How to Check Monitor Refresh Rate in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to find your monitor’s refresh rate in Windows 10, which is the number of times the screen updates per second (measured in hertz, Hz). A higher refresh rate (like 144Hz or 240Hz) makes motion look smoother, which is especially important for gaming and fast-paced video. You’ll also learn how to change it if your monitor supports a higher rate, and what to do if the settings don’t show the value you expect.

What You’ll Need

A Windows 10 PC with a monitor connected.
If you want to change the refresh rate, make sure your monitor’s cable (DisplayPort, HDMI, or DVI) supports the higher rate. For example, older HDMI cables may not support 144Hz at high resolutions.
Administrator rights on your PC (usually not required for just checking, but needed if you want to change the rate and the option is grayed out).

Step-by-Step

Right-click on the desktop. Do this anywhere on your desktop background (not on an open window). A context menu will appear.
Select “Display settings” from the menu. This opens the Settings app, specifically the Display page. Alternatively, you can open the Settings app (Win + I) and go to System > Display.
Scroll down and click “Advanced display settings”. This is a small text link near the bottom of the Display settings page. If you don’t see it, make sure your window is maximized or scroll further down.
Look for “Refresh rate” under your monitor’s name. In the Advanced display settings page, you’ll see a section labeled “Display information” (or similar). Under your monitor’s name, you’ll see “Refresh rate” with a value like “60Hz” or “144Hz”. This is your current refresh rate.
To change the refresh rate, click “Display adapter properties for Display 1” (or the display number you’re using). This opens a separate window.
Go to the “Monitor” tab in the new window. You’ll see a drop-down menu labeled “Screen refresh rate”.
Select the desired refresh rate from the drop-down. Only rates supported by your monitor and graphics card will be listed. If you don’t see a higher rate, your hardware or cable may not support it.
Click “Apply” and then “OK”. Windows will briefly apply the new rate. If the screen goes black for a moment, that’s normal. A dialog will ask if you want to keep the changes; click “Keep changes” if the display looks correct, or it will revert automatically after 15 seconds.

Common Mistakes

Looking at the wrong display. If you have multiple monitors, make sure you’re checking the correct one in the Advanced display settings. The display number (1, 2, etc.) corresponds to the arrangement shown in the Display settings.
Confusing refresh rate with resolution. Refresh rate is not the same as resolution (e.g., 1920×1080). Resolution is the number of pixels; refresh rate is how often the image updates. Both are important but separate settings.
Assuming the highest listed rate is always best. Your monitor might support 60Hz and 120Hz, but if you’re not doing anything fast-paced, 60Hz is fine and uses less power. Also, some monitors have a native refresh rate that’s lower than the maximum; using a non-native rate can cause blurriness.
Using the wrong cable. Even if your monitor and GPU support 144Hz, an HDMI 1.4 cable might limit you to 60Hz at 1080p. Use DisplayPort or a high-speed HDMI cable (2.0 or later) for higher rates.

Tips

Check the monitor’s on-screen display (OSD). Most monitors have a button to open a menu that shows the current input and refresh rate. This is a quick way to confirm what the monitor is actually receiving.
Use the “Advanced display settings” page for a quick check. It shows the current refresh rate at a glance, without opening extra windows.
If you have a laptop with a high-refresh display, you might need to check the “Display adapter properties” and also look at the “List All Modes” button to see all supported combinations of resolution and refresh rate.
After changing the refresh rate, run a quick test like scrolling a web page or playing a game to see if the change is noticeable. If the screen flickers or looks odd, revert to the previous rate.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see a “Refresh rate” option in Advanced display settings. This can happen if your display driver is outdated or if you’re using a basic Microsoft display driver. Update your graphics card driver from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) or through Windows Update.

The drop-down menu only shows one option (e.g., 60Hz) but I know my monitor supports 144Hz. This is almost always a cable issue. Make sure you’re using a DisplayPort cable (or HDMI 2.0+ for 1080p/144Hz). Also, check your monitor’s OSD to see if it’s set to the correct input and if any “overclock” or “high refresh” mode needs to be enabled there.

After applying a new refresh rate, the screen goes black and doesn’t come back. Windows automatically reverts after 15 seconds if you don’t confirm. If it doesn’t, wait a few seconds, then press the Windows key + P and select “PC screen only” to try to reset the display. If that fails, restart your PC in Safe Mode and revert the setting.

The refresh rate I set doesn’t stick after I restart. This can happen if the monitor is not properly detected. Try updating the monitor driver (right-click the Start button, go to Device Manager, find Monitors, right-click your monitor, and select Update driver). Also, ensure you’re using the correct display port on your graphics card (not the motherboard’s port if you have a dedicated GPU).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a good refresh rate for everyday use? 60Hz is standard and fine for office work, browsing, and video. 120Hz or 144Hz provides smoother motion and is beneficial for gaming and even general desktop use, as it reduces eye strain for some people.

Q: Can I overclock my monitor’s refresh rate? Some monitors allow you to set a custom refresh rate through graphics card software (like NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings). This is not guaranteed to work and can cause artifacts or damage in rare cases. Proceed with caution and only if your monitor is known to support it.

Q: Does the refresh rate affect battery life on a laptop? Yes, a higher refresh rate consumes more power. If you’re on battery, you might want to switch to 60Hz to extend battery life. Many laptops automatically switch when unplugged.

Q: Why does my monitor show 60Hz even though I set it to 144Hz? This usually means the cable or port doesn’t support 144Hz at your current resolution. Try lowering the resolution or changing the cable. Also, check if your monitor’s OSD has a “DisplayPort version” setting that needs to be changed to 1.2 or higher.

Q: Is there a difference between refresh rate and frame rate? Yes. Refresh rate is how many times your monitor updates per second. Frame rate is how many frames your graphics card produces per second. If your frame rate is higher than your refresh rate, you may experience screen tearing. V-Sync or G-Sync/FreeSync can help align them.

Q: Can I check the refresh rate without going through Windows settings? Yes, you can check your monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) menu, which usually shows the current input signal’s refresh rate. Some graphics card software also displays it in real-time.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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