UtilityBaseDevice Tests
Refresh Rate Test
Measure your display's actual refresh rate in real time.
Updated January 20, 2026
How to use the refresh rate test
- 1Open the tool and let it run for a few seconds.
- 2Read the live value and the stabilized average.
- 3If the average is far below your monitor's spec, check OS display settings and your cable.
Common uses
- Confirm a high-refresh monitor is actually running at full speed.
- Check whether battery saver is capping your refresh rate.
- Verify a new cable or dock supports your monitor's refresh rate.
Frequently asked questions
The test shows 60 Hz but my monitor is 144 Hz. Why?
Your display is most likely set to 60 Hz in the operating system. Check display settings (Windows: Advanced display settings → refresh rate; macOS: Displays → Refresh Rate). Also verify the cable and port support the higher rate — older HDMI ports commonly cap at 60 Hz at high resolutions.
Why does the reading fluctuate?
Brief dips happen when the system is busy — background tabs, video playback, or power-saving modes can all skip frames. The stabilized average smooths this out; judge your refresh rate by the average, not momentary dips.
Does battery saver affect the result?
Yes. Many laptops and phones cap the refresh rate (often to 60 Hz) in power-saving modes, and some browsers throttle background rendering. Test while plugged in with power saving off for an accurate reading.
Is browser FPS the same as my monitor's refresh rate?
In normal conditions the browser paints one frame per display refresh, so yes. If the system can't keep up, the browser reading can be lower than the panel's rate — which itself is useful to know.
About this tool
The refresh rate test measures how many frames per second your browser actually renders, which on a healthy system equals your display's active refresh rate. It's the quickest way to confirm that a 120 Hz or 144 Hz monitor is really running above 60 Hz — a setting that silently resets more often than you'd think after driver updates, cable changes, or plugging into a different port. The tool samples animation frames continuously and reports a live reading plus a stabilized average.
Like everything on UtilityBase, the refresh rate test runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded or stored on a server. It's free to use with no account required. Browse more device tests here.
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