Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco are known for their aggressive approach to performance optimization — especially when it comes to gaming. Built-in features like Game Turbo, MIUI Optimization, and hidden CPU limitations often work against gamers: artificially understate FPS, cause frame drawdowns and overheating. If you notice that games on your device are slowing down despite the powerful hardware, the problem is likely to be these “improvements.”
In this article, we’ll break down all the ways to disable the acceleration of games on Xiaomi – from standard settings to hidden developer parameters and even manual editing of configuration files. You’ll learn how to fully deactivate Game Turbo, remove thermothrottle restrictions, and why it’s sometimes best to use it. ADB-commands than regular menus. Instructions are relevant to MIUI 12/13/14 All modern models, including Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12, Poco F5).
Why Xiaomi is artificially slowing down games?
The manufacturer claims that Game Turbo and similar features improve the gaming experience, but in practice they do the following:
- 🔥 Thermodrossing: Forced to reduce the clock speed of the processor when heated, even if the temperature is normal.
- 🎮 Limitation FPS: block out 60 frames/sec (even if the screen supports the 90/120/144 Hz).
- 📱 Background optimization: Killing processes in multitasking, making games load longer.
- 🔋 Energy saving: activate performance-reducing modes "to save battery life».
For example, on the Xiaomi 12T Pro with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor in games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, the FPS can sag from 90 to 45 frames — and it’s not the hardware that’s to blame, but the software limitations. Even after turning off the Game Turbo in the settings, some optimizations continue to work in the background.
⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) After disabling Game Turbo, you may lose access to the graphics settings in games (resolution adjustment, textures). MIUI — The manufacturer links these options to its software.
Method 1: Disable Game Turbo through standard settings
The easiest method is to deactivate embedded gaming services, but it doesn’t work on all devices: on some models (like the Poco F4 GT), the Game Turbo is integrated into the system and doesn’t have a separate switch.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- In the search box, enter Game Turbo (or Game Accelerator in Russian).
- Select the app, click Disable (if the button is active) or Remove Updates.
- Reboot your smartphone.
If there is no button to disable, try:
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Gaming accelerators and deactivate all toggles.
- 📱 Some of the firmware needs to open security. → Acceleration → Game mode and turn it off there.
☑️ Checking the Game Turbo shutdown
An additional step may be required on MIUI 14: go to Settings → Battery & Performance → Performance Modes and select High Performance (not Balanced or Energy Saving).
Method 2: Deactivate MIUI Optimization (requires ADB)
MIUI Optimization is a system package (com.miui.optimizer) that is responsible for background optimization, including restrictions on games. It can not be disabled through the standard menu, but can be blocked using ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
You'll need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
- 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then additionally → For developers → Debugging by USB).
- 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
Steps:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission.
- Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
- Enter the command: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.optimizer
- Reset the device.
After that:
- ✅ Lags will disappear when switching between games and other applications.
- ✅ The game will be played in the background (will not be killed by the system).
- ⚠️ There may be minor bugs in animations MIUI (For example, when you open the menu).
💡
If navigation gestures stop working after disabling com.miui.optimizer, return the settings with the command adb shell pm enable com.miui.optimizer and use an alternative method (see Method 4).
Method 3: Manual editing of configuration files (for advanced ones)
Some firmware (especially custom ones like Xiaomi.EU or PixelExperience) have game restrictions in their system files that can be changed manually, but that requires root rights or access to TWRP.
Key files and parameters:
| File. | Way | What to change | The effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| thermal-engine.conf | /vendor/etc/thermal-engine.conf | Meanings cpu_thermal_limit and gpu_thermal_limit | Removes artificial clock frequency restriction during heating |
| game_config.xml | /data/data/com.miui.gamecenter/shared_prefs/ | Parameter game_boost_enable falsely | Disables all game "improvements" |
| build.prop | /system/build.prop | Add the line debug.performance.tuning=1 | Unlocks Hidden Performance Modes |
Example of editing thermal-engine.conf (root required):
- Open the file in a text editor (e.g., Mixplorer with root access).
- Find the block: cpu_thermal_limit = 85 75 65 55 gpu_thermal_limit = 80 70 60 50
- Replace it with: cpu_thermal_limit = 105 100 95 90 gpu_thermal_limit = 100 95 90 85
- Save the file and restart the device.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to bootloop ( looped boot). TWRP or Xiaomi Backup.
Method 4: Use of third-party utilities (without root)
If you don't want to mess with ADB or root, you can use specialized applications that don't have a 100% effect, but they help you to partially disable optimizations:
- 🛠️ Game Optimizer Disabler (requires) ADB Unlocking: Disables Game Turbo and MIUI Optimization with a single click.
- ⚡ ForceDoze: Blocks background activity MIUI, Preventing the Killing of Games in Multitasking.
- 🔥 Thermal Control (root): allows you to manually adjust thermothrottle thresholds.
- 🎮 GFX Tool: Bypassing the restrictions FPS In games (not all titles).
Examples of the Game Optimizer Disabler:
- Download APK with XDA Developers.
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell sh /sdcard/Download/disable_miui_optimization.sh
- Reset the device.
Some firmware (e.g. MIUI China) do not work with these utilities, requiring pre-deletion of com.miui.securitycenter via ADB.
Method 5: Resetting performance settings to factory
If you tried different methods and something went wrong (for example, the games started to lay even more), you can reset all optimizations to default values.
Instructions:
- Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
- Select Reset App Settings (not a full reset!).
- Confirm the action.
After discharge:
- 🔄 All permissions for games will be reset (you need to re-allow access to the microphone, storage, etc.).
- 📉 Standard restrictions will return FPS and thermothrottle.
- 🔧 I will have to re-engineer the game turbo and MIUI Optimization.
What if after the game was reset, the game was slowed down even more?
Additional Tips for Maximum Performance
Even after disabling all optimizations, you can still improve FPS and game stability:
- 🔋 Turn off the adaptive brightness, which puts additional strain on the processor, and set a fixed value (e.g., 70%).
- 📶 Activate Aircraft Mode While Playing: Background Processes (e.g., Mi Cloud Synchronization) Steal Resources.
- ❄️ Use cooling: even after turning off the thermal throttle, overheating reduces performance.Buy a cooling case or play at temperatures below 25°C.
- 🔄 Update the drivers GPU: Some models (such as Xiaomi) 12S Ultra update via Fastboot gives an increase FPS 15%.
To check the results, use:
- GameBench – Measuring FPS and Heat in real time.
- Throttling Test CPU – shows whether the processor frequency decreases during load.
- 3DMark is a benchmark for overall performance.
💡
Disabling Game Turbo and MIUI Optimization gives an increase in FPS by 20-40% in heavy games (for example, in PUBG Mobile from 45 to 60+ fps), but can reduce battery life by 10-15%.