How to turn on 120 Hz in games on Xiaomi: a complete guide with settings

Raising screen refresh rates to 120Hz in Xiaomi smartphone games is one of the most effective ways to improve the gaming experience. Smooth animation, less input latency and more responsive controls make gameplay more comfortable, especially in dynamic shooters or racing simulators. However, not all users are aware that even on supported Redmi, POCO or Mi models, this feature is often hidden or requires additional manipulation.

In this article, weโ€™ll look at all the ways to enable 120Hz, from standard MIUI settings to hidden developer settings and modifications via ADB. Youโ€™ll learn which Xiaomi models support high frame rates, how to check the current FPS in-game, and what to do if the option is not available. Particular attention is paid to compatibility with popular games (PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty, Genshin Impact) and optimization of performance to prevent overheating.

Which Xiaomi smartphones support 120Hz in games?

Not all Xiaomi devices are capable of output 120 frames per second โ€“ it depends on the hardware platform and the version of MIUI. Below is the current list of models with support for high screen refresh rate (based on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2/3, Dimensity 9000/9200 and other flagship chips):

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra (120 Hz + LTPO 1-120 Hz)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Xiaomi 12/12 Pro/12S Ultra (120 Hz, adaptive frequency)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Redmi K60/K60 Pro/K60 Ultra (120/144 Hz)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ POCO F5 Pro/F6 Pro (120 Hz, AMOLED)
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Black Shark 5/5 Pro/6/6 Pro (144 Hz, gaming smartphones)

Important: Even if your model is on the list, not all games support 120 FPS. Developers often limit the frame rate at the engine level (for example, Unreal Engine 4/5 or Unity). Also, on budget devices (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with Dimensity 1080), 120 Hz can only work in the MIUI menu, but not in games.

๐Ÿ“Š What kind of Xiaomi smartphone do you have?
Xiaomi 13/14 Series
Redmi K50/K60
POCO F4/F5
Black Shark
Another model
ModelMax, screen frequencySupport for 120 FPS in gamesDo you need unlocking?
Xiaomi 14 Pro120 Hz (LTPO)Yes (PUBG, COD, Genshin)No.
Redmi K60 Ultra144 HzYes (with limitations)Partially (ADB)
POCO F5 Pro120 HzYes (only in supported games)No.
Black Shark 6 Pro144 HzYes (full support)No.

If your model is not in the table, check the specifications on the official Xiaomi website or use the CPU-Z app (Device โ†’ Display section).Please note: some manufacturers (for example, Samsung in their Exynos chips) block high frequencies in games at the software level - this is not the case with Xiaomi, but can affect ported games.

Method 1: Enable 120 Hz through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in options, but it only works on flagship models with the latest version of MIUI 14/15:

  1. Open the Settings โ†’ Display.
  2. Select the screen refresh rate.
  3. Set a value of 120 Hz or Auto (for adaptive frequency).
  4. Return to Settings โ†’ Special Options โ†’ Developer settings.
  5. Activate the option to Disable FPS Restriction (if any).

Some devices (e.g., POCO F5) may require additional activation of Game Turbo mode:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Go to Settings. โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Game turbo.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Turn on Optimization. FPS Choose 120 Hz for a specific game.
  • โšก Activate Performance Instead of Balance in your game profile.

โ˜‘๏ธ Preparation for inclusion of 120 Hz

Done: 0 / 4

โš ๏ธ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-Long-term use of 120 Hz can accelerate pixel burnout by screens (for example, Xiaomi 13), it is recommended to include high frequency only in games, and in everyday use to return to 60 Hz.

Method 2: Unlock 120 FPS via ADB (for experienced)

If the MIUI settings do not have an option to enable 120Hz in games, you can use ADB commands. This method works on most devices with Snapdragon 888/8 Gen 1/2, but requires an unlocked bootloader or root rights (not necessarily).

Instructions:

  1. Download Googleโ€™s Platform Tools and unpack the archive.
  2. Enable USB Debugging in Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Developer Settings).
  3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute in the command line:
adb shell settings put global force_high_refresh_rate 1


adb shell settings put global peak_refresh_rate 120




adb shell settings put global min_refresh_rate 120

To apply the changes, restart the device. To check the current frequency, use the command:

adb shell dumpsys display | grep "refresh rate"

If the game still limits FPS, try the additional command to disable performance restrictions:

adb shell settings put global force_fps 120
What to do if ADB is not working?
If the commands do not apply, check: 1. USB connection correctness (file transfer mode) 2. Xiaomi drivers on PC (download Mi PC Suite). 3. Debugging resolution on the phone (a request will appear when the first connection is made). 4. ADB version (update Platform Tools to the last).

โš ๏ธ Note: On some devices (e.g. Redmi) K50 Gaming) compulsory inclusion 120 Hz through ADB If the screen starts to flicker, cancel the changes with the command adb shell settings delete global force_high_refresh_rate.

Method 3: Using Game Turbo and Hidden Settings

Xiaomi's proprietary Game Turbo allows you to fine-tune performance in games, including unlocking high frequencies. However, many options are hidden by default.

  1. Launch the game, then call the Game Turbo panel swipe from the top right corner.
  2. Click on the icon. โš™๏ธ (Settings) โ†’ Productivity.
  3. Enable High Frame Frequency (if option is available).
  4. For additional settings, enter the โ€œGame Turbo Hidden Settingsโ€ request in the search for MIUI settings and activate the Extended Options.

On Black Shark devices, the process is simplified:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Open Shark Space (Game Launcher).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Choose a game. โ†’ Screen settings โ†’ 120 Hz/144 Hz.
  • โšก Enable the production mode for maximum FPS.

