How to turn on the FPS counter on Xiaomi: The complete guide

Many owners of gaming smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi wonder about the real performance of their devices during the launch of demanding games. Standard Android tools rarely provide accurate information about how many frames per second (FPS) the GPU outputs in real time. This creates the need to use additional tools to monitor the system, especially if you want to compare the effectiveness of different versions of firmware or assess the impact of cooling.

There are several proven ways to activate this parameter, ranging from hidden operating system functions to advanced debugging techniques. Frame counter allows you not only to assess the smoothness of animations, but also to identify problems with trottling (decreased performance due to heat). In this article, we will discuss all available options, their pros and cons, and give clear instructions on setting.

Some methods require minimal interaction with system files or a connection to a computer, so it is important to follow each step carefully.We will look at both the regular capabilities of MIUI and HyperOS, and third-party solutions that will help you get the most accurate data about the operation of the GPU of your device.

Use of built-in MIUI and HyperOS functions

Starting with certain versions of the MIUI shell, Xiaomi has implemented a native performance monitoring feature that does not require additional software installation. However, this option is often hidden in the depth of the menu or only activated by external use cases.

In most current models, such as Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12 or Poco F5, the path to performance settings is through the About Phone section. You need to click on the build number several times to activate the developer mode if it is not already on, and then an item related to debugging or monitoring may appear in the advanced settings.

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On some firmware versions, the FPS display function is only available inside the Game Turbo. Launch the game through the Security app and call the sidebar swipe.

It's worth noting that a standard counter in MIUI often shows a non-pure FPS, but an averaged value, or only works in real time on top of the interface, which can interfere with the view. The system monitor is useful for quick verification, but it may not be enough to professionally analyze its data. If you didn't find this option on your menu, it's likely that the manufacturer hid it for your particular model or regional version of the software.

Activation through Developer Mode

The most common and secure method available on almost any Android device is to use a standard debugging counter built into the Android kernel and does not require root permissions. To turn it on, go to Settings → About Phone and click 7-10 times in a row on "MIUI Version" or "OS Version" until the developer mode activation message appears.

Next, you need to go to the extended menu. The path usually looks like: Settings → Additional settings → For developers. In this list, you need to scroll down to the "Monitoring" or "Drawing" section. There you will find the item "Show FPS" or "Display refresh rate." After switching on the switch, a small window with numbers will appear in the corner of the screen.

☑️ Activation of the developer mode

Done: 0 / 1

It's important to understand that this counter displays the refresh rate of the screen, not always the actual rendering frequency of the game. If your game is running at 60 frames and the screen is updated at 120 Hz, the counter may show 120, creating a false impression. The refresh rate of the display and FPS rendering are different technical parameters that are often confused even by experienced users.

⚠️ Warning: Enabling certain features in developer mode may cause unstable interface performance or increased battery consumption. Do not change settings that you do not know the value of.

ADB Debugging Method (for Advanced)

For those who want to get the most accurate data without installing heavy apps, the method of using Android Debug Bridge is ideal (ADB). This tool allows you to send commands directly to the Android system from your computer. ADB Platform Tools on PC and connect your smartphone with cable.

Once you've connected and confirmed debugging on your phone screen, open the command line on your computer. Enter the command to turn on the system performance meter. This allows you to activate hidden functions that are not available through the normal settings menu.

adb shell settings put global gfx_debug_draw 1

Once you've done the command, you'll see an overlay on the screen with information about GPU load and frame rate. To turn it off, use a 0 command at the end. This is a good technique because it doesn't leave any extra files in the phone's memory and works at the system level. However, it requires a computer at hand every time you want to turn on or off monitoring unless you create a special script switch.

What if the ADB can’t see the phone?
Make sure drivers are installed ADB For Windows. Try replacing it. USB-cable or port. On the phone in developer mode, select "Configuration" USB by default and set "File Transfer (MTP)".> If system methods seem too complex or not informative enough, specialized applications from the Google Play Store will come to the rescue. GameBench has been a leader in this field for many years, allowing you to record a session and get a detailed performance schedule. FPS Monitor or DevCheck, which runs on top of a game that's running, and it outputs data in real time. FPS, But it also has processor temperature, core loading, and RAM consumption, and it usually takes a couple of minutes to install this software, and it doesn't require a PC connection. However, it is worth remembering that the applications themselves also consume system resources. Some of these programs require special permissions through ADB on the first run. For example, to display on top of other windows or access system statistics. After initial configuration, they work autonomously. Below is a table comparing popular solutions: Application Need Root Needs ADB GameBench Functionality No Partly High (graphics, history) FPS Monitor No Yes (for some functions) Medium (overlays) DevCheck No High (iron Diagnostics) MIUIts Yes (often) No (often) Special solutions are used by Xiaomi, so a small process, they can make a compromise between themselves. However, for the average user, this is the easiest way to see how Redmi Note or Poco X behaves in heavy games. Game Turbo and game profiles Special attention deserves a proprietary Xiaomi utility called Game Turbo (or Game Center). It is not just a launcher for games, but a powerful optimization tool that has its own monitoring of resources. When you launch a game through the Game Turbo and call the sidebar (swipe from the corner of the screen), you can see the current CPU and GPU load. Although Game Turbo does not always show the exact number of FPS in numbers, it visualizes the load. If the indicator for the newer, the system, the possibility of the game is more detailed in some regions, the game is more powerful. To activate the advanced Game Turbo features, you sometimes need to log into your Mi Account and switch the region in the phone settings to India or Global, because in some localizations the functionality is stripped. MIUI, which allows you to unlock hidden features without flashing the device. ⚠️ Note: Changing your region in settings may affect some system applications, such as your browser or themes, and be prepared for additional ads in your system folders if the region changes. Even following the instructions, users sometimes find that the numbers do not appear or show a strange value, such as 0 or 999. This is often because the game itself blocks overlays to prevent cheating or save resources. In such cases, the system meter may be ignored by the operating system. MIUI It's known for its tight control of background processes, and if the system decides that the meter application is consuming too much power, it will simply kill the process, and to avoid that, you have to go to the battery settings and set the "No Limits" mode for the monitoring application you select. It is also worth considering that the OLED-technology-screen LTPO The refresh rate can dynamically vary from 1 Hz to 120 Hz. In this case, the counter will constantly jump, reflecting the real work of the algorithms for energy saving the screen, not only the power of the video accelerator. 💡If the meter shows a stable low FPS, try to reduce the graphics settings in the game or close the background applications to free RAM. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Does the meter on affect FPS Yes, there is minimal impact, because the system needs to draw an extra layer over the image, but on modern Snapdragon or Dimensity processors, this load is so low (less than 1%) that it is almost invisible in real gameplay. Can I record a video from the screen with the counter? FPS? Yes, Xiaomi's built-in screen recorder (Mi Screen Recorder) can capture images along with overlays. Just turn on the counter, start recording the screen and then play the game. The resulting video will show the numbers. MIUI missing FPS? The Chinese company often changes menu layouts or removes hidden features in new firmware versions. If the standard method stopped working, try updating the Security app via GetApps or using the ADB method. Do I need to reset to activate monitoring? No, a full Hard Reset is not required. All of the methods described are software-based and reversible. You can turn off the FPS display at any time through the same settings where it was enabled.