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Refresh Rate Test

Measure your real refresh rate in hertz.

Measuring…

Hz

Keep this tab focused for the most accurate result.

Stability · last few seconds
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For the truest reading, close other apps, keep this window focused, and let it run ~30 seconds.

What the number means.

Refresh rate is how many times per second your display redraws the image, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz panel redraws 60 times a second; a 144 Hz panel, 144 times. Higher rates make motion — scrolling, cursors, games — look smoother.

DeftGauge measures the actual rate your screen is running at right now, set by your operating system and graphics driver. If you have a high-refresh monitor but see 60 Hz, it's usually set too low in your display settings — change it and run the test again.

About the Refresh Rate Test

This Refresh Rate Test measures how many times per second your display actually redraws the image, expressed in hertz (Hz). Instead of trusting the spec sheet, it watches real frames being painted in your browser and reports the rate your screen is running at this very moment. That makes it a practical monitor refresh rate test and a quick screen refresh rate test you can run on any device, with no install and no account.

How to run the test step by step

Open the page and the measurement starts on its own. For the most trustworthy result, follow a few simple steps:

  • Keep this tab focused and in the foreground. Background tabs get throttled by the browser, which skews the reading.
  • Close other demanding apps and extra tabs so nothing else competes for GPU time.
  • Let the test run for about thirty seconds. The progress bar fills as confidence builds, and a longer run smooths out momentary hiccups.
  • Use the Restart button any time you change a setting, such as switching your display mode, and want a fresh reading.

When you are done you can copy the result or export it as JSON, which is handy for bug reports, support tickets, or comparing several machines.

How to read your results

The large number is your current measured rate in Hz. The stat row below it breaks the same data into current, average, minimum, and maximum so you can judge how steady the signal is. A reading within about one hertz of a standard value, such as 59 to 60 or 143 to 144, almost always means the panel is locked to that rate; small gaps come from timer precision and normal scheduling jitter, not from a fault.

If the number drifts across a range rather than holding firm, the tool flags a variable rate. That usually points to VRR technology like G-Sync or FreeSync adjusting frame timing on the fly, or to another program stealing frames. The stability graph plots the last few seconds so you can literally see whether your frame timing is flat and consistent or jumping around.

Desktops, laptops, and phones

The same method adapts to whatever you are on. As a macbook refresh rate test it can confirm whether a ProMotion panel is ramping between its low and high rates or sitting at a fixed value. As an iphone refresh rate test or general refresh rate test mobile, it shows the rate your handset is currently delivering, which can dip when power saving or battery modes throttle the display. On a tower or gaming rig it doubles as a sanity check that your high-refresh monitor is set correctly in the operating system rather than quietly defaulting to 60 Hz.

Why it matters

Refresh rate shapes how smooth everything feels. Higher rates make scrolling, cursor movement, animations, and fast-paced games look noticeably cleaner, while a panel stuck below its potential feels sluggish. Plenty of people buy a 120 or 144 Hz display and never realize their system is only driving it at 60 Hz because the graphics settings were never changed. A reliable refresh rate test turns that guesswork into a clear answer in seconds, so you can fix the setting, verify a new monitor, troubleshoot stutter, or simply confirm that the hardware you paid for is doing its job.

Frequently asked questions

What does refresh rate mean?

Refresh rate is how many times per second your display redraws the image on screen, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz screen redraws 60 times a second, while a 144 Hz screen redraws 144 times, which makes scrolling, cursors, and games look noticeably smoother. To see the rate your own display is actually running at right now, just let this Refresh Rate Test run for a few seconds.

How do I test my monitor refresh rate?

Open this Refresh Rate Test in your browser and the measurement starts automatically, so you do not need to install anything. It watches real frames being painted and reports your display's rate in Hz, confirming whether a screen runs at 60, 120, 144, 240 Hz or higher. For the most accurate monitor refresh rate test, keep the tab focused and let it run for about 30 seconds.

How do I know if my monitor is really 144Hz?

Run this Refresh Rate Test and watch the live number settle: a true 144 Hz panel will read around 143 to 144 Hz once it stabilizes. If it sits near 60 Hz instead, the panel may support 144 Hz but your system is not set to use it yet. Keep in mind the test shows the rate your operating system is currently driving, which can be lower than the monitor's advertised maximum until you change your display settings.

Why does my monitor show 60Hz instead of 144Hz?

Almost always because Windows or your GPU driver is still set to 60 Hz even though the panel supports more. On Windows go to Settings, then System, then Display, then Advanced display, and pick the higher rate; an outdated graphics driver, the wrong cable (use DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0 and up), or the in-monitor menu can also cap it. After changing the setting, run this test again to confirm the new rate stuck.

How do I enable a higher refresh rate on Windows?

Go to Settings, then System, then Display, then Advanced display, and choose your highest rate from the Choose a refresh rate dropdown. If only 60 Hz appears, update your graphics driver from the manufacturer's site and check your cable, since Windows reverts to a basic adapter that blocks high rates without the proper driver. Note that major Windows updates sometimes reset this to best power efficiency, so it is worth re-checking with this test afterward.

How do I check the refresh rate on a MacBook?

Run this test in any browser on your Mac to read the live rate, or open System Settings, then Displays, and hold the Option key while clicking a resolution to reveal the hidden Refresh Rate menu. ProMotion MacBook Pro displays vary between 24 and 120 Hz, so the browser reading can fluctuate as the rate adapts to motion. This macbook refresh rate test reflects the rate macOS is currently driving, not necessarily the panel's peak.

How can I check the refresh rate on my iPhone?

Open this Refresh Rate Test in Safari on your iPhone and let it run for a few seconds to see the measured rate. Standard iPhones are fixed at 60 Hz, while iPhone Pro models with ProMotion adapt between 10 and 120 Hz, so a low idle reading on a Pro is normal and ramps up with motion. As an iphone refresh rate test it measures what iOS exposes to the browser, which may differ slightly from the hardware maximum.

What is the difference between refresh rate and FPS?

Refresh rate (Hz) is how many times per second the display redraws, set by your monitor and OS, while frame rate (FPS) is how many frames your graphics card produces, set by the game or app. They work together, and each is capped by the lower of the two, so a 144 Hz monitor only helps if your system can also push frames near 144 FPS. This Refresh Rate Test measures the display side only, in Hz, not your in-game FPS.

Does a higher refresh rate actually matter?

Yes, especially for fast motion: jumping from 60 to 120 or 144 Hz makes scrolling, cursor movement, and gaming look clearly smoother and can reduce motion blur and eye strain. The leap from 144 to 240 Hz is more subtle and mostly benefits competitive gamers, while 60 Hz is perfectly fine for browsing and office work. Use this test to confirm you are getting the rate you paid for before deciding whether an upgrade is worth it.

How accurate is a browser refresh rate test versus the system value?

A browser test like this one measures the rate your display is genuinely running at right now, typically within about ±1 Hz thanks to normal timing jitter, which is why a 144 Hz panel may read 143 to 144 Hz. The system value in Windows or macOS shows the configured target, while this screen refresh rate test shows what is actually being delivered, so the two can differ if something is throttling the display. For the steadiest reading, close other apps, keep this tab focused, and let it run the full 30 seconds.