable that came with a budget monitor, consider upgrading to a certified DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 cable.

Wrong Port

Some monitors have multiple inputs, and not all of them support the maximum refresh rate. For example, a monitor might support 144Hz over DisplayPort but only 60Hz over HDMI. Check your monitor's manual to see which port supports the highest rate, and use that one.

Outdated Graphics Driver

An old or corrupted graphics driver can prevent Windows from detecting the full range of supported refresh rates. Update your driver from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel and restart your computer.

Monitor Firmware

Some newer monitors, especially OLEDs, receive firmware updates that fix refresh rate issues. Check the manufacturer's website for any available updates and follow their instructions to install them.

Windows Is Using a Generic Driver

If Windows is using the "Generic PnP Monitor" driver instead of the manufacturer-specific driver, some refresh rates may not appear. You can sometimes fix this by installing the monitor's driver from the manufacturer's website, though this is rarely necessary for standard refresh rates.

How to Fix a Stuck Refresh Rate

If you have identified that your refresh rate is stuck, work through these fixes in order:

1. Swap the cable for a certified DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 cable.
2. Try a different port on both the monitor and the GPU.
3. Update your graphics driver to the latest version.
4. Restart your computer after making changes.
5. Check the monitor's OSD to confirm the change took effect.

In most cases, the cable is the problem. A surprising number of "defective" high refresh rate monitors are simply using an inadequate cable.

Verify Your Setup Regularly

Refresh rate issues are easy to miss because Windows does not always warn you when it falls back to 60Hz. After installing a new driver, swapping cables, or updating Windows, take a minute to confirm your monitor is still running at its intended rate. Use the FPS Test tool as a quick check any time something feels off.

Summary

Testing your monitor's refresh rate takes only a few minutes and can reveal that your expensive display has been running below its potential. Use Windows Display Settings, your GPU control panel, the monitor's OSD, or a browser-based tester to verify the current rate. If it is stuck below the maximum, the cable is the most likely cause, followed by the port and the driver. Fix those, and you will finally see the smoothness you paid for.