Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones are equipped with high refresh rate displays that provide incredible smooth animations and games. However, often after buying or updating the firmware, users are faced with the fact that the screen is running in standard 60 Hz mode, and the cherished 120 Hz are not activated automatically, this is a common situation associated with optimizing the power consumption of the MIUI system or the new HyperOS.
Enabling high frame rates dramatically changes the experience of interacting with the device: scrolling tape becomes silky, and the response in shooters becomes instant. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to activate the mode, from standard settings to using the engineering menu, and also find out why this feature may not be available on your device.
Before we make any changes, it’s important to understand that refresh rates are the number of frames a screen can display in one second. The standard 60Hz has long been the minimum, but 120Hz is the potential of today’s processors and graphics accelerators.
Basic configuration through the system menu
The easiest and safest way to activate high hertz is to use the standard system settings. In the latest versions of Xiaomi shells, this section is often hidden in the screen or additional submenu. You need to open Settings and find the screen item.
If you only see the Standard or Auto options, it means that the system decides when to increase the hertz. For forced activation, select High or 120 Hz. On some Redmi Note and POCO X models, this switch may be inside the Additional settings menu in the Memory Expansion section (yes, strangely, but in some builds it is related).
Check the specifications of your model on the official website to make sure that native support is available.
⚠️ Warning: Forced 120Hz on through hidden menus on devices where the panel physically supports only 60Hz can result in incorrect color display or a “white screen».
Once the setting is changed, the system may request a reboot. Agree to have the changes take effect for all system processes. If the switch is grey or missing, move on to the next sections.
Activation through the Engineering Menu (CIT)
If you don't have the right item in your normal settings, you can use the engineering menu, which is a hidden diagnostic section, which is accessible through a special code in the "caller." Type the combination ##6484#. If the menu opens, you will see a list of tests.
Find Version or Display. Some versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS may have a Refresh Rate switch. However, most often, this menu is only for diagnostics, not for customization. However, checking here allows you to make sure that the display is physically healthy and capable of operating at high frequency.
There is an alternative code to enter the extended menu: ##3646633##. Once there, go to the Hardware Testing -> Display tab. If you see an FPS setting, try changing it. Be careful: the wrong settings in this menu can cause a color reset.
- 🔍 Enter the code ##6484## in the phone app.
- 📱 Find the Display or Version section.
- ⚙️ Check for a frame rate switch.
- 🔄 Restart the device after the changes.
What if the code doesn't work?
Using ADB for forced inclusion
The most effective method for advanced users is to use USB debugging and ADB command line. This method allows you to change the system file of the build.prop configuration or send a command to the system to ignore the battery limitations.
Connect your smartphone to your PC, enable USB Debugging in the Developer menu. Open the command line console on your computer. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices. If the device is determined, you can move on to modify the display settings.
The 120Hz activation is often a command that changes density or frequency, but a safer option is to change persist.sys.fps. Enter the following command:
adb shell settings put system peak_refresh_rate 120.0
adb shell settings put system min_refresh_rate 120.0Once the commands are done, the screen may blink. If there is no change, try restarting the phone.This method works on most Xiaomi models, but does not guarantee 100% results on all versions of Android.
☑️ Preparation for ADB-team
Comparison of display modes
Understanding the difference between modes will help you choose the optimal balance between performance and autonomy. The system can offer several options for the operation of the matrix, and each has its own characteristics of power consumption and smoothness.
| Regime. | Frequency (Hz) | Smoothness | Battery consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard. | 60 | Basic | Low. |
| High-pitched | 120 | Maximum | High-pitched |
| Auto (Smart) | 60-120 | Variable | Medium. |
| Playing | 120 (fix) | Stable. | Very tall. |
Auto mode is usually the best choice for everyday use, it only raises the hertz when scrolling or playing, saving charge in static scenarios, such as reading books, but in the interface, there is sometimes a micro-twitch when switching frequencies.
A fixed 120Hz mode provides better responsiveness, but can reduce smartphone life by 15-20%.If you're a gamer or just value maximum smoothness, autonomy is worth it.
Critical: On OLED-type screens, changing refresh rates can affect PWM (pulse-latitudinal modulation) performance, which sensitive users may notice as a change in eye comfort.
Why 120Hz doesn't work in games
A common problem: the menu costs 120 Hz, the interface flies, but in the favorite shooter (PUBG, Call of Duty), FPS is limited to 60 or 90 frames. This is a limitation on the developer side of the game or optimize the system for a particular processor.
There's a Game Turbo app in the MIUI and HyperOS shell, and go into its settings, select a particular game, and check if it's a performance limit, and sometimes cleaning up the game's cache or reinstalling helps.
It's also worth checking the graphics settings inside the game itself. Often, the High Frame Rate option is turned off by default to save resources. If you don't have that option in the game settings, it's locked at the GPU driver level for your model.
- 🎮 Open the Game Turbo and add the game.
- ⚡ Enable the "No Limits" or "Professional" mode».
- 📉 In the game schedule settings, select “Maximum” FPS».
- 🧹 Clear RAM before launch.
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Tip: If the game is heavy, turn on 120Hz just for it, and use 60Hz the rest of the time. This can be configured through automation scenarios or manually to avoid wasting the battery.
Impact on autonomy and heating
Constant operation of the display at the maximum frequency is a serious load on the battery and the processor. The graphics controller must render twice as many frames per second, which naturally leads to increased heat generation.
In hot weather or with cases with poor heat sink, the smartphone can start trottling to cool down, at which point you'll notice the jerks of the interface, even if 120Hz is on, which is a protective mechanism for thermoregulation.
If you notice that the phone is running out quickly, try lowering the frequency to 90Hz or 60Hz in the evening. The difference in smoothness between 90 and 120Hz is noticeable, but not as critical as between 60 and 90Hz.
⚠️ Warning: Prolonged 120Hz operation at 100% brightness can overheat the display module.
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The balance between fluidity and battery is key: 120 Hz is essential for gaming, 90 Hz is sufficient for social media, and 60 Hz is better for reading books.