How to adjust the screen refresh rate on Xiaomi devices: 60 to 144 Hz

Screen refresh rates are a key factor in the smoothness of the image, interface responsiveness, and even device autonomy. On Xiaomi smartphones and TVs, this can be adjusted manually to fit specific tasks, from saving battery power to maximizing game performance, but not everyone knows where this setup is hiding and how to activate it correctly without risking the system.

In this article, weโ€™ll look at all the ways to enable and optimize refresh rates on Xiaomi devices, from budget Redmis to flagship Mis and POCOs. Youโ€™ll learn how to check supported modes, what restrictions apply on different models, and how to avoid typical errors when changing settings. And for Mi TV owners, weโ€™ve prepared a separate section with the nuances of settings for large screens.

What is the screen refresh rate and why change it?

The refresh rate (measured in hertz, Hz) shows how many times per second the screen updates the picture. Standard values are 60 Hz, 90 Hz, 120 Hz and 144 Hz. The higher the rate, the smoother the animation, but the more power the display consumes.

On Xiaomi devices, the frequency change allows:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Improve the gaming experience โ€“ high frequency (120)+ Hz) makes games more responsive, reduces input lag.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Save battery power โ€“ reducing to 60 Hz extends autonomy by 10-20%.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Adapt the interface โ€“ some applications (e.g. social networks) do not require high frequency.
  • ๐Ÿ‘๏ธ Reduce eye strain โ€“ 90 Hz is optimal for sensitive users.

Itโ€™s important to understand that not all Xiaomi models support dynamic frequency change. For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro has fixed 60Hz and 120Hz, and the POCO F4 is adaptive 60-120Hz. Check your modelโ€™s specifications before setting up.

๐Ÿ“Š What frequency of updates do you use on Xiaomi?
60 Hz (battery savings)
90 Hz (balance)
120 Hz (maximum smoothness)
144 Hz (for games)
I don't know what I have.

How to check the current refresh rate on Xiaomi

Before you change your settings, make sure your device is really high frequency.

  1. Open Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ MIUI version and tap 7 times on the kernel line to activate the developer mode.
  2. Back to Settings โ†’ Additionally. โ†’ For developers.
  3. Find the item Show the refresh rate of the screen and turn it on.
  4. In the upper right corner of the screen will appear the indicator of the current frequency (for example, 120Hz).

If you don't have an option, your model doesn't support manual tuning, and an alternative way to check is to use apps like CPU Monitor or Game Bench that display real-time frequency.

๐Ÿ’ก

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T), the frequency automatically drops to 60 Hz when the screen is low, which is normal behavior for energy saving.

Step-by-step: how to enable a high refresh rate

The activation process depends on the version of MIUI and the device model. Consider the universal algorithm for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Display.
  2. Select the screen refresh rate (on some firmware it may be called Screen Mode or Adaptive Frequency).
  3. From the available options, select the desired value: ๐Ÿ”„ Auto โ€“ the system chooses the frequency depending on the task (recommended for most users). โšก 120 Hz (or 90 Hz) โ€“ Maximum smoothness but fast battery discharge. ๐Ÿ”‹ 60 Hz - economical mode.

Confirm the changes and restart the device (optional, but recommended for stable operation).

โ˜‘๏ธ Preparation for frequency change

Done: 0 / 4

On Mi TVs, the way is different:

  1. Open Settings โ†’ Image and sound โ†’ More
  2. Select Update Frequency (50Hz, 60Hz, 100Hz or 120Hz are available depending on the model).
  3. For games, activate Game Mode in the same menu - it will automatically select the optimal frequency.
What to do if the option is grey?
The grey refresh rate button means that the current application or system process is blocking the change. Close all programs, restart the device and try again. If the problem persists, check for MIUI updates or reset the display settings to factory.