If the Game Turbo doesnโ€™t show the 120Hz option, try resetting it:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.gameturbo

Then restart your phone and check the availability of high frequencies again.

๐Ÿ’ก

On devices with a Dimensity chip (such as the Redmi K60E) for stable 120 Hz performance in games, it is recommended to turn off the Dynamic Resolution feature in the Game Turbo settings. This prevents automatic resolution changes that can reset frame rates.

Checking the real FPS in the game

To make sure the game is really running at 120 frames per second, use one of the following solutions:

  • ๐Ÿ“Š Built-in counter FPS Game Turbo (includes in performance settings).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Monitoring apps: GameBench, FPS Meter (requires root or ADB).
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Connect to a PC via Scrcpy with output of personnel frequency information.

For accurate diagnosis through ADB:

adb shell dumpsys gfxinfo [name game package]


Example: adb shell dumpsys gfxinfo com.tencent.ig

In the output, look for lines with FrameTime - if the value is close to 8.3 ms (1000/120), then the game really works at 120 FPS. If the frame time is 16.6 ms, then the frequency is limited to 60 Hz.

Tool.precisionNeed root?Example of inference
Game Turbo (MIUI)MediumNo."FPS: 118-120"
GameBenchTall.No (but ADB rights are needed)FPS schedule with peaks and drawdowns
ADB (dumpsys gfxinfo)MaximumNo."FrameTime: 8.2 ms (122 FPS)"

โš ๏ธ Note: Some games (such as Genshin Impact) are artificially limited. FPS At 60 even when 120Hz is enabled in the settings, in which case only modification of the game files (for example, through Magisk and the Game Optimizing Service module) will help, but this can lead to a ban of the account.

Optimizing performance for a stable 120 FPS

Even if you manage to turn on 120 Hz, the stability of frame rate depends on the optimization of the system. The following steps will help to avoid FPS drawdowns and overheating:

  • โšก Turn off background processes: Enable distraction-free mode in Game Turbo or use the command: adb shell cmd deviceidle force-idle
  • โ„๏ธ Temperature control: Install Coolify (requires Magisk) to force the chipset to cool.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Energy Saving: Turn off Adaptive Battery in Battery Settings for Maximum Performance.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Graphics settings: In the game itself, choose Balanced or Performance Mode (not always Ultra gives you the best option). FPS!).

For devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (such as Xiaomi 13), it is also recommended to disable the Thermal Engine via ADB:

adb shell setprop persist.vendor.thermal.config 0

This will increase the limit of trottling, but can lead to increased heat - use at your own risk!

๐Ÿ’ก

The best balance between performance and heating is achieved by combining: 120 Hz + FHD+ resolution (not 4K!) + switched off background processes.

Frequent problems and their solutions

If after all the manipulations 120 Hz in games do not work, check the following points:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update MIUI: On older versions. MIUI 13 may not support high frequencies. Update the firmware through Settings โ†’ Updating the system.
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Cable and Charging: When the charge level is low (less than 20%), the system automatically limits performance. Connect charging with Quick Charge 4 support+.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Resetting: If you have previously experimented with ADB, Reset to factory: adb shell settings reset global
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Compatibility: Check if the game supports 120 FPS Fortnite on mobile devices, for example, is limited to 60 frames.

For POCO devices with custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), you may need to manually edit the build.prop file.

debug.sf.enable_hdr_10bit=1


persist.vendor.sys.monet.hwvsync=true

This activates hardware synchronization and can help with unlocking high frequencies.

๐Ÿ” Why in the world PUBG Mobile does not work 120 Hz, although the settings are included?
PUBG Mobile restricts FPS at the server level. To get around this, you need to: Use a modified version of APK (like PUBG Mobile KR or Global with a patch); Enable Force 120 FPS in the Game Guardian (requires root); Play on servers that allow high FPS (like Vietnam or Taiwan).
โšก How to turn on 120Hz on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+?
On devices with Dimensity 1080 (e.g., Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) 120Hz in games is only enabled via Game Turbo: Launch the game and open the Game Turbo panel. โ†’ Frequency of update โ†’ 120Hz. Turn off Battery Optimization to play in battery settings. If option is not available, update MIUI before the latest version or use it ADB-Teams from Method 2.
๐Ÿ”ฅ Why the phone is hot at 120Hz?
Overheating at high frame rates is normal for flagship smartphones. To lower the temperature: Use a cooling case or fan stand. Limit FPS to 90 Hz via Game Turbo (this will reduce the load by 20-30%). Disable 5G and Wi-Fi 6 during play - they increase the heat of the chipset. Install Coolify (Magisk module) for forced cooling. If the temperature exceeds 50 ยฐ C, the system will start trotting (automatic performance reduction). In this case, it is recommended to take a break for 10-15 minutes.
๐Ÿ“ฑ Can I turn on 144 Hz on Xiaomi?
144 Hz supports only Black Shark gaming smartphones (series) 4/5/6) Some Redmi K models (for example, K60 Ultra.To activate: On Black Shark: Open Shark Space โ†’ Screen settings โ†’ 144 Hz. On Redmi. K60 Ultra: use it ADB-Adb shell settings put global peak_refresh_rate 144 Pay attention: 144 Hz is not supported in most mobile games โ€“ maximum FPS usually 120 staff.
๐Ÿ”’ Do I need to unlock the bootloader to turn on 120 Hz?
No, 90% of the time, you don't need to unlock the bootloader. MIUI Or Game Turbo. ADB-The only way to unlock the bootloader is to: Install custom firmware with support for 120 Hz. Use Magisk modules (for example, to bypass restrictions in games). Remember: unlocking the bootloader resets all data and can deprive you of warranties.