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Refresh Rate Test

Sliding marker that exposes high-refresh smoothness.

Press F for fullscreen

About Refresh Rate Test

A motion smoothness test that reveals whether your monitor is running at its full advertised refresh rate. The moving test element shows visible differences between 60Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, and 240Hz — if the motion looks the same on a 144Hz panel as on a 60Hz panel, your display settings need adjustment. Use it to verify VRR, overdrive, and frame rate delivery.

High Refresh Rate Smoothness Verification

This test displays a moving element that reveals whether your monitor is actually running at its advertised refresh rate. A 144Hz panel should show noticeably smoother motion than a 60Hz panel — if the difference is not obvious, your display may be running at a lower rate than expected. Check your operating system display settings to confirm the refresh rate is set correctly. Many users purchase high-refresh monitors for gaming but never update the setting from the default 60Hz. Run this test after adjusting settings to verify the full refresh rate is active.

Monitor Overdrive and Response Time Check

The moving test element also reveals overshoot artifacts caused by aggressive overdrive settings. If you see bright or dark halos trailing behind the moving element, your monitor's overdrive is set too high — a common issue with gaming monitors that prioritize response time over image quality. Reduce the overdrive setting in your monitor's OSD menu until the halo disappears. Competitive gamers use this test to find the optimal overdrive level that minimizes motion blur without introducing inverse ghosting artifacts.

Variable Refresh Rate and G-Sync Validation

If your monitor supports variable refresh rate technologies like G-Sync, FreeSync, or Adaptive-Sync, this test helps verify they are functioning. The moving element should appear consistently smooth across different frame rates without tearing or stuttering. Enable VRR in your GPU driver settings, then run the test while varying the frame rate in a game or benchmark. The smoothness should remain constant regardless of frame rate fluctuations. Gamers and content creators use this to confirm their VRR setup delivers the tear-free experience they paid for.

How to use it

  1. 01

    Open the test and go fullscreen

    Press F. The motion test fills the display.

  2. 02

    Observe the moving element

    Watch for smoothness, trailing artifacts, and halos. Compare at different refresh rate settings.

  3. 03

    Adjust and re-test

    Change your display refresh rate in OS settings, then re-run to compare.

Frequently asked

The shortest path between you and the answer.

How do I know if my monitor is running at the right refresh rate?

Check your operating system's display settings — on Windows, right-click the desktop and select Display Settings, then Advanced Display. On macOS, hold Option and click the Apple menu, then System Information, then Graphics/Displays.

Does this test work on laptops?

Yes, but many laptops cap the internal display at 60Hz even when an external monitor supports higher rates. Test with an external display connected to verify GPU output capability.

Is this tool free?

Yes. Every ScreenTools.co tool is free, with no account, no paywall, and no install.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. Layouts adapt to phone and tablet screens. Mobile Safari restricts true fullscreen, but the page fills the viewport and you can add the page to your Home Screen for an app-like experience.

Does it work offline?

Once a tool's page has loaded once, the runtime is local. A few tools that fetch fonts or icons need the first hit online; after that, refresh works offline.

Does this collect my data?

No personal data leaves your browser. The site has lightweight, privacy-respecting analytics for aggregate counts (which tool was opened) and nothing else.

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