To check a mouse’s polling rate, open a browser-based polling-rate test, start it if necessary, then move the mouse continuously in the test area for several seconds. Read the reported rate together with any average, peak, gap, or stability figures. Repeat the test under identical conditions when comparing settings.
This is a practical check of what reached that browser session, not a direct USB-level measurement. For rates above 1,000 Hz, confirm the configured value in the mouse maker’s utility and, when accuracy matters, use an appropriate standalone measurement tool.
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What a mouse polling rate measures
Polling rate, also called report rate, is how often a mouse sends input reports to the computer. It is measured in hertz (Hz), where one hertz means one report per second. A higher setting means a shorter maximum interval between reports, assuming the device and software maintain that setting.
| Polling rate | Reports per second | Interval between reports |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 125 | 8 ms |
| 250 Hz | 250 | 4 ms (calculated as 1,000 ÷ 250) |
| 500 Hz | 500 | 2 ms (calculated as 1,000 ÷ 500) |
| 1,000 Hz | 1,000 | 1 ms |
The 125 Hz and 1,000 Hz intervals are documented examples: 125 Hz produces one report every 8 milliseconds, while 1,000 Hz produces one every 1 millisecond. The 250 Hz and 500 Hz intervals above are the direct mathematical conversions of the same relationship.
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Polling rate is not DPI
DPI describes sensor sensitivity: how far the pointer moves for a given physical movement. Polling rate describes how often the mouse reports its state. Changing DPI does not automatically change polling rate, and a polling test cannot tell you what DPI is configured.
Polling rate is not monitor refresh rate
Monitor refresh rate is how often the display updates. A browser test may deliver or count pointer events in a way influenced by display-frame timing, so the number shown on a page can reflect the entire event-delivery path rather than the mouse’s exact report cadence.
What you need before testing
- A computer with the mouse connected and recognized by the operating system.
- An open browser tab running a polling-rate test.
- The mouse’s companion software, if you want to compare the measured result with a configured profile.
- A consistent connection and test setup if you are comparing two settings.
Use the same browser, connection method, mouse profile, and movement pattern for every comparison. If the mouse supports both wired and wireless modes, test one mode at a time and record which mode was active.
How to check polling rate in a browser
- Connect the mouse. Plug it in or establish its normal wireless connection, then wait for the operating system and the mouse software to recognize it.
- Open a polling-rate test. Use a reputable online test page on the same computer that is receiving the mouse input. The page may be labeled “mouse Hz test,” “polling rate checker,” or “polling-rate test.”
- Start the measurement. Some pages begin immediately; others have a Start, Begin, or similar control. Select it if present.
- Keep the tab active. Leave the test page in the foreground while it measures. Switching tabs or windows can change which events the page receives.
- Move continuously. Move the pointer around the designated test area for several seconds. Use smooth, continuous movement rather than a few isolated clicks or short nudges.
- Read all reported values. Note the current or displayed rate, average, peak, gaps, and any stability indicator. A single peak is not a complete description of the result.
- Repeat when comparing settings. Change only the polling-rate setting, return to the same test page, and repeat the same movement procedure for a comparable run.
If the page has a reset or stop control, use it between runs so old samples are not mixed with new ones. Keep a short record of the selected rate, connection type, browser, and displayed results.
What an online result actually tells you
A browser test measures the input that reached that page after several layers handled it: the mouse, its wired or wireless connection, the operating system, the browser, and the test code. It does not directly inspect the USB transaction schedule inside the device.
Consequently, a page may show a lower or fluctuating value even when the mouse software is configured for a higher rate. Different online tools receive and count events differently, and some can count at display-frame timing. Treat the result as an observation of that browser session, not as a certificate of the mouse’s hardware report rate.
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How to interpret the number
Use the average for the general result
If a test reports an average, use it as the main description of the run. It represents the complete sample more effectively than one unusually high reading.
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A peak indicates the highest interval or rate observed during that run. It does not prove that the mouse sustained that value continuously.
Look for gaps and stability
Gaps, a wide spread between readings, or a low stability score indicate that the browser received events unevenly. Repeat the run before drawing a conclusion, especially if the configured setting and the displayed average differ.
Compare like with like
For a meaningful A/B comparison, keep the browser, page, connection method, active mouse profile, movement duration, and test area the same. If several variables change at once, a different reading cannot be attributed confidently to polling rate.
Why a test may show a lower or fluctuating rate
Browser and event-delivery limits
Online tools depend on browser event delivery and the page’s counting method. A browser can receive events in batches or at timing influenced by display updates, so the displayed value may not match the device’s configured report interval.
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Many companion applications store polling rate per profile. Confirm that the profile currently applied to the connected mouse is the one you edited, then run the test again.
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The connection mode changed
A wired connection, a wireless receiver, and Bluetooth can expose different device behavior. Record the active connection and do not compare runs made in different modes as though they were the same test.
Battery-saving behavior
Logitech warns that third-party and online tests can show lower or fluctuating readings. It also notes that some G mice can dynamically vary their report rate to save battery. A changing browser value therefore does not, by itself, prove that the mouse is defective.
The test is unsuitable for a high-rate mode
Logitech specifically cautions that browser-based tools may not process its mice’s high report rates correctly. Above 1,000 Hz, regard an online result as indicative and verify the setting with the manufacturer’s utility or a suitable standalone tool.
Confirm the configured rate in mouse software
The authoritative place to see the selected mode is usually the mouse manufacturer’s companion application. Exact labels and available values vary by model.
- Open the mouse’s companion software.
- Select the connected mouse, if the application lists more than one device.
