First identify where you see 60Hz: in the operating-system display settings, a browser test, or a game counter. Those readings describe different parts of the display path. A monitor advertised as 144Hz or 240Hz still needs a supported connection and an explicitly selected mode.
Find where the 60Hz limit appears
If the operating system offers only 60Hz, start with the selected monitor, resolution, input, and connection. If it offers a higher rate but is set to 60Hz, select a supported higher mode and confirm the change. If the system already shows 144Hz or 240Hz while a browser reports about 60Hz, investigate the browser presentation path before replacing hardware.
A game counter showing 60 FPS is not a 60Hz panel reading. Frame-rate caps, V-Sync, workload, or power settings may limit game frames independently. Once the system mode is correct, use the browser refresh rate test as a secondary check, not as the authority on the panel’s physical refresh rate.
- System set to 60Hz, higher option available: select the supported higher mode.
- Higher option missing: check resolution and the complete connection path.
- System set higher, browser near 60Hz: check window location, load, and browser scheduling.
- Game at 60 FPS: check game settings separately from monitor Hz.
Windows 11: choose the target display and refresh rate
Open Settings → System → Display → Advanced display. Select the monitor you want to check, then review Choose a refresh rate. In a multi-display setup, identify the screens first: the laptop panel and external monitor can have different modes. Choose a supported rate and confirm that it remains selected.
The available rates depend on the display and current mode. Check resolution as well as refresh rate; an advertised maximum may require a particular input or resolution. If you use Dynamic Refresh Rate, the system may vary the rate with activity. For a repeatable comparison, use a supported fixed mode where available and restore your preferred setting afterward.
macOS: check the selected display’s available modes
Open System Settings → Displays and select the target display. Review the Refresh Rate control if it is available. On supported Apple displays, ProMotion is an adaptive mode; supported external displays may offer variable or fixed rates. The available controls depend on the Mac, display, and connection.
A monitor supporting 240Hz does not mean every Mac output, dock, or resolution supports that mode. If the higher option is absent, consult the specifications for the exact Mac model and monitor input, and test a supported direct connection. Do not force an unsupported custom timing as a first troubleshooting step.
When 144Hz or 240Hz is missing: check bandwidth
Trace the complete path: GPU output → cable → any adapter or dock → monitor input. The advertised cable connector alone does not guarantee that the chain supports your resolution, refresh rate, color depth, and HDR mode together. Some monitors support their maximum only through particular inputs or an on-screen setting.
Temporarily bypass a dock or adapter using a connection supported by both devices. Compare the input specifications with the desired mode. If a lower resolution exposes the higher rate, that is a clue about mode or bandwidth limits, not proof of a bad cable. Change one setting at a time and return to the intended resolution before judging the result.
- Check the exact monitor model and input’s supported mode table.
- Check the GPU or computer output and any dock or adapter limits.
- Use a suitable cable and the display maker’s supported input settings.
- Use official GPU drivers; avoid unverified driver tools or custom timings.
Rule out mirrored displays and power-state changes
Mirroring may require a mode that both screens support. Temporarily test an extended desktop or the high-refresh monitor by itself. If the higher option appears, the shared display mode deserves investigation before the monitor is blamed.
Power-saving settings, remote desktops, virtual machines, and capture devices can also change what the application sees. Test locally, keep the window on the target display, and note whether the behavior changes on battery power. Do not alter several power, driver, and monitor settings at once; you would lose the ability to identify the cause.
System says 144Hz, browser says 60Hz: compare carefully
Move the browser completely onto the target display, keep the tab visible, close heavy workloads, and rerun the refresh rate test. Repeat after changing only one condition, such as browser or power mode. Mixed-refresh displays, variable refresh, compositing, and browser scheduling can affect animation callbacks even with a correctly selected system mode.
DisplayCheck samples browser animation timing. It cannot directly read the physical panel refresh rate or certify that every application presents at the same cadence. If the system rate is correct but the estimate stays low, compare another supported browser and normal motion content. Use the ghosting test for visible trails, and read refresh rate versus FPS before interpreting a game counter as monitor Hz.
Record a useful result before asking for support
Record the monitor and computer models, chosen input, cable, dock, resolution, HDR setting, selected system refresh rate, and where the 60Hz reading appears. Include whether the higher option is missing, fails to stay selected, or is selected but disagrees with a browser estimate. This separates three different support questions.
If the documented mode remains unavailable over a supported direct connection, consult the hardware maker with that record. If only a game is capped, start with its settings and workload instead. A browser test can help you describe presentation behavior; it does not diagnose a faulty panel or override the manufacturer’s supported-mode specifications.
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DisplayCheck provides visual checks and browser capability reports. Objective color, luminance, physical response time, contrast, and gamut measurements require suitable instruments.