Compatibility table: which Xiaomi models support high frequency

Not all Xiaomi devices are equipped with screens with a frequency above 60 Hz. Below is a table of popular models and their maximum values:

ModelMax. frequency.Adaptive regimeNotes
Xiaomi 13 Pro120 HzYes (60-120 Hz)LTPO 3.0 Support for Dynamic Change
POCO F5 Pro120 HzYes.Game mode captures 120 Hz
Redmi Note 12 Pro+120 HzNo.Only manual selection 60/120 Hz
Mi 11 Lite90 HzYes.Adaptive mode is not stable on MIUI 13
Mi TV Q2 75"120 HzNo.HDMI 2.1 is required for full operation

Important: On devices with Snapdragon 7xx processors and below, the adaptive frequency may not work properly due to the limitations of the iron platform, in which case it is better to use fixed values.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

When you change the refresh rate, users often encounter bugs, and here are typical scenarios and ways to fix them:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Frequency resets after reboot: Problem common to custom firmware.Solution: Update MIUI Up to the latest version or roll back to a stable assembly.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ In games, the frequency does not increase: Check the graphics settings in the game itself - some titles (such as Genshin Impact) block high frequency. โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ Optimizing games.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Fast battery discharge: At 120 Hz, energy consumption grows by 25-30%.Use adaptive mode or reduce frequency to 90 Hz.
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ There is no 120Hz option on the TV: Make sure you use it. HDMI 2.1 cable and enabled High Frequency Mode in port settings.

๐Ÿ’ก

If after changing the frequency, the screen began to flicker or artifacts appear, return the settings to the factory and check the device for physical damage to the display.

โš ๏ธ Attention: On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) Long-term operation at maximum frequency can accelerate pixel burnout. Adaptive mode is recommended.

How to Optimize Frequency for Games and Multimedia

For gamers and video enthusiasts, high refresh rates are a critical parameter. Here's how to set them up correctly:

For games:

  1. Activate the game mode in Settings โ†’ Special features.
  2. In the game graphics settings, select maximum resolution and FPS (for example, in Call of Duty Mobile it is Ultra + 90 FPS).
  3. Lock the screen frequency to 120Hz (if supported).
  4. Turn off background processes through Security โ†’ Optimization.

To watch the video:

  • ๐ŸŽฅ For YouTube or Netflix, 60 Hz is enough โ€“ high frequency does not affect the quality of content with a standard frame rate (24-30). FPS).
  • ๐Ÿ“บ On Mi TVs. TV For movies, turn on Movie Mode (24 Hz) to avoid the soap opera effect".

To test the real frequency in games, use Game Bench utility or built-in performance monitor in Settings โ†’ For developers โ†’ Monitor GPU-rendering.

Hidden settings: how to unlock additional modes

On some Xiaomi devices, the manufacturer hides the advanced refresh rate options to activate them:

  1. Install Activity Launcher from Google Play.
  2. Open it and find the Display Settings (or Screen Refresh Rate) section.
  3. Run hidden activity โ€“ a menu with additional values will open (for example, 48 Hz for movies or 144 Hz for games).

For Mi TVs, TV can be used ADB-Teams (PC required):

adb shell settings put global peak_refresh_rate 120


adb shell settings put global min_refresh_rate 48

These commands set the adaptive frequency range from 48 Hz to 120 Hz. Be careful - incorrect values can lead to unstable screen performance.

โš ๏ธ Note: Change the hidden settings through ADB or third-party applications may disrupt the warranty.Before experimenting, back up your data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about refresh rate on Xiaomi

Can I turn on 144Hz on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro?
No, the Redmi Note 11 Pro supports a maximum of 120 Hz. 144 Hz is only available on gaming models like Black Shark or POCO F4 GT.
Why did the 90Hz option disappear after the MIUI update?
This is a well-known bug in the firmware of MIUI 14 for some devices. Solution: Reset the display settings in Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Reset settings โ†’ Reset screen settings. If it didn't work, roll back to the previous version of MIUI via Settings โ†’ About Phone โ†’ System Update โ†’ Three Dots โ†’ Select the Service Pack.
Does the refresh rate affect the camera?
No, the screen frequency is not related to the camera, but when you're shooting screen video (like Screen Recording), the high frequency can cause artifacts, and it's better to temporarily reduce it to 60 Hz for recording.
How to check if 120Hz works on my Xiaomi?
Use the test on TestUFO: Open the page in your browser. Scroll down to the Frame Rate block. If the screen smoothly displays 120 FPS, the frequency works correctly. Alternatively, the Refresh Rate Test application from Google Play.
Can you set a custom frequency (e.g. 80 Hz)?
Technically yes, but only through kernel modification (root access). + Kernel Auditor. It's risky: ๐Ÿšซ Can lead to bootloop (a looped boot load). ๐Ÿ”ง Requires a rollback to stock firmware for warranty repair. โšก Not all screens physically support non-standard frequencies. For most users, it is optimal to use the built-in modes.