How to Enable Performance Mode on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO They offer hidden functions to optimize the work of the processor and graphics, but not all users know how to activate them correctly. Performance mode (or โ€œperformance modeโ€) allows you to temporarily overclock the device for games, video editing or resource-intensive tasks, but its improper use can lead to overheating or accelerated battery discharge. In this article, we will discuss all the official and hidden ways to include the regime, and explain when to use it and when to avoid it.

Itโ€™s important to understand that different Xiaomi models may have different customization paths, such as flagships like Xiaomi. 14 Ultra or POCO F6 Pro is available with advanced options, while on the budget Redmi Note 12 Some of the functions may be hidden. We'll look at universal methods that work with the MIUI 12/13/14, And alternatives for older versions of firmware, if your device doesn't support out-of-the-box performance, don't worry -- at the end of this article, you'll find workarounds.

What is Xiaomiโ€™s performance mode and why you need it?

Performance mode is a special profile of the processor and graphics accelerator, which temporarily disables restrictions on clock speed, temperature and power consumption. In normal condition, the Xiaomi smartphone automatically reduces the power of the chipset to prevent overheating and save battery power.

  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ The processor operates at maximum frequency without trottling (automatic power reduction).
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Graphic accelerator (GPU) It gets priority in resource allocation, which is critical for games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile.
  • โšก RAM is cleared of background processes, freeing up resources for the current application.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ The cooling system (if any) is activated at full capacity (e.g., on Black Shark or Black Shark). POCO F5 liquid-cooled).

But there is also the flip side: with prolonged use of this mode, the smartphone can heat up very much (up to 50-60).ยฐC), and the battery will discharge 1.5-2 times faster, so it is recommended to turn it on only for short-term tasks:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Launching demanding games (PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings).
  • ๐ŸŽฅ Video editing in CapCut or KineMaster.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š rendering 3D-Models or Photo Processing in Lightroom.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Performance testing (benchmarks AnTuTu, Geekbench).

โš ๏ธ Note: On low-cooled devices (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) Long-term use of the performance mode can cause an emergency shutdown due to overheating.If your smartphone turns off with a temperature warning, immediately turn off the mode and let it cool down.

Official method: enable via MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use built-in options. MIUI. It is suitable for most modern models (Xiaomi). 13/14, Redmi Note 12/13, POCO F5/X5 Follow the instructions:

  1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
  2. Go to the Special Features section (on some firmwares it may be called Additional or Advanced Settings).
  3. Select Performance or Performance Mode (in English firmware - Performance mode).
  4. Activate the switch Enable the performance mode.
  5. Select the duration of the mode: 30 minutes, 1 hour or Before shutting down (not recommended for long-term use!).

On certain devices (e.g, POCO F4 GT Black Shark 5 has additional options:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Automatic Enablement for Certain Applications (e.g., Genshin Impact Only).
  • โ„๏ธ Improved cooling โ€“ forced activation of a fan (if any) or liquid system.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Battery Limit โ€“ Locking charging by 80% to reduce battery wear.

Close all background applications|Connect the charger (recommended)|Check the temperature of your smartphone (should be below 40)ยฐC)|Turn off unnecessary services (GPS, Bluetooth, if not used)-->

If your settings donโ€™t have Performance, it could mean:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ You have a budget model (Redmi). A2, POCO C50), where the manufacturer has switched off.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Your firmware is outdated (below). MIUI 12) Update it through Settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Updating the system.
  • ๐ŸŒ You have a global firmware (for example, MIUI Global, where some of the functions are hidden. Try switching to MIUI China (but this will require unlocking the bootloader).

Hidden method: activation through the engineering menu (MTK Snapdragon)

If the settings do not have a performance mode, it can be enabled through the engineering menu, which works on most Xiaomi devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon or MediaTek chipsets, but requires caution โ€“ improper actions can lead to system failures.

For Snapdragon (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T, POCO X5 Pro):

  1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
  2. In the menu that opens, select Battery Information or Usage Statistics.
  3. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Battery information.
  4. Find the Performance profile and set the High Performance value.

For MediaTek (e.g. Redmi Note 11, POCO M5):

  1. Enter ##36446337## (code may vary depending on the model!).
  2. Go to the Hardware Testing section โ†’ Performance.
  3. Activate the Enable High Performance Mode option.
  4. Save the settings and restart the device.

