How to turn on 120Hz on Xiaomi phone: a complete guide with hidden settings

High-frequency screens with 120Hz upgrades have become the standard for flagship smartphones, but even Xiaomi’s budget models sometimes have the potential to overclock the display. Many users do not suspect that their device supports 120Hz, but this feature is disabled by default — either due to firmware limitations or to save battery power. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to activate high refresh rates, from standard settings to engineering menus and modified firmware.

It is important to understand that not all Xiaomi models are physically capable of running at 120Hz. AMOLED-It has 120Hz support, but in some regions it is software-locked, and we have a compatibility table (see below) so you can check right away if you should try to overclock your display. We will also discuss how to minimize battery consumption when using high frequency – this is critical, as 120 Hz can increase power consumption by 20-40% depending on the scenario.

What Xiaomi models support 120 Hz

Before you try to enable a high refresh rate, make sure your smartphone is physically capable of doing so. The manufacturer often cuts features in budget lines, even if the hardware allows more. Below is the current list of models with confirmed support for 120 Hz (data for 2026):

If your model is not on the list, it doesn’t mean that 120Hz is impossible. For example, the POCO X3 Pro officially supports only 90Hz, but you can overclock the screen to 120Hz through the engineering menu (see section below).

⚠️ Attention: On models with IPS-If you try to turn on 120 Hz through an engineering menu, you will either have image artifacts or a complete display failure!

Standard method: Enable via MIUI settings

If your model officially supports 120Hz, the easiest way to activate is through the standard menu. MIUI 14 and newer:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select the screen refresh rate (in some firmwares – Adaptive frequency).
3. Set a value of 120Hz or Auto (if available).
4. Restart the device to apply the changes.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 12T), the option is hidden behind regional restrictions.

• 📱 Switch to global firmware (via Fastboot or MIUI bootloader).
• 🔧 Use it. ADB-The command for forced inclusion: adb shell settings put global peak_refresh_rate 120
• 🔄 Reset the screen settings to factory (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the display settings).

⚠️ Attention: POCO F3 redmi K40 post-update MIUI 15 120Hz option may disappear. It's a firmware bug -- try rolling back on the previous version or wait for a patch.

Engineering menu: overclocking the screen on unofficially supported models

If the standard settings don't allow you to choose 120 Hz, you can try activating the function through an engineering menu. AMOLED-screens, but requires caution - incorrect actions can lead to damage to the display.

Instructions for Qualcomm Snapdragon (e.g. POCO X3 Pro, Redmi K50i):

1. Install the MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek) or Shortcut Master (for Snapdragon).
2. Enter #36446337## (for MediaTek) or find Engineering Mode via Shortcut Master.
3. Go to the Display or Screen section.
4. Find the Refresh Rate and set 120Hz.
5. Save the settings and restart the device.

For MediaTek (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro):

• 🔧 Use the code ##6484## to access the test menu.
• 📊 Choose Display Test → Refresh Rate.
• 🔢 Enter the value 120 manually (if the field is available for editing).

On some devices (e.g., the POCO F4 GT), the engineering menu allows you to turn on 120 Hz, but only when connected to a charge. This is done to protect the battery from overheating. To get around the restriction, you will have to edit the system files (see next section).

Editing system files for forced 120Hz inclusion

If the engineering menu didn't work, you're left with manual editing of configuration files, which requires root rights and is only suitable for power users, and we're going to look at two ways: through Magisk and manually through ADB.

Method 1: Magisk module (for root firmware)

• 📱 Install Magisk Manager and get root access.
• 🔧 Download the Refresh Rate Unlocker (available at WEB) XDA Developers).
• 🔄 Restart the device after installing the module.
• 🎯 Check the appearance of the 120 Hz option in the screen settings.

Method 2: Manual editing via ADB (no root)

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode).
2. Adb shell settings put global settings oneplus_screen_refresh_rate 120 (Yes, the command contains oneplus, which is a feature. MIUI).
3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 12 Lite and Redmi Note 11S editing system files without root causes resets of all settings the next update MIUI. To avoid this, block updates for system applications via adb shell pm disable-user. --user 0 com.android.updater.

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Before editing system files, create a full backup via TWRP or OrangeFox Recovery, which will allow you to restore the phone if it stops booting after the changes.

Optimizing the battery using 120 Hz

High screen refresh rates significantly increase battery consumption by 20-40% depending on the scenario. To extend battery life, use these tips:

• 🔋 Enable Adaptive Frequency (Settings) → Display. → Adaptive frequency: The system will automatically switch between 60 Hz and 120 Hz depending on the task.
• 🌙 Activate the dark theme -- on AMOLED-This reduces the power consumption by 10-15%.
• ⚡ Turn off Always On Display – This feature eats up to 5% charge per hour when using 120Hz.
• 🔄 Reduce screen wait time to 15 seconds (Settings) → Display. → Sleeping mode).

For advanced users, there is another trick: limiting FPS in games, and many games (like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) use 120 FPS by default, which is redundant for most scenarios, to limit FPS:

1. Install Game Turbo from MIUI Lab.
2. Enable Balance or Battery Savings mode for a particular game.
3. Use it. ADB-The command for compulsory restriction: adb shell settings put global force_fps 60

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Adaptive screen frequency (1-120 Hz) per LTPO-displays (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra) reduce battery consumption by 25% compared to fixed 120 Hz, while maintaining smooth animations.

Problems and Solutions: Flickering, Overheating, Failure

Forced 120Hz activation can cause a number of problems, and let's look at the most common ways to address them:

If the phone starts to spontaneously reboot after turning on 120 Hz, this is a sign of overheating of the chipset. Immediately return the frequency to factory values and check the temperature using AIDA64. Normal readings for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 under load - up to 45 ° C. If the temperature exceeds 50 ° C, you need to:

• 🛠️ Replacement of thermopaste (relevant for devices older than 2 years).
• 🧊 Use of a cooling cover or stand.
• ⚙️ Reversing the firmware to a more stable version.

Alternative methods: custom firmware and cores

If none of the above methods work, you have to install custom firmware, which is suitable for enthusiasts who are willing to sacrifice stability for high refresh rates.

• 📱 Pixel Experience – pure Android with 120Hz support on most models.
• 🔧 LineageOS – stable firmware with open source.
• ⚡ Evolution X – Optimized for Game Scripts.
• 🎯 crDroid – Flexible performance settings.

For custom firmware installation:

1. Unlock Bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires Xiaomi account binding).
2. Install TWRP Recovery or OrangeFox.
3. Make a full backup of the current firmware.
4. Please use custom software and GApps (if necessary).
5. Snapdragon: Run a 120Hz kernel (e.g., FrancoKernel for Snapdragon).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi 12S Ultra and Mix Fold 2 custom firmware installation leads to wide-angle camera locking due to proprietary drivers. Check compatibility on the forum before firmware XDA Developers.

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To check the actual refresh rate of the screen, use the Display Tester app (available on Google Play), which shows the current Hz and helps to detect flickering invisible to the naked eye.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions