How To Verify Your Monitor’s Refresh Rate on Windows

Finding out what your monitor’s refresh rate actually is can be pretty frustrating sometimes, especially if you’re troubleshooting display issues, gaming jitters, or just want to make sure your setup is running as smooth as possible. It’s not always obvious where to look or what method to trust. Luckily, there are a few ways that work, and some might even give you more detailed info than you expected. This guide covers practical methods that I’ve tried myself—sometimes one method works better than the others, depending on your Windows version, driver setup, or monitor specs. Check them out and see what sticks.

How to figure out your monitor’s refresh rate in Windows

Check using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag)

This is kind of old-school but still handy. The dxdiag tool is great for quick hardware info, and it usually displays the current display mode, which includes refresh rate. It helps when your monitor display isn’t showing what you expect or when you need a quick check without installing anything new.

Press Windows Key + R to bring up the Run box.
Type dxdiag and hit Enter.
Switch to the Display tab in the window that pops up.
Look for the Current Display Mode. It’ll list your resolution and refresh rate side-by-side. Sometimes, it shows just resolution, so if the refresh rate isn’t there, try the other methods.

Once you see the refresh rate, you can close dxdiag. On some setups, it doesn’t update immediately or might show what’s running at windows startup, so don’t freak if it looks off at first. Just gives a ballpark.

Check monitor refresh rate via Windows Settings

This is usually more reliable for clarity because Windows actually pulls this info directly from your display driver. But it’s buried pretty deep, so it can be a pain to find at first. The good thing is, once set, it should stick until you change it again.

Click the Start button and then hit Settings.
Go to System > Display.
Scroll down and click on Advanced display settings (sometimes labeled as Display adapter properties at the bottom).
In the new window, select your monitor from the Display information dropdown if you have multiple screens.
Look for the Refresh rate (Hz) field—this shows what Windows is currently using.

Note: If your monitor is connected through a HDMI or DisplayPort, sometimes you need to make sure the cable supports the refresh rate you want. Also, some monitors require specific driver updates to display the correct info, so keep those drivers up to date.

Use the TestUFO website to check your monitor’s actual refresh rate

If you’re really curious about real-world performance or want to see if your monitor is running at the intended refresh rate, TestUFO is a fun, no-fuss option. It’s designed to show you frame rates and flicker, which correlates with your refresh rate. Be aware it’s not a formal calibration tool, but it’s decent enough for a rough check.

Visit TestUFO.
Scroll down a bit and look at the displayed info at the bottom of the page that shows the refresh rate as perceived.
You can run the test for a few seconds to see if the flickering matches your expected refresh rate (like 60Hz, 144Hz, etc.).

Pro tip: Make sure your browser is running at 60Hz (or whatever your target is), or else the test might skew a little. Also, using a modern browser like Chrome or Firefox makes this more reliable.

Check the refresh rate in Windows 10 (or if Settings seem broken)

This method is similar to the Windows Settings method above but if you’re on Windows 10 or older, here’s the quick way:

Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Display Settings.
Click Advanced display settings.
Pick your monitor from the drop-down menu if you’ve got multiple screens.
The info shown here should include the refresh rate under Refresh rate (Hz).

This is the simplest way to get a decent read without diving into driver software or other tools. On some setups, Windows messes this up or doesn’t refresh properly, so switching the cable or restarting your graphics driver sometimes helps if info looks wrong.

How to bump up your refresh rate if it’s set too low

Sometimes, Windows defaults your monitor to a lower refresh rate, especially if drivers are outdated or if the monitor isn’t officially supported. If you want to maximize performance for gaming or smooth animations, it’s worth bumping it up.

Just follow these steps, which apply to Windows 10 & 11:

Open Display Settings → Advanced display settings as above.
Click Display adapter properties (link at the bottom).
Go to the Monitor tab.
In the Screen refresh rate dropdown, choose the highest available setting — ideally matching your monitor’s spec sheet (say, 144Hz or 120Hz).
Hit Apply and see if your display flickers or blanks out briefly. Sometimes Windows needs a restart or driver update if it doesn’t offer the right options.

On some setups, Windows might not list your maximum refresh rate if the driver isn’t configured right or if the cable doesn’t support higher rates. Updating your GPU driver from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) can help unlock those options.

Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary sometimes. But once adjusted, the difference in smoothness can be noticeable, especially in gaming or fast-paced video editing.

Wrap-up

Figuring out and adjusting your monitor’s refresh rate isn’t really rocket science, but it can feel like a wild goose chase when settings are hidden or info isn’t straightforward. The important thing is, once you get the hang of these methods, you’ll be able to verify your current refresh rate or push it higher if needed. It’s all about matching your hardware capabilities with the right settings for the best experience.

Summary

Use dxdiag to check hardware info quickly.
Dig into Windows Settings for more accurate, real-time data.
Try TestUFO for a rough but fun real-world test.
Adjust in advanced display settings for better performance.

Fingers crossed this helps

Hopefully, this helps someone get the info they need without pulling their hair out. It’s not always obvious, but knowing where to look makes a huge difference. Just remember to check your cables and drivers first if things look off or won’t change. Good luck boosting that refresh rate!