โš ๏ธ Warning: Changes to the engineering menu do not persist after rebooting on some firmware. If the performance mode is turned off by itself, repeat the procedure. Also avoid changing other settings in this menu - this can disrupt the stability of the smartphone.

What to do if the engineering menu does not open?
If nothing happens after you enter the code, try the following steps: 1. Make sure you enter the code in the standard Phone app, not in messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram. 2. Try alternative combinations: - For Snapdragon: ##7780## (setting reset) or ##2664## (display test). - For MediaTek: ##54298## (Information about SIM-map or #8255## (test) GPS). 3. If nothing helps, it is possible that your firmware is blocking access to the engineering menu, in which case you only need to use third-party applications (see next section).

Overclocking apps: Game Turbo and third-party utilities

Xiaomi has developed its own solution for gamers, the Game Turbo app, which automatically optimizes performance when you start games, but also allows you to manually activate overclocking mode.

  1. Download Game Turbo from Google Play (if it is not in the default firmware).
  2. Open the application and go to the Settings section (cog icon).
  3. Select Performance Mode and activate it.
  4. Add games that need to automatically enable overclocking to the list of Optimized applications.

If Game Turbo is not suitable, you can use third-party utilities.

AnnexSupported chipsetsFunctionsRisks.
CPU TunerSnapdragon, MediaTekManual frequency setting CPU/GPU, performance profilesRequires root rights, can cause overheating
Kernal AdiutorAll chipsets (root needed)Control of processor cores, voltage, governorsComplex interface, risk of "brick" with incorrect settings
Game Booster 4x FasterSnapdragon 8xx, Dimensity 1xxxCleaning RAM, blocking notifications, overclocking GPULots of advertising, some features only work on rooted devices
SetCPUOnly rootFine adjustment of clock frequencies, profiles by temperatureOld interface, does not support new chipsets

Before installing third-party utilities, consider:

  • ๐Ÿ”“ Most overclocking apps require root rights, which deprives you of warranties and increases the risk of hacking your device.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ Some utility (CPU Tuner, Kernal Adiutor allow you to set unstable frequencies, which can lead to getting stuck.
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ Apps like Game Booster often contain hidden ads or collect data about your device.

Game Turbo from Xiaomi|CPU Tuner|Kernal Adiutor|Game Booster 4x Faster|I do not use third-party utilities.|Other-->

Performance mode on POCO Black Shark: features of gaming smartphones

Linear devices POCO F, POCO The X and Black Shark are initially focused on high performance, so they have unique overclocking features. POCO F5 Pro or Black Shark 5 Pro is available:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Game mode with physical triggers (on Black Shark there are retractable buttons on the body).
  • โ„๏ธ Liquid cooling with multiple heat tubes.
  • โšก Monster Mode - Extreme Overclocking CPU/GPU (Available only on Black Shark).
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Optimizing sound for games (3D-audio, suppressing environmental noise).

To activate Monster Mode on Black Shark:

  1. Open the Settings. โ†’ Shark Space (shark icon).
  2. Select Monster Mode and confirm activation.
  3. Set the sensitivity of triggers (if you have them on your model).
  4. Start the game - the mode will turn on automatically.

Nana POCO F4 GT and POCO F5 Pro has a similar feature called Turbo Mode:

  1. Open Settings โ†’ Special Opportunities โ†’ Performance Mode.
  2. Select Turbo Mode and set the duration (no more than 1 hour is recommended).
  3. Activate the cooling option when charging if you are playing with a connected cable.

โš ๏ธ Warning: On Black Shark, when activated, the body temperature can rise to 55-60ยฐC. If the smartphone gets too hot, immediately turn off the mode and let it cool for 15-20 minutes.Using the mode for more than 2 hours in a row reduces battery life.

How to turn off performance mode and return normal settings

If you notice that your smartphone is too hot, discharges quickly or starts to brake, you need to turn off the performance mode.

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

  1. Go to Settings. โ†’ Special facilities โ†’ Productivity.
  2. Turn off the performance mode switch.
  3. Confirm the action if a warning appears.

Method 2: Through the Engineering Menu

  1. Enter ##4636## (for Snapdragon) or #36446337# (for MediaTek).
  2. Find the Performance profile and select Battery Saving or Balanced.
  3. Save the settings and restart the device.

