How to increase FPS and speed up games on Android: step-by-step guide

Mobile games on Android have become so graphically intensive that even flagship smartphones sometimes cannot cope with smooth display. Stuttering pictures, falling FPS, overheating of the case - are these familiar problems? The reasons for low performance lie not only in “weak” hardware, but also in incorrect system settings, background software and even the physical state of the device.

In this article we will look at unique optimization methods that give an FPS increase of up to 30-40% on mid-budget smartphones (tested on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Samsung Galaxy A54 and Realme GT Neo 5). No “magic overclocking apps” - only proven technical solutions, including hidden developer settings, thermal throttling control and manual optimization of graphics in games.

1. Diagnostics of current performance

Before optimizing, you need to understand where exactly the bottleneck is. Android has built-in tools and third-party utilities for monitoring:

• 📊 GPU Rendering Profile (in the developer settings) - shows GPU load in real time. If the graph is constantly in the red zone, the game is GPU limited.
• 🔥 CPU Throttling Test (application CPU Throttling Test) - determines whether the processor reduces the frequency due to overheating. Critical throttling starts at 70°C+.
• 🎮 GameBench - analyzes FPS, battery consumption and temperature during gameplay. The free version allows you to test up to 3 games.

Pay attention to thermal throttling —automatic performance limitations when overheating. For example, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 begins to lose up to 40% of power already at 75°C, and Mediatek Dimensity 9000 - at 80°C. If your smartphone heats up to these values after 15-20 minutes of play, optimizing the settings will not help without solving the cooling problem.

2. Developer settings for games

The hidden menu Developer settings contains parameters that directly affect performance. To activate it:

1. Go to Settings → About phone → MIUI/OS version (on Xiaomi/Redmi) or Build number (on other brands).
2. Click on the item 7 times in a row until the notification “You have become a developer” appears.
3. Return to the main settings menu - a new section will appear there For developers.

Key parameters for optimizing games:

Parameter	Recommended value	Effect
Limit background processes	Maximum 2-3 process	Frees up RAM for the game, but can kill messengers
Disable window animation	Animation = 0.5x or off	Speeds up transitions between games and menus
GPU acceleration	Enabled (if available)	Reduces CPU load in 2D games
Force 4x MSAA	Disabled	Improves graphics, but greatly reduces FPS
Do not save actions	Enabled	Prevents recording logs that slow down the system

Force 4x MSAA warning: this setting forces anti-aliasing, which can increase picture quality, but on 90% of devices leads to a 20-30% drop in FPS. Test its impact in each game separately through the benchmark mode (for example, in PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).

Disable MIUI background optimization (for Xiaomi)|Set background process limit to 2|Disable all animations|Disable Force 4x MSAA|Enable "Don't save actions"-->

3. Optimizing graphics in games

Many games (especially PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, Genshin Impact) allow you to manually adjust graphics settings:

• 🎨 Resolution: Set 720p (HD) instead of 1080p (FHD). On a 6.5" screen the difference is almost not noticeable, but FPS will increase by 15-25%.
• 🌿 Shadows and vegetation: Disable or set to minimum. These effects are extremely resource-intensive, but have little impact on gameplay.
• 💡 Particle effects: Reduce to medium. Explosions and smoke look nice, but eat up to 30% of GPU power.
• 🔄 Frame rate: Select 60 FPS (if available) instead of 30 FPS. On some chipsets (for example, Snapdragon 778G) the difference in smoothness is enormous.

In games with support Vulkan-rendering (for example, Minecraft, Among Us) enable it in the graphics settings. This API reduces CPU load by using the GPU more efficiently. To check Vulkan support on your device, install the application Vulkan Caps Viewer.

How to enable 90 FPS in PUBG Mobile on unofficially supported devices

1. Install a modified version GFX Tool (for example, GFX Tool Pro).

2. Select from the menu PUBG Mobile Global/KR.

3. Activate options 90 FPS and HDR Graphics (even if they are gray).

4. Launch the game through this application.

⚠️ The risk of a ban for using third-party tools is about 5% (according to the community XDA Developers).

