Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO often face a situation where the hardware power of the device significantly exceeds the software limitations. You bought a flagship with a top-end processor, but in games or interface frame rates are frozen at 60 FPS, although the screen physically supports 120 Hz. This is a common problem associated with software locks and optimization of MIUI or HyperOS.
Unlocking high refresh rates doesn't just make the picture smoother; it reduces input lag, which is critical in competitive shooters and dynamic arcades. But before you interfere with system files, you need to clearly understand which tools are available to your device and where the line between secure setup and risk to system stability runs.
Not all apps support high hertz by default. Even if you set 120 Hz in the screen settings, a particular game can forcefully limit framerate to save battery power or reduce heat output. from basic display settings to working with ADB-We're going to start with the foundations.
Hardware compatibility check and basic settings
The first step should always be to verify your display. Many users mistakenly believe that a powerful processor automatically guarantees 120 FPS, forgetting that the screen matrix is a physical limiter. If your smartphone panel has a native frequency of 60 Hz, it is impossible to programmatically accelerate it to 120 Hz without artifacts and damage to the matrix. Make sure that the specifications of your Xiaomi or Redmi model support High Refresh Rate.
To enable a standard high refresh rate, go to the settings menu. The path usually looks like: Settings → Screen → Update Frequency. Here you will be asked to choose between Default, 60 Hz and 120 Hz (or Maximum). The default mode choice often leads to the system deciding when to lower the hertz to save energy, which in games can cause unexpected drawdowns.
⚠️ Warning: Forced 120Hz settings in the settings menu can lead to accelerated battery discharge.If you notice that the smartphone starts to heat up quickly in standby mode, return the setting to the default or 60Hz position".
It is important to distinguish between FPS (frames per second generated by the processor) and Hz (matrix refresh rate). To see the real increase, both indicators must be synchronized. Some applications have their own internal limiters that ignore system settings, in which case you need to look for graphics settings inside the application itself or use third-party utilities to unlock hidden modes.
If the screen settings menu does not have a 120Hz selection option, it could mean that the manufacturer has hidden it for certain applications or regions. Owners of global firmware versions often lack some of the features available in Chinese builds. In such cases, deeper customization methods come to the rescue, which we will talk about below, but it is worth checking the standard arsenal of the system first.
Activation of Developer Mode and Game Accelerators
To access the advanced performance settings, you need to activate the hidden developer menu. This is a standard procedure for Android devices that allows you to manage the rendering and animation options. To open the menu, go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on "MIUI version" or "OS version." Once the notification "You became a developer" will appear in the settings menu, a new section will appear.
Inside the developer menu, we're interested in graphics-related items. Find Graphics or Hardware Acceleration. HW-Accelerate" if active, and experiment with driver settings GPU. However, be careful: changing rendering options such as "Force" 4x MSAA", can improve picture quality, but will create an excess load on the graphics chip, causing trottling and decline FPS long-term.
☑️ Checking the developer's settings
The Game Turbo (or Game Center) built-in accelerator is worth noting, but in the newer versions of HyperOS, it is integrated into the Security app. Go to the Game Turbo settings, select the game you want, and make sure that the performance profile is set to Maximum Performance. It is also worth turning on the High Sensitivity option, which sometimes indirectly affects response speed and perception of smoothness.
Some users note that clearing the memory before starting the game and closing the background processes through the Game Turbo menu helps stabilize FPS. The Android system on Xiaomi smartphones aggressively manages resources, and manually prioritizing the gameplay through built-in tools often gives a better result than third-party cleaners.
Why does the Game Turbo sometimes fail?
Using ADB to unlock hidden modes
The most effective way to circumvent software limitations is to use debugging by ADB (Android Debug Bridge. This method allows you to send commands directly to the system, changing registry values that are not available through a normal interface, USB-cable and installed drivers ADB. First, turn on "Debugging by" USB" in the developer menu on a smartphone.
Connect your phone to your PC and enter a command to check the connection. Once successfully paired, you can use commands to change global settings. For example, a command to force high frame rates to turn on may look like a change in the value in the settings database. However, specific commands depend on the version of Android and the processor model (Snapdragon or MediaTek).
adb shell settings put global peak_refresh_rate 120
adb shell settings put global min_refresh_rate 120Executing these commands makes the system assume that the minimum and maximum refresh rate is 120 Hz. This can eliminate micro-freezes that occur when switching between 60 and 120 Hz. But remember that this is an interference with system files. If after applying the settings, the screen is gone or artifacts, rebooting the device usually resets temporary changes, but in rare cases, you may need to reset the settings.