Method 3: Forced shutdown

If the smartphone is frozen or does not respond to touch:

  1. Press the Power button for 10-15 seconds to force the device to turn off.
  2. Wait 1-2 minutes, then turn on the smartphone again.
  3. After downloading, the performance mode will be reset.

Method 4: Reset via Game Turbo

  1. Open Game Turbo.
  2. Go to Settings. โ†’ Performance mode.
  3. Choose Reset Settings or Disable for all applications.

๐Ÿ’ก

If after turning off the performance mode, the smartphone continues to warm up, check the background processes in Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Close unnecessary programs and clear the cache in Settings โ†’ Memory. โ†’ Clear the cache.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When using performance mode, Xiaomi users often encounter errors, and consider the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Performance mode is not includedOutdated firmware or budget modelUpdate MIUI to the latest version or use the engineering menu
Smartphone is very warm (more than 50)ยฐC)Long-term use of the mode or low coolingTurn off the mode, let the device cool, use a cooling stand
Fast battery discharge (more than 10% per hour)Performance mode + backgroundDisable unnecessary applications, activate the power saving mode after overclocking
The game is played despite the on-set mode.Insufficient RAM or thermal trottlingClose background apps, clear cache, check temperature
The mode spontaneously shuts downProtection against overheating or low battery chargeConnect charging, let the device cool, check battery settings

If your problem is not described in the table, try the following universal solutions:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reboot the device โ€“ this resets temporary performance settings.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Check for updates in new versions MIUI Regime bugs can be corrected.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Reset the settings to factory (at last): Settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Resetting settings.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the smartphone starts to brake more than usual after the performance mode is turned on, this may mean that the chipset automatically reduces the frequencies due to overheating, in which case only cooling the device (for example, using a fan or cooling stand) will help.

Can I turn on the performance mode on Redmi? 9A or POCO M3?
On budget models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3, Redmi A1) No official performance mode due to weak chipset (Helio) G25/G35) You can try: Use the engineering menu (code ##36446337## Install Game Turbo and manually optimize games, clear RAM before running resource-intensive applications, but note that on such devices, overclocking can lead to freezes or automatic shutdowns.
Is the performance mode harmful to the battery?
Yes, long-term use of performance mode reduces battery life: ๐Ÿ”‹ Increased discharge current โ€“ the battery operates under high load, which accelerates the degradation of lithium-polymer cells. ๐ŸŒก๏ธ Overheating - temperature above 45ยฐC speeds up the chemistry of the battery, reducing its capacity. Recommendations: Do not use the mode for longer than 1-2 hours in a row. If you play with charging, activate the option Limit the charge to 80% (if any). After heavy use, allow the battery to cool down before connecting the charger.
Why is performance mode not available on my Xiaomi?
There may be several reasons: Old firmware - update MIUI through settings โ†’ The phone. โ†’ System Update: Global version MIUI โ€” Some features are hidden in firmware for Europe/India. MIUI China (you'll need to unlock the bootloader) Budget model - on smartphones with chipsets Helio G or Snapdragon 4xx Operator restrictions โ€“ some operators (e.g. in the U.S. or Japan) block access to the engineering menu. If nothing works, try third-party utilities like Game Turbo or CPU Tuner (but take into account the risks).
How to check if the performance mode is working?
To make sure the mode is activated, follow the following steps: Install a monitoring app, for example CPU Monitor AIDA64. Run a resource-intensive application (game or benchmark: ๐Ÿ“ˆ Frequency CPU โ€” should be close to maximum (e.g. 2.8-3.0 GHz for Snapdragon 8 Gen 2). ๐Ÿ”ฅ Temperature - should gradually rise (but not above 50)ยฐC). ๐Ÿ“Š Use of the GPU โ€” If the readings don't change, the mode doesn't work. Try restarting the device or turning it on in another way.
Can I turn on the performance mode constantly?
No, it's highly discouraged. Constant performance mode leads to: ๐Ÿ”ฅ Overheating โ€“ even with liquid cooling, temperatures can reach critical values. ๐Ÿ”‹ Rapid battery degradation โ€“ capacity can decrease by 20โ€“30% in 6โ€“12 months. โšก Increased energy consumption โ€“ battery life will be reduced by 2-3 times. ๐Ÿ”ง Unstable operation โ€“ there may be occasional reboots or freezes, except for passive cooling devices (such as Black Shark 5 Pro with fan), but even these are not recommended to use the mode longer than 3-4 hours a day.