Your monitor might be capable of 144 Hz but running at 60 Hz right now. The advertised spec and the active setting are often two different things — and telling them apart is a one-minute task. Here's how to find your screen Hz on every platform and how to verify it in your browser.
How to Check Refresh Rate on Windows
Windows shows the active refresh rate in display settings:
- Open Settings → System → Display.
- Scroll down and click Advanced display settings.
- If you have multiple monitors, select the right one at the top.
- Look at the Refresh rate dropdown — the selected value is what's active right now.
- To change it, open the dropdown and pick the highest rate your cable and monitor support.
On older Windows versions (10 and earlier), reach the same setting through Display Settings → Display adapter properties → Monitor tab.
How to Check Refresh Rate on macOS
On macOS Ventura and later:
- Open System Settings → Displays.
- Look for the Refresh Rate dropdown (only visible if your display supports multiple rates).
- On Apple Silicon Macs with ProMotion, you may see "ProMotion" — that's adaptive up to 120 Hz.
On older macOS versions, hold the Option key while clicking the Scaled button in the Display preferences to reveal the full resolution and refresh rate list.
How to Check Refresh Rate on Android and iPhone
On Android: go to Settings → Display and look for "Refresh rate," "Motion smoothness," or "Screen refresh rate." The label varies by manufacturer. Samsung calls it Motion Smoothness; OnePlus calls it Refresh Rate; Pixel shows it under Display settings directly.
On iPhone (Pro models): go to Settings → Accessibility → Motion. If ProMotion is not limited there, the display adapts between 1 Hz and 120 Hz automatically. There's no fixed rate to read — it's always adaptive.
Verify Refresh Rate in Your Browser
OS settings tell you what rate is configured — but the browser might still be capped lower by power saving, throttling, or a mismatched monitor connection. To check what's actually being delivered on screen, run a browser-based frame rate test.
Use the MyDeviceScan Refresh Rate Test — it measures animation frame timing for 8 seconds and shows your Hz estimate alongside the closest standard mode (60, 90, 120, 144 Hz, etc.). Keep the tab in focus and disable battery saver for the most accurate reading.
Why Your Hz Might Be Lower Than Expected
| Cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Wrong cable (e.g. HDMI 1.4) | Switch to DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0/2.1 |
| Refresh rate not set in OS | Change it in Windows/macOS display settings |
| Battery saver or adaptive mode active | Disable in power settings or display settings |
| Browser tab in background | Keep the test tab visible and in focus |
| GPU driver capping the output | Update graphics drivers and check GPU control panel |
What Hz Should You Use?
For everyday productivity — documents, browsing, coding — 60 Hz is perfectly fine. The screen feels plenty smooth for static work.
For gaming, fast scrolling, or anything with rapid movement, 120 Hz is the practical sweet spot in 2026. The difference from 60 Hz is immediately visible. Going from 120 Hz to 144 Hz or 165 Hz is a smaller jump but still noticeable in competitive play.
For phones, 120 Hz makes the whole interface feel faster: swiping, typing, and scrolling all respond more crisply. If your phone supports it, enabling it is almost always worth the modest battery trade-off.
How to Read the Browser Test Result
The refresh rate test shows a Hz estimate and a "Likely mode" — the nearest standard refresh rate. A few things to know:
- Near 60, 90, 120, or 144 — this is normal; screens run at standard modes, not odd numbers.
- Result is 55–58 Hz — likely a real 60 Hz screen with minor browser overhead; not a problem.
- Result is 30 Hz — battery saver is capping the frame rate, or the adaptive refresh dropped low because the screen content was still.
- Result varies a lot — close other tabs and apps; background load affects the measurement.
🖥️ Check your refresh rate now: Use the MyDeviceScan Refresh Rate Test — an 8-second browser measurement that shows your Hz estimate, frame time, and the closest standard display mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out what Hz my monitor is currently set to?
On Windows, open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display settings. The 'Refresh rate' dropdown shows the active value. On macOS, go to System Settings → Displays and look for the Refresh Rate selector. On Android and iOS, check Settings → Display for the refresh rate or motion smoothness option.
How can I verify my monitor's actual refresh rate in the browser?
Use a browser-based refresh rate test — it measures how many animation frames the browser renders per second. Run the test with the tab visible and battery saver off. The result is a close estimate of the active refresh rate, rounded to the nearest standard mode like 60, 120, or 144 Hz.
What Hz is my monitor if nothing is listed in display settings?
Most monitors default to 60 Hz unless you select a higher mode. If your display supports 144 Hz or higher, it still ships at 60 Hz in many setups — you have to manually switch it in OS display settings or the monitor's on-screen menu.
Why does my screen show a lower refresh rate than its advertised spec?
Common causes: the cable type limits bandwidth (HDMI 1.4 caps at 60 Hz on 1080p; you may need DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0+), the refresh rate was never changed from the default in OS settings, or battery saver / adaptive refresh is active. Check the cable, the OS setting, and the monitor's own OSD menu.
Does a higher refresh rate make a noticeable difference?
Yes — 120 Hz looks and feels smoother than 60 Hz for scrolling, cursor movement, and gaming. The jump from 120 Hz to 144 Hz or 165 Hz is smaller but still visible in fast motion. For productivity work, 60 Hz is fine; for gaming or anything with fast movement, 120 Hz+ is a genuine improvement.