How to increase FPS in games on Android: a complete guide 2026

Low FPS in mobile games - a problem that every second gamer faces on Android. Jerks, slowdowns and “lags” spoil the impression of even the most exciting projects like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG New State. The reasons may lie both in the hardware limitations of the smartphone and in software settings, which most users do not even try to optimize.

In this article we will examine 10 proven methods increase FPS - from basic tricks like clearing the cache to advanced settings for advanced users (including ADB commands i GPU rendering). Important: not all methods are equally effective for different devices. For example, flagships Samsung Galaxy S23 or ASUS ROG Phone 7 will react to optimization differently than budget ones Redmi Note 12 or Realme 9i. We will indicate which solutions are suitable for weak smartphones, and which should only be tried on powerful devices.

Before proceeding with the settings, check the current FPS in the game. To do this, you can use the built-in counter (if it is in the graphics settings) or third-party utilities like Game Bench or FPS Meter. Remember: increasing FPS by overclocking the GPU or disabling background processes can reduce battery life and increase device heating. The balance between performance and stability is the key to success.

1. Optimizing graphic settings in the game

The most obvious, but often ignored method is manual graphics adjustment right in the game. Many users leave the default settings, not realizing that even on average smartphones you can gain 10–20 frames per second by sacrificing visual effects.

What exactly should be disabled or reduced:

• 🎨 Texture quality: set Medium or Low. Highly detailed textures are heavily loaded GPU Mali or Adreno.
• 🌿 Shadows and lighting: turn off dynamic shadows or reduce their resolution. This is one of the most resource-intensive options.
• 💎 Particle effects: reduce the amount or disable it altogether (especially in shooters like Free Fire).
• 🖼️ Rendering resolution: if the game supports it, set it 720p instead 1080p. The difference in the picture is minimal, and the FPS increase is up to 30%.

Some games (for example, Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Railconfigure FPS limit. If your smartphone takes 60 frames, but periodically drops to 45-50, it is better to fix the value at 40–45 FPS for stability. This will get rid of annoying jumps.

⚠️ Warning: In games with online competition (for example, PUBG Mobile or League of Legends: Wild Rift), lowering the graphics may give an unfair advantage due to better visibility through simplified textures. Some tournaments prohibit such settings - check the rules before participating.

2. Enabling performance mode in Android

Modern smartphones Android 12+ have hidden or explicit modes for gamers that temporarily disable background processes and overclock the processor. Here's how to activate them:

Method 1: Built-in Game Mode (available on Samsung, Xiaomi, ASUS ROG etc.):

1. Open Settings → Accessibility → Game mode (path may vary).
2. Enable the option and add the game to the "Optimized" list.
3. Activate functions like Disable notifications, Sensor blocking (so that an accidental swipe does not work) and Maximum performance.

Method 2: Overclocking via Developer Options (works on most devices):

• Activate Developer modeby clicking 7 times on Build number in Settings → About phone.
• Go back to Settings → System → Developer Mode.
• Find options:
  • Do not disable screen while charging (useful for long sessions).
  • Background processes → Standard limitation (will reduce the load).
  • GPU acceleration → Forced enable (can help on weak chips).

On some devices (for example, POCO F5 or Black Shark 5) there is a separate application for gamers - Game Turbo or Shark Space. It allows you to fine-tune the processor clock speed, block menu calls, and even reassign physical buttons for games.

⚠️ Attention: Forced activation on GPU acceleration on devices with Mediatek Helio or old Snapdragon 6xx may lead to artifacts graphics or overheating. Before playing, check the processor temperature in AIDA64.

3. System cleaning and memory optimization

Background processes, game caches and junk files can eat up to 30% of RAM, which is critical for devices with 4–6 GB of RAM. Cleaning will not only increase FPS, but also reduce heating.

Checklist for cleaning before playing:

Deep cleaning (for experienced users):

• 🧹 Use SD Maid or CCleaner to remove system garbage (remnants of deleted applications, empty folders).
• 🗑️ Clear the cache Google Play Services and Google Play Games —they often hang in the background.
• 🔄 Disable or delete applications that cannot be closed by swiping (for example, Facebook, TikTok, Miui Daemon on Xiaomi).

For devices with root access can be used Greenify to hibernate unnecessary services or Disable Service to disable system processes (for example, com.qualcomm.qti.services.secureui on Snapdragon).

4. Setting up the GPU via ADB commands (for advanced)

If your smartphone supports it ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can manually change the GPU settings for maximum performance. This method works on most devices with Snapdragon or Mali GPU, but requires caution.

Step 1: Preparation

• Download Platform Tools from the official website Android Developers.
• Enable USB debugging in Settings → Developer Mode.
• Connect your phone to the PC and check the connection with the command:

  adb devices

Step 2: Commands for overclocking the GPU

Enter one by one (replacing the values to suit your device):

adb shell settings put global gpu_driver_debug_enable 1
adb shell settings put global gpu_driver_debug_profile 1
adb shell settings put global force_gpu_rendering 1
adb shell settings put global force_4x_msaa 0 # Disables anti-aliasing (increases FPS)
adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1 # Unblocks hidden APIs

For devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (for example Samsung Galaxy S23) you can try to force enable Vulcan rendering:

adb shell setprop debug.vulkan.layers enable

adb shell settings reset global

⚠️ Attention: Not all manufacturers allow changing GPU settings via ADB. On devices Huawei or Honor s EMUI 12+ these commands can be blocked at the firmware level. Also, some games (for example Fortnite on Android) detect changes in the GPU and block input.

