Why is the screen refresh rate important for Redmi 9?
Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a budget smartphone with a display that supports refresh rates up to 60 Hz (as standard). However, many users do not know that even within this frequency, you can optimize the display for specific tasks: games, watching videos or saving battery power. Incorrect settings can lead to slowing down the interface, increased energy consumption or even overheating of the device.
In this article, we’ll break down all the ways you can change the refresh rate on Redmi 9, including hidden settings. MIUI, utilization ADB-You will also learn how to check the current screen frequency and what to do if the option is inactive in the menu.
Important: Redmi 9 does not support 90Hz or 120Hz hardware – this is a hardware limitation of the device. All instructions below apply only to setting 60Hz and its derivatives (for example, adaptive frequency).
What is the default screen refresh rate of Xiaomi Redmi 9?
The standard refresh rate of the Redmi 9 (M2003J15SC, M2003J15SS) is 60 Hz. This means that the screen updates the image 60 times per second. For the budget segment, this is a typical indicator, but even here there are nuances:
- 📱 Adaptive frequency: In some versions MIUI (Starting from 12.5), the option Adaptive refresh rate is available, which automatically reduces Hz in static pictures (for example, reading text) to save charge.
- 🎮 Game mode: When running supported games, the system can force the maximum frequency (60 Hz), even if a different value is selected in the settings.
- 🔋 Energy saving: In Ultra-saving mode, the frequency can decrease to 30 Hz, which is noticeable when scrolling through pages.
To find out the current screen frequency, you can use third-party applications, such as Display Tester or CPU-Z. They show the real value of Hz, not what is specified in the settings.
Method 1: Change frequency through standard MIUI settings
The easiest way is to use the built-in options, but not all versions of MIUI have this option open to the public.
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Scroll down to the Screen Update Frequency (or Adaptive Frequency) section.
- Select one of the available values: 60 Hz - standard mode; Adaptive - automatic switching (if supported).
If the screen refresh rate is not on the menu, it means one of two things:
- 📵 Your version. MIUI Does not support manual tuning (relevant for older builds below 12.0).
- 🔧 The option is hidden by the manufacturer (solved through the ADB ore-menu).
Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone
Make sure the battery is more than 30% charged.
Close all background applications
Make a backup copy of important data-->
⚠️ Note: On some Redmi 9 firmware (especially global ones), the Adaptive Frequency option may not work correctly - the screen will twitch when switching between modes. In this case, it is recommended to choose a fixed 60 Hz.
Method 2: Unlock hidden settings via ADB
If the standard method doesn’t work, you can activate hidden options using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but gives you access to advanced settings.
Instructions:
- Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI until you become a developer!
- Activate USB Debugging: Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Turn on the USB Debugging Switch.
Redmi 9
ADB
adb shell settings put global force_fps 1This command unlocks the refresh frequency menu if it has been hidden.
After completing the command, restart the device and check for the availability of the screen refresh rate in the display settings.
What if the ADB does not recognize the device?
| ADB Team Team | Description | Application |
|---|---|---|
| adb shell settings put global force_fps 1 | Unlocks the refresh frequency menu | If the option is hidden in MIUI |
| adb shell settings put global peak_refresh_rate 60 | Fixes maximum frequency at 60 Hz | To stabilize the screen operation |
| adb shell settings put global min_refresh_rate 30 | Sets the minimum frequency (for adaptive mode) | Saving charge in simple |
Method 3: Use of an engineering menu (power users only)
Redmi 9's engineering menu allows you to manually adjust display settings, including refresh rates. Careful: incorrect changes can cause a malfunction of the screen!
To open the engineering menu:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the code ##36446337## (for MediaTek Helio G80, which is installed in Redmi 9).
In the engineering menu, you can also test the screen for broken pixels, check the color reproduction and calibrate the sensor, but without experience, it is better not to change other parameters - this can disrupt the display.
💡
If after changes in the engineering menu, the screen began to flicker, reset the display settings through Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset screen settings.
Problems and Solutions: What to Do When Frequency is Still Changing?
Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, the refresh rate of the screen remains the same, and let's look at the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:
- 🛠️ Failure after update: If the problem appeared after the update MIUI, perform a reset to factory settings (don’t forget to make a backup!).
If none of the methods worked, it is possible that your Redmi 9 has hardware limitations (e.g., a non-original display after repair).
⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.EU) forced frequency change via ADB Or an engineering menu can lead to artifacts on the screen. If you have stripes or flickering after settings, return the default values or reset.
How does the refresh rate affect the autonomy of Redmi 9?
The refresh rate of the screen is directly related to battery consumption. The higher the Hz, the more power the display consumes. On the Redmi 9 with its modest 5,020 mAh battery, this is especially noticeable:
- 🔋 60 Hz (constant): Standard mode, balance between smoothness and autonomy. On average, a smartphone will live on a single charge for 10-12 hours with active use.
- 🔄 Adaptive frequency: Saves up to 15-20% of charge by reducing Hz on static screens. MIUI Not always perfect – twitching is possible when switching.
- ⚡ 30Hz (forced): Maximum savings, but the interface will "slow down" Suitable only for reading or listening to music.
It is recommended that:
- Use dark themes (Redmi 9 is installed) IPS-screen, so the effect is less than AMOLED, But still visible).
- Disable Windows animation in the developer settings (reduces the load on the processor).
- Set adaptive frequency and manually fix 60Hz for games and videos only.
💡
On Redmi 9, adaptive screen refresh rates save charge but can cause visual artifacts. If interface smoothness is more important than autonomy, choose a fixed 60Hz.