How to turn on 120 Hz on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all ways to overclock the screen

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro has become one of the most popular devices of the mid-price segment thanks to the powerful processor Mediatek Helio G90T And it's a 64-megapixel camera, but many people still wonder why, if you have one. IPS-120Hz screen in specs, 60Hz default settings?This article will reveal all the nuances of activating high refresh rate, including hidden features MIUI alternative methods.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi Note 8 Pro doesn’t initially support 120Hz at the software level — 120Hz is locked by the manufacturer despite hardware capability. This is due to power optimization and stability. We’ll look at both official workarounds (for supported firmware) and unofficial methods using engineering menus and modified firmware.

Before you start settings, make sure your device meets the following requirements: MIUI 12.0.3, battery power above 50%, and all important data backed up.Some methods can cause a reset or even a device blink if performed incorrectly.

Technical characteristics of the screen Redmi Note 8 Pro

Redmi Note Display 8 Pro is equipped 6.53-inch IPS LCD-resolution-screen 2340×1080 pixel (FHD+). The manufacturer supports the refresh rate to 120 Hz, but in standard firmware, this feature is hidden:

• 📏 Size: 6.53 inches (diagonal)
• 🔍 Permission: 2340×1080 (FHD+), density 395 ppi
• 🔄 Upgrade frequency: 60 Hz (default), up to 120 Hz (potentially)
• 🌈 Color scheme: 84% NTSC, support HDR
• 🔋 Brightness: up to 500 nits (typical), 600 nits (maximum)

Interesting fact: Redmi Note screen 8 The Pro uses the same panel as the POCO X2, where 120 Hz is on by default, which confirms that the restriction is software, not hardware, but frequency acceleration can affect battery life - according to tests, battery consumption increases by a factor of two. 15-20% active-use.

It is worth noting that even after successful acceleration to 120 Hz, some functions are not limited to the MIUI For example, interface animations sometimes slow down, and in games, microfreezes are possible due to an unoptimized display driver. G90T It does not have built-in support for dynamic update frequency change.

Official method: check support 120 Hz in MIUI

Before resorting to unofficial methods, it is worth checking whether Xiaomi has added 120Hz support in your firmware version. MIUI Starting with 12.5.2. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the Settings → Display
2. Scroll down to the screen refresh rate
3. If the option is available, select 120Hz and restart the device.

Unfortunately, 90 percent of the time, this item will be missing, and if you only see 60 Hz and Auto, your firmware doesn't officially support overclocking, so you can try upgrading to the latest version. MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

💡

Before updating the firmware, turn off VPN Clean up the Google Play Services cache – this will speed up the download of update files.

If the update doesn’t work, check your device’s region:

• 🌍 Chinese version (CN): Sometimes has hidden functions
• 🌎 Global/EEA: usually 120 Hz
• 🇮🇳 Indian version (IN): It can support 90 Hz.

To check the region go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI and look at the suffix after the version number (e.g, V12.5.2.0.RGGINXM — If your region is not China, the chances of official 120Hz support are minimal.

Method 1: Activate 120 Hz through an engineering menu (MTK)

The most common way to overclock the screen is to use the MediaTek engineering menu, which works on most Helio-based devices. G90T, But it takes care. You'll need to:

• 📱 Charged smartphone ≥60%
• 🔌 Cable USB (discharged)
• 📝 Recorded IMEI (in case of restoration)

Instructions for activation:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
2. You'll be in Engineer Mode (if the combination doesn't work, try ##4636## → MTK Settings)
3. Go to the Hardware Testing section → Display
4. Find the Refresh Rate and select 120Hz
5. Save the settings and restart the device

After the reboot, check the refresh rate with the Display Tester app from Google Play. If the screen flickers or bars appear, go back to 60Hz and try another method.

