How to Check If Your Monitor Is 240Hz
A 240Hz monitor refreshes its image 240 times per second — but buying one and actually running it at 240Hz are two different things. Plenty of people own high-refresh-rate displays without ever confirming whether their system is pushing the full rate. Here's how to check, what can get in the way, and why your specific setup matters more than the spec sheet.
What "240Hz" Actually Means
Refresh rate is how many times per second your monitor redraws the image on screen, measured in hertz (Hz). A 240Hz monitor can display up to 240 frames per second, which translates to smoother motion, reduced blur, and lower perceived input lag compared to 60Hz or 144Hz panels.
The key word is can. The monitor's hardware capability is only one part of the equation. Your operating system, graphics card, cable type, and display settings all determine whether 240Hz is actually active.
How to Check Your Current Refresh Rate 🖥️
On Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Display settings
- Scroll down and click Advanced display settings
- Look for Refresh rate — it shows the rate currently active, not just what the monitor supports
- If you see a dropdown, it will list every rate your monitor and GPU combination can support
If 240Hz doesn't appear in the dropdown at all, the issue is almost always the cable, the GPU output, or the display settings — not the monitor itself.
On macOS
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions)
- Go to Displays
- Hold the Option key and click Scaled to reveal all available refresh rate options
- Select your display and look for refresh rate options
macOS doesn't always surface high refresh rates by default, even when the hardware supports them.
Using Third-Party Tools
Tools like HWINFO64, GPU-Z, or DisplayHAL can show the exact signal being sent to your monitor. These are useful if you want to confirm what your GPU is actually outputting, independent of what the OS reports.
The Monitor's Own Menu
Most monitors have an OSD (on-screen display) accessible via buttons on the panel. Some display the active refresh rate directly in an info or status screen. Check your monitor's manual for how to access this — it varies by brand and model.
Common Reasons You're Not Getting 240Hz
Even with a 240Hz monitor, several factors can cap your refresh rate lower:
| Issue | Effect | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong cable type | Caps bandwidth, limits max refresh | Use DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1 |
| Older GPU | May not output 240Hz at full resolution | Check GPU specs |
| Display set to wrong rate | OS defaults to 60Hz on new connections | Manually set in display settings |
| Resolution too high | Higher res requires more bandwidth | Lower resolution or use correct cable |
| Monitor running at 1080p vs 1440p | 240Hz is easier to achieve at 1080p | Check resolution/refresh rate pairing |
Cable Type Matters More Than People Expect
DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 are the two cables capable of carrying a 240Hz signal at common resolutions without bottlenecking. Older connections like HDMI 1.4 or even DisplayPort 1.2 may max out below 240Hz depending on resolution. If your refresh rate is stuck at 60Hz or 144Hz despite changing settings, swapping the cable is often the first thing worth trying.
Your GPU Has to Support It Too
A 240Hz monitor paired with a GPU that can't output that signal won't run at 240Hz. Check your graphics card's specifications — specifically its maximum refresh rate output per connection type. An older integrated GPU or a lower-tier discrete card may cap output at 144Hz or 60Hz depending on the port.
How to Verify It's Actually Running at 240Hz 🎯
Setting 240Hz in your OS is a good sign, but you can go further:
- UFO Test (testufo.com): A browser-based motion test that helps you visually assess whether frames are being delivered smoothly. It won't give you an exact Hz reading, but inconsistencies become visible.
- Frame counter overlays: Tools like MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner, or the built-in overlay in GeForce Experience, show live FPS. If your game or content is consistently pushing 200+ FPS, your display needs to be set to 240Hz for those frames to render correctly.
- Monitor info screen: As mentioned, many OSD menus confirm the incoming signal rate.
The Resolution and Content Variables
240Hz doesn't exist in isolation from resolution. Most consumer 240Hz monitors run at 1080p or 1440p — achieving 240Hz at 4K requires significantly more bandwidth and is less common at mainstream price points. The resolution you choose affects:
- Which cable and port you need
- Whether your GPU can sustain high frame rates
- What kinds of content actually benefit (fast-paced games vs. general desktop use)
Even if your hardware is capable, not every application will output 240 frames per second. Productivity tasks, video playback, and slower-paced games may never stress your display's upper limit regardless of the setting.
What the Check Won't Tell You
Confirming that your monitor is set to 240Hz tells you the display is capable of showing 240 frames per second — it doesn't mean your system is consistently delivering them. Whether that rate translates into a real-world advantage depends on your GPU's output in specific applications, the types of content you run, and how sensitive you are to motion smoothness differences at high frame rates.
The gap between "monitor is set to 240Hz" and "I'm getting full benefit from 240Hz" is where your own hardware, software stack, and use case become the deciding factors.