How to See the Refresh Rate of Your Monitor
Your monitor's refresh rate determines how many times per second the screen updates its image — measured in Hz (hertz). A monitor running at 60Hz refreshes 60 times per second. One running at 144Hz does it 144 times. The difference is visible: smoother motion, less blur, more responsive feel.
But knowing what your monitor supports and confirming what it's currently running are two different things. Here's how to check both.
What Refresh Rate Actually Means
Refresh rate is a hardware specification — it's the maximum number of frames per second your monitor's panel can display. It's not the same as your GPU's frame output. Your graphics card might be pushing 200fps in a game, but if your monitor caps at 60Hz, you'll only ever see 60 distinct frames per second.
Manufacturers set a maximum refresh rate, but your operating system can sometimes run the display at a lower rate than that maximum — especially if the cable type, resolution, or driver settings aren't configured correctly. That's why checking the active refresh rate matters.
How to Check Refresh Rate on Windows 🖥️
Windows gives you a direct readout of your display's current refresh rate through the display settings.
Windows 11 / Windows 10:
- Right-click the desktop and select Display settings
- Scroll down and click Advanced display
- Under your selected monitor, you'll see Refresh rate listed — this is the rate currently active
You can also change it here. The dropdown shows all refresh rates your monitor supports at the current resolution. If 144Hz is available but you're running at 60Hz, this is where you'd switch it.
Via Device Manager or DirectX:
Type dxdiag into the Windows search bar and open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Under the Display tab, you'll see your monitor's current refresh rate listed alongside resolution and driver details.
How to Check Refresh Rate on macOS
On a Mac:
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
- Go to Displays
- If your monitor supports multiple refresh rates, you'll see a Refresh Rate dropdown — your current setting is shown there
Some Mac displays, particularly those with ProMotion technology, use adaptive refresh rates that scale dynamically. In those cases, the system may show a range rather than a fixed number.
How to Check Refresh Rate on Linux
On most Linux desktop environments:
- GNOME: Open Settings → Displays — refresh rate is shown alongside resolution
- KDE Plasma: Go to System Settings → Display and Monitor
- Command line: Run
xrandrin the terminal. The active refresh rate is marked with an asterisk (*) next to the resolution
Checking What Your Monitor Hardware Supports
If you want to know the maximum rated refresh rate — not just the current setting — there are a few ways:
- Monitor's physical menu (OSD): Most monitors have an on-screen display button. Navigate to the info or system section — many list the current input signal including refresh rate
- Manufacturer spec sheet: The model number printed on the back of your monitor (or in the OSD) can be searched online for full specifications
- Windows Advanced Display: Shows all supported combinations of resolution and refresh rate available from the connected display
Why Your Refresh Rate Might Be Lower Than Expected
This is a common frustration. You bought a 144Hz monitor, but Windows shows it running at 60Hz. Several variables affect this: ⚡
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Cable type | HDMI 1.4 caps out at 60Hz for 1080p in some cases; DisplayPort typically handles higher rates more reliably |
| Resolution | Higher resolutions require more bandwidth — some monitors only hit max Hz at lower resolutions |
| GPU capability | Older graphics cards may not output the signal required for high refresh rates |
| Driver settings | Outdated or misconfigured GPU drivers can limit available refresh rate options |
| Connection path | Using adapters (e.g., DisplayPort to HDMI) can introduce limitations |
If the refresh rate you're seeing doesn't match your monitor's rated spec, these are the variables worth investigating — starting with the cable and then the display driver.
Adaptive Refresh Rate Technologies Add Another Layer
NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync (as well as VESA Adaptive Sync) change the equation. Instead of a fixed refresh rate, these technologies let the monitor sync dynamically to the GPU's frame output — reducing screen tearing without a fixed cap.
If your setup uses adaptive sync, the refresh rate shown in settings is still the range limit, not a moment-by-moment reading. Third-party tools like RTSS (RivaTuner Statistics Server) or in-game performance overlays can show real-time frame rates if you want to see what's actually rendering second to second.
The Variables That Make Your Situation Unique
What makes this topic more nuanced than it first appears: the refresh rate that makes sense to verify — and potentially change — depends entirely on your setup.
A content creator running a color-accurate 4K panel at 60Hz may have zero reason to push higher. A competitive gamer with a 240Hz display needs to confirm every part of the chain — cable, GPU, driver, and game settings — is aligned to actually deliver that rate. A laptop user may find their refresh rate drops automatically on battery to preserve power.
The gap between the monitor's rated maximum and what your system is actively running can be significant. Knowing how to read that current rate — and understanding which hardware and software factors close or widen that gap — is where the real answer lives for your specific setup.