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-commands to change the system settings of the display can lead to unstable interface operation. If you are not sure about your actions, do not use commands that change the interface. min_refresh_rate on devices with variable refresh rate.
There are also specialized helper apps like SetEdit or Activity Launcher that allow you to edit system tables without manually typing commands. In SetEdit, you need to find a global table and find rows. peak_refresh_rate and min_refresh_rate. Change in their values 120 (or 90/144, Depending on the screen, it has the same effect as ADB-team.
Third-party utilities and GFX-tulse for games
For mobile gamers looking to make the most of their Xiaomi, there are special tools like the GFX Tool for PUBG, Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact. These apps allow you to change the game configuration files, removing the FPS restrictions set by developers for less powerful devices, and their principle of operation is based on swapping the files of graphics settings.
When using the GFX Tool, it is important to choose the settings that correspond to the resolution of your screen. Setting the resolution above the native (rendering in 2K on a FullHD screen) will not give an increase in quality, but will significantly load the GPU, reducing the final FPS. The optimal strategy is to set the resolution equal to or slightly below the native, and the graphics settings to “Smooth” mode so that the processor can generate a stable 120 frames.
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Use the GFX Tool only for games that officially support 90 or 120 FPS. Forced inclusion of high hertz in a game optimized only for 60 FPS will lead to unsynchronization of frames (tearing) and jerks.
Beyond gaming tweakers, there are system optimizers like NoFpsLimit (requires root rights) or Magisk modules. They work at a deeper level, disabling system frame rate limits for all applications at once. However, installing root rights on modern Xiaomi smartphones with a locked bootloader is a complex process that can disrupt banking applications and warranty.
The table below compares FPS enhancement techniques and their impact on the system:
| Method | Difficulty | Risk to the system | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen settings (120 Hz) | Low. | Absent. | Basic |
| Game Turbo | Low. | Absent. | Medium |
| ADB team | Medium | Medium. | Tall. |
| GFX Tool / Mods | Medium | Low (for play) | High (in games) |
| Root / Magisk | Tall. | High-pitched | Maximum |
Optimizing the system for stable FPS
Even if you managed to unlock 120 FPS, the device should have enough resources to keep them running.Trottling (decreased performance due to overheating) is the main enemy of high FPS. Xiaomi smartphones with metal bezels and glass rear panels can effectively remove heat, but in dense cases this process is disrupted.Remove the case during long gaming sessions.
Background processes also consume CPU resources. Before starting a heavy game, it is recommended to close all unnecessary applications. MIUI has a function "Memory Extension", which uses part of the internal storage as RAM. paradoxically, on fast UFS disks, enabling this function can sometimes cause micro-latency due to the lower speed of virtual memory compared to real RAM. Try disabling the memory expansion in the settings if you notice instability.
Pay special attention to the power saving mode. For games, there should always be an active mode "Performance" or "Balanced." The "Energy Saving" mode severely limits the clock speed of the processor, preventing it from reaching the peak values required for 120 FPS. Also check if the "Dark Theme" mode is included in games if it is not necessary - sometimes rendering dark interfaces on AMOLED screens can have its own characteristics, although this rarely affects FPS directly.
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FPS stability is more important than peak values. Better stable 60 FPS than jumping 40 to 120, which cause motion sickness and discomfort when playing.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
After making changes, users may encounter image artifacts, a "shimmer" screen or a quick battery discharge. If the screen starts to behave incorrectly, the first thing you do is return the refresh rate settings to the default position. Often, the system itself calibrates the optimal values after updating the drivers or game, and manual reset may be unnecessary.
In some cases, the problem is not the settings, but the firmware version. MIUI beta or early builds of HyperOS can contain graphics optimization bugs. If you upgrade and FPS has dropped, it may be worth waiting for the patch or, conversely, rolling back to the stable version. Check the 4PDA or Reddit forums for your particular model to find out about known graphics issues.
Also worth mentioning is the problem of desynchronizing audio and video at high FPS. If you notice that sound is behind the picture in games with 120 FPS, try changing the audio buffering settings in the developer settings or turning off "Absolute Volume Level." This is a frequent side effect of the system running at its limits.