How to check whether your screen runs at 60 or 144 Hz

Your monitor may say 144 Hz on the box, but games still feel less smooth than you expect. Or you may not know if your laptop screen is using 60 Hz or its faster setting.

Check the selected refresh rate in your system settings, then compare it with the Display Test. The test can show how quickly the browser is updating the screen, while system settings tell you which refresh rate is selected.

Check your screen's refresh rate

Open the Display Test on the screen you want to check. If you have multiple displays, move the browser window to the target screen before starting.
Open the refresh-rate check in the test and keep the page visible in the foreground while it runs. Avoid switching tabs or minimizing the window, because that can pause or slow browser updates.
Read the reported refresh rate. Treat it as an estimate of how often the browser is receiving screen updates, not a guarantee of the monitor's maximum capability.
Check the selected rate in your computer's display settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display › Advanced display, choose the screen, and look for the refresh rate. On a Mac, open System Settings › Displays, select the screen, and check the refresh rate option if it is available.
Compare the system setting with the browser result. If you expect 144 Hz but see 60 Hz in both places, select a faster available rate and test again.

For a fair comparison, close demanding games and video playback, keep the browser window on the screen being checked, and let the test settle before reading it. A tab that is hidden or running in the background may update more slowly than a visible tab.

What the result means

The system and test both show about 60 Hz

Your display is currently updating at about 60 times per second. If the screen supports 144 Hz, check whether that rate is available in system settings and select it. If 144 Hz is not listed, the selected resolution, cable, adapter, dock, or display input may limit the available choices.

The system shows 144 Hz and the test is close to 144

The display is likely set to its faster mode, and the browser is receiving updates at a similar pace. This does not mean every game will produce 144 frames per second. Refresh rate describes how often the screen can update; frame rate describes how many new images the game creates.

The system shows 144 Hz but the test stays near 60

The setting may be correct while the browser or screen capture path is delivering updates more slowly. Make sure the test is visible, close video or animation-heavy tabs, and repeat it. If the result remains low, compare with another supported browser or check the display manufacturer's own information screen, if available.

The reported rate changes while you watch

Browser timing is not perfectly steady. Background activity, power-saving behavior, graphics processing, and a variable refresh rate can affect the updates seen by the test. Small fluctuations do not necessarily mean the monitor is faulty. Look for the general range, then confirm the selected rate in system settings.

How to fix a refresh rate that is too low

Select the higher rate in display settings. In Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display › Advanced display, select the correct monitor, and choose 144 Hz if it appears. On a Mac, open System Settings › Displays, select the display, and choose a higher option in the refresh rate menu if one is available.
Check that you selected the right screen. A computer with a laptop panel and an external monitor may list each display separately. Confirm the model or screen number before changing the rate, then run the browser test on that same display.
Try the monitor's native resolution. Some displays offer higher refresh rates only at certain resolutions. In the display settings, choose the monitor's recommended resolution, then check the available refresh rates again.
Connect directly to the computer. A dock, adapter, splitter, or older cable can restrict the available refresh rates. Try a cable and port that support the display's resolution and refresh rate, and check the monitor's manual for the correct input.
Check the monitor's own settings. Some monitors have a gaming or high-refresh option in their on-screen menu. Use the monitor's controls and instructions to check whether the faster mode is enabled.
Restart the computer after changing the connection. Reconnecting the display or restarting can make the operating system detect its supported modes again. Then confirm the rate in system settings before rerunning the browser check.

Refresh rate is not game frame rate

A 144 Hz monitor can refresh up to 144 times per second, but the game still needs to render frames for the screen to show. If a game is producing 60 frames per second, a 144 Hz setting does not turn those 60 frames into 144 distinct game frames. The game may feel smoother at higher frame rates, but the actual result depends on the game, graphics hardware, and settings.

Some displays support variable refresh rate, which lets the screen adjust its timing to match changing game frame rates within a supported range. That behavior can make the browser estimate vary, so use your operating system's selected refresh rate as the main check for the configured display mode.

The Display Test checks the screen in your browser; it cannot certify that a game is rendering at a particular frame rate.