Check buttons before timing
Use the Mouse Tester for button and wheel problems. Polling rate will not explain every missed click or mechanical double-click. Note whether the issue occurs in one app or across the desktop before changing mouse settings.
Capture continuous movement
Open the Mouse Polling Rate Test. Start a run and move a physical mouse continuously within the pad. Circles help keep the cursor inside it. Keep the tab visible and repeat several times under the same conditions. A run with too few events is not a usable rate.
Understand the readings
Average Hz comes from the observed event count and elapsed timestamp interval. The median interval is the middle gap between events. Peak window rate uses a 250 ms window, making it less dependent on a single tiny gap. The closest common rate is a comparison label, not a detected firmware setting.
Why 1000 Hz may appear lower
Browsers can batch pointer updates around rendering work. The test reads coalesced events where the browser exposes them, but support and timestamp detail vary. Slow movement, system load and wireless power saving can affect a run. Changing your monitor can change event delivery without changing the mouse’s USB setting.
Compare one change at a time
Check the configured rate in the manufacturer’s mouse software, then compare the same test through a direct port and through your usual hub. Keep the movement and browser consistent. Use vendor or native diagnostics if you need to verify hardware polling. The Refresh Rate Test can separately show browser frame cadence.