Record IMEI (*#06#)

Make a backup copy in Mi Cloud

Charge your phone ≥60%

Install Display Tester to be checked

Prepare the cable. USB discharged-->

Method 2: Use of the ADB-squadron

If the engineering menu is not successful, you can try it. ADB-This is a more versatile way of doing things, but it requires a PC connection:

• 💻 Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original)
• 📦 Established ADB and Fastboot tools
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and Tap on MIUI Version 7 Times
2. Return to Settings → More → For developers and enable USB Debugging
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your debugging permission
4. Open the command line and type in: adb shell settings put global peak_refresh_rate 120
5. Next Post: Adb shell settings put global min_refresh_rate 120
6. Reset the device

To check the current frequency, use the command:

adb shell settings get global peak_refresh_rate

If the command returns 120, the settings are successful. MIUI Ignore these commands due to manufacturer restrictions.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware forced installation of 120 Hz through ADB It causes the screen to flicker constantly at low brightness, and it's because the PWM lighting is not working properly. If you notice a flicker, go back to 60 Hz immediately!

Alternative ADB-method (for firmware based on Android 10)+):

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.DisplaySettings


adb shell input tap 500 1000 # Coordinates of the item "Refrequency update"




adb shell input tap 500 1500 #120Hz coordinates

The coordinates of taps depend on the screen resolution and may require adjustment.

Method 3: Install custom firmware with support for 120 Hz

If the standard methods didn't work, there's a custom firmware option, and the most reliable ones for the Redmi Note 8 Pro are:

• 📱 Pixel Experience (Android 12/13) — Stable but without full camera support
• 🔧 LineageOS 19 is minimalist, open source
• ⚡ MIUI by XDA — modified MIUI unlocked
• 🎯 Corvus OS — Optimized for game scenarios

The process of installing custom firmware includes:

1. Unlock the bootloader via Mi Unlock Tool (requires Mi Account binding)
2. Installation of custom recaveri TWRP (version 3.6.2+ begonia)
3. Formatting the data partition (will result in the loss of all data!)
4. Firmware ZIP-file
5. Install NikGapps (if the firmware is without Google services)

Important: after firmware check the work of all sensors (gyroscope, compass) and module NFC (Some custom firmwares have problems encrypting the data partition, which can lead to a cyclical reboot.

⚠️ Note: Installing custom firmware voids warranty and may result in locking the device when checking IMEI by the operator (for example, when connecting to the MTS or Beeline network). Before you flash, make sure that you have a backup of the persist partition where the data is stored. IMEI module!

Testing the performance of 120 Hz

After applying any of the methods, it is necessary to verify that the screen is really running at 120 Hz.

1. Install the Display Tester or Screen Refresh Rate app from Google Play
2. Run the refresh rate test – the app will show the current value
3. Scroll the screen up and down: at 120Hz, the animation will be noticeably smoother
4. Use the test. UFO browser-based

Pay attention to the following signs of incorrect work:

• 🔄 Screen flickering at brightness below 30%
• 🎮 Artifacts in games (texture breaks, shadows")
• 🔋 Dramatic reduction in operating time (over 30% compared to 60 Hz)
• 📱 Spontaneous reboots when scrolling

If you find any of these symptoms, go back to standard settings immediately. Prolonged operation at unstable frequency can lead to matrix degradation (pixel burnout) or overheating of the GPU.

💡

Even if the tests show 120 Hz, the actual frequency can sink to 90-100 Hz in games due to driver limitations.This is normal behavior for unofficial overclocking methods.

Risks and consequences of screen overclocking

Before activating 120 Hz, consider the possible negative effects:

• 🔋 Increased energy consumption: up to 20% in active mode, up to 10% in idle mode
• 🌡️ Increased heating: the processor and display controller warm up more
• 📉 Reduced service life matrix: the backlight resource is reduced by ~15-20%
• 🚨 Loss of warranty: using informal methods
• 🔄 Unstable work MIUI: Possible lags in animations

Especially critical acceleration for devices with panels from the manufacturer BOE (You can find out through the app AIDA64 These screens are more likely to display artifacts at high frequencies. AMOLED (In the more expensive models of Xiaomi, this disadvantage is not present.

Based on the results of user tests with 4PDA, Average battery life of Redmi Note 8 Pro by 120 Hz is reduced as follows:

• 📱 Standard use: c 6-7 hourly 4-5 hours
• 🎮 Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact: with 3-4 hourly 2-2.5 hours
• 📺 Video viewing: with 8-9 hourly 6-7 hours

If autonomy is critical, consider dynamic frequency switching through the SetEdit app (requires root), which will allow 120Hz activation only in games or selected applications.

FAQ: Frequent questions about 120 Hz on the Redmi Note 8 Pro