Pulsed‐potential control is examined as an alternative to steady‐state (dc) operation as a means of increasing the oxidation rate of methanol on a graphite‐supported Pt electrode, with and without surface modification by Sn. The potential was pulsed from a low polarization (of duration ), at which methanol oxidation and poison formation occur, to a high polarization (of duration ), at which the poison is oxidatively removed; the effects of varying , , and were studied. The electrodes were prepared by ion‐exchange of onto an electro‐oxidized graphite followed sequentially by air activation and electrochemical reduction. The surface area was measured during extensive pulse‐ and triangle‐waveform polarization and decreased but remained stable at 70% of the initial value. From SEM photographs, platinum redistribution into the porous graphite and particle agglomeration were found. The time‐averaged methanol current density using the pulsed‐control strategy was significantly higher in comparison to dc control. The current density without Sn modification at (vs. RHE) increased one order‐of‐magnitude above the dc value of 0.1 mA/cm2, with current density based upon the measured Pt area; at , a four orders‐of‐magnitude increase was found above the dc value of 0.1 μA/cm2. The methanol oxidation current at 0.6 and 0.4 V using the optimum concentration of was only 10–50% higher than that obtained without it under the same pulsed control. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the effect of pulsed‐potential control on the oxidation states of the platinum. The pulsed electrolysis enhanced the chemical interaction between the platinum crystallites and the graphite substrate and increased the platinum oxide coverage.