5. Using gamepads and external controllers

It may not seem obvious, but connecting an external gamepad (for example Xbox Controller or Razer Kishi) sometimes increases FPS. The fact is that:

• 🎮 Reduces the load on the touch screen: processing touchscreens requires CPU resources.
• 🔋 Optimizes energy consumption: some games automatically switch to "performance mode" when a controller is detected.
• 🖥️ Improves heat dissipation: the gamepad covers part of the case, but some models (like Backbone One) have built-in coolers.

How to connect the gamepad:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on the phone and put the controller into pairing mode (usually by holding down the button Sync).
2. In games with gamepad support (for example, Call of Duty Mobile or GRID Autosport), select the control profile in the settings.
3. For games without native support use Octopus or Mantis Gamepad Pro to emulate touchscreens.

On Samsung DeX or Miracast you can display the game on an external monitor, which also relieves the system by turning off the smartphone display. To do this:

1. Connect your phone to the monitor via USB-C to HDMI or a wireless adapter.
2. Turn on the mode DeX (on Samsung) or Desktop Mode (on Xiaomi/Huawei).
3. Run the game in windowed mode - this will reduce the load on the GPU.

6. Alternative firmware and kernels for maximum FPS

If you are ready to take radical measures, flashing the device to a custom OS or kernel can give an increase in 30–50% FPS. This method is only suitable for advanced users and requires unlocking the bootloader.

The best firmware for gamers:

• 📱 LineageOS + FrancoKernel: optimized for performance, supports OC (overclocking).
• 🎮 Havoc-OS: has built-in gamer profiles and GPU settings.
• ⚡ DerpFest: focus on the balance between performance and autonomy.

How to flash:

1. Unlock Bootloader (instructions vary for each brand).
2. Install custom recovery (TWRP or OrangeFox).
3. Make a backup of the current firmware via Nandroid Backup.
4. Flash the selected OS and kernel, then clean Dalvik/Cache.

After flashing it is recommended:

• Disable MIUI Optimization (on Xiaomi) via Magisk.
• Install Game Optimizer Disabler to cancel performance limitations.
• Use EX Kernel Manager to fine-tuning CPU/GPU clock frequencies.

⚠️ Attention: Custom firmware may void your warranty, cause problems with SafetyNet (will not work Google Pay, Netflix HD) and lead to brick (breakage) of the device if there is an error. Before updating the firmware, check the compatibility with your model on the forum XDA Developers.

7. Cooling the device: why is it important for FPS

Overheating is the main enemy of performance. At temperatures above 45°C most processors (Snapdragon, Exynos, Dimensity) begin throttling (forced reduction in frequencies), which leads to a drop in FPS by 30–50%. There are several ways to solve the problem:

Passive cooling:

• 🧊 Use cooling pads with fans (for example, Black Shark FunCooler Pro).
• 📱 Remove the case while playing - it blocks the heat sink.
• 🌡️ Play in a cool room (lower air temperature 25°C is ideal).

Active cooling (for enthusiasts):

• 🔥 Install liquid metal thermal paste (for example, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut) instead of the standard one on the chip. This will reduce the temperature by 5–10°C.
• 💨 Use USB coolers with directional airflow (connect to the port Type-C).
• ❄️ For extreme cases - Peltier elements (but they consume a lot energy).

Software methods:

• Install Coolify or CPU Cooler for temperature monitoring.
• Disable 5G or Wi-Fi 6 —these modules get very hot.
• Reduce the screen brightness to 50–60% (the display is one of the main sources of heat).

8. Updating GPU Drivers and Firmware

Chip manufacturers (Qualcomm, ARM, Mediatekregularly release driver updates for GPUs that can improve gaming performance by 10-20%. Unfortunately, most brands (except Google Pixel and ASUS ROG) do not update them via OTA.

How to update GPU drivers:

1. Check the current driver version via AIDA64 (section GPU).
2. Download the latest version from the official website:
   • Adreno (for Snapdragon): Qualcomm Developer Network
   • Mali (for Exynos/Kirin/Dimensity): ARM Developer

For devices Google Pixel or smartphones on Android One driver updates come along with monthly security patches. To check their availability:

1. Go to Settings → System. → System update.
2. Click on Driver updates (if there is such an item).
3. Install all available updates and reboot the device.

⚠️ Attention: Unofficial drivers (for example, from forums) may contain malware or be unstable. Install only files from trusted sources (official websites of chipmakers or smartphone manufacturers).

If FPS has not increased after updating the drivers, try resetting the GPU settings to factory settings:

adb shell su -c"echo 0 > /sys/class/kgpu/kgpu0/force_clk_on"

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about increasing FPS on Android