- Open the performance, sensor, device, or profile page.
- Find a control labeled Polling rate or Report rate.
- Note the value assigned to the active profile.
- Apply or save the profile, if the application requires that step.
- Run the browser test again without changing the connection or profile.
Some mice also provide a physical control or onboard-memory setting. If the software and the browser disagree, first verify which profile and connection are active; then use a manufacturer utility or standalone measurement for confirmation rather than diagnosing a fault from one web result.
Example of selectable modes
The Sharkoon SKILLER SGM3 software manual shows selectable 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 Hz modes. That example demonstrates that a mouse can expose several fixed choices, but it does not establish that every model offers the same list.
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| Example mode | Reports per second | Calculated interval |
|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 125 | 8 ms |
| 250 Hz | 250 | 4 ms |
| 500 Hz | 500 | 2 ms |
| 1,000 Hz | 1,000 | 1 ms |
The values in this table are the selectable settings documented for that model; the intervals are calculated from the report-rate formula.
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How to verify rates above 1,000 Hz
High-rate modes place more demands on the software path that receives and counts events. A browser page may under-count them, merge events, or report a value shaped by frame timing. For a setting above 1,000 Hz:
- Check the selected rate in the mouse maker’s utility.
- Run an online test only as a rough indication.
- Use a suitable standalone measurement tool when you need an independent check.
- Repeat the standalone measurement with the same connection and active profile if you are comparing two settings.
Do not treat an online peak as proof that a high-rate mode is operating continuously. The manufacturer’s warning about unreliable third-party readings applies particularly when the reported rate is lower than the configured value or changes substantially during one run.
Comparing the available checking methods
| Method | Measurement layer | Best use | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online browser test | Events delivered to a browser page | Quick check and repeatable comparisons under matching conditions | Not a direct USB measurement; browser and display timing can affect the reading |
| Manufacturer utility | Configured device profile | Confirm which polling or report rate is selected | Shows the setting, not necessarily what every event reached in a particular application |
| Standalone measurement tool | Independent local measurement, depending on the tool | Cross-checking high-rate modes or investigating a persistent discrepancy | Suitability and accuracy depend on the specific tool and setup |
These methods answer slightly different questions. The browser test asks what reached that page, the utility asks what the mouse is configured to use, and a standalone tool can provide an additional measurement layer. Using the right method for the question prevents a normal browser limitation from being mistaken for a hardware problem.
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Use this protocol when you need to compare two polling-rate settings or document a result for troubleshooting:
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- Connect the mouse using the intended wired, receiver, or Bluetooth method.
- Open the companion utility and record the active profile and configured rate.
- Open the same polling-rate test page for every run.
- Start the page’s measurement control, if present.
- Move continuously in the test area for the same number of seconds each time.
- Record the average, peak, gaps, and stability values shown.
- Stop or reset the test before changing the configured rate.
- Change only the polling-rate setting, apply it, and repeat the identical movement pattern.
When reporting the result to someone else, include the configured rate, the browser result, the connection type, and the fact that the value came from a browser session. That context is more useful than quoting an isolated number.
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Troubleshooting a lower-than-expected result
The page shows a lower average but a stable run
Confirm the active profile in the manufacturer’s software and repeat the test. If the configured value is correct and the browser result remains lower, treat the browser reading as a limitation of the measurement path rather than immediate evidence of failure.
The page fluctuates from run to run
Keep the tab active, use continuous movement for several seconds, and repeat with the same setup. Check that the connection mode and profile did not change. A single fluctuating third-party result is not enough to diagnose a faulty mouse.
The result is implausibly high for the selected setting
Review the test’s average and peak separately. A peak can be an isolated observation, and event-counting behavior can produce readings that do not represent sustained device reports. Run a second test under the same conditions and verify the configured mode in the mouse utility.
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Use the manufacturer’s utility to confirm the selected setting, then cross-check with a suitable standalone measurement tool. Do not rely completely on a browser page for rates above 1,000 Hz.
What the result can and cannot establish
- It can establish: how the browser test received and counted pointer input during that run.
- It can help compare: two settings when all test conditions are held constant.
- It cannot establish by itself: the exact USB-level report cadence, a permanent device fault, or the mouse’s DPI.
- It should not be generalized: from one browser, one peak, or one short movement sequence to every application and connection mode.
Practical checklist
- Open the test on the computer where the mouse is connected.
- Start the test and keep its tab active.
- Move continuously for several seconds.
- Read average, peak, gaps, and stability together.
- Repeat under identical conditions for comparisons.
- Check the active profile and configured polling/report rate in the mouse software.
- For rates above 1,000 Hz, cross-check with the manufacturer utility or a suitable standalone tool.
- Do not diagnose a hardware fault from one low or fluctuating online reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a browser polling-rate test a direct USB measurement?
No. It measures the events that reached that browser page after the mouse, connection, operating system, browser, and test code handled them.
Why does my mouse show a lower report rate than its software setting?
Browser event handling can under-count or fluctuate, and the wrong profile or connection mode may be active. Confirm the profile, repeat the test, and use the manufacturer utility or a standalone tool for high-rate modes.
Should I use the average or the peak shown by a test?
Use the average to describe the run. Treat the peak as the highest observation, not proof that the mouse sustained that rate.
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Can a fluctuating result prove that my mouse is broken?
No. Logitech warns that third-party and online readings can be unreliable, and some mice can vary report rate dynamically for battery savings.
What should I do when checking a rate above 1,000 Hz?
Verify the configured value in the mouse maker’s utility and cross-check it with a suitable standalone measurement tool; treat the browser result as indicative only.
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