Important for owners of AMOLED screens: in games with dark colors (for example, Diablo Immortal) enable the mode Dark theme in the display settings. This will not only save battery power, but also reduce the load on the GPU when rendering black pixels (they are simply turned off on AMOLED).

4. temperature and cooling

Overheating is the main reason for FPS drops in long-term sessions. Even if the game initially starts at high settings, after 20-30 minutes performance can drop by 40% due to thermal throttling. data-i="133">: Passive radiators (for example,solutions:

• ❄️ Coolers and radiators: Passive radiators (e.g. Black Shark Cooling Backclip 2 Pro) reduce the temperature by 8-12°C. Active coolers with fans (for example, Razer Phone Cooler) - up to 15°C, but are noisy.
• 🧊 Thermal paste: Replacing the factory paste with liquid metal (Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut) gives an increase of 5-7 °C on flagships.

  ⚠️ Attention: incorrect application of liquid metal can short-circuit the contacts on the motherboard. It is better to entrust the procedure to a service technician. center.

• 🔋 Charging while playing: Playing with the charger connected increases the heat. Use cables with support Quick Charge 4+ or PD 3.0 —they minimize energy loss due to heating.
• 🌬️ External conditions: Do not play in direct sunlight or in a stuffy room. A 10°C difference in ambient temperature (for example, 20°C vs 30°C) can give +5-8% stable FPS.

For real-time temperature monitoring, use CPU Monitor or AIDA64. Critical values:

• Snapdragon 888/8 Gen 1: begins to throttle at 65°C, maximum throttling - at 85°C.
• Mediatek Dimensity 1200: the first stage of restrictions - 70°C, complete reduction in frequencies - at 90°C.
• Exynos 2200: most resistant to overheating, but loses performance linearly after 75°C.

5. System cleaning and RAM optimization

Background processes, cache and junk files can occupy up to 30% of RAM, leaving games with critically few resources. Cleaning should be targeted —do not use “accelerators” like Clean Master, they often delete important data.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Delete unused applications via Settings → Applications. Especially those that work in the background (messengers, social networks, banking applications).
2. Clear game cache: Settings → Applications → [game name] → Memory → Clear cache.
3. Disable autoloading of unnecessary services: Settings → Applications → Autostart (on Xiaomi) or Settings → Battery → Battery optimization (on Samsung).
4. Use ADB for deep cleaning:

   adb shell pm trim-caches 500M

   This command deletes the cache of all applications exceeding 500 MB.

For manual RAM control, install Simple System Monitor (requires root) or Game Booster 4x Faster (works without root, but is less efficient). These utilities allow you to manually close processes before starting a game.

The myth of “RAM overclocking”: on the Internet you often find advice to change the parameter ro.config.dha_cached_max via build.prop. In practice, this does not provide a performance gain, but can lead to unstable system operation. It is better to focus on freeing up memory, rather than on “overclocking” it.

6. Choosing the right game mode

Smartphone manufacturers are adding special game modes that optimize performance. However, not all of them work equally effectively:

Brand	Mode name	What it does	Recommendation
Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO	Game Turbo	Blocks notifications, optimizes CPU/GPU, adds FPS counter	Always turn on
Samsung	Game Launcher	Records gameplay, blocks buttons, but does not optimize hardware	Useful only for streaming
ASUS ROG Phone	Armoury Crate	CPU/GPU overclocking, fan settings, profiles for different games	Required for use
Realme	Game Space	Cleans RAM, blocks calls, but has little effect on FPS	Can be enabled, but the effect is minimal

On devices Xiaomi additionally activate Optimization for games in Settings → Accessibility → Optimization for games. This feature forcibly allocates more resources to games, but can worsen the performance of background tasks.

For smartphones without a proprietary game mode, install Game Booster 4x Faster or GFX Optimizer. These applications emulate game mode by blocking background processes and adjusting CPU governors. Efficiency: +10-15% FPS on average.

How to enable hidden overclocking on Snapdragon 888/8 Gen 1

1. Install Kernel Auditor (requires root).

2. Go to section CPU.

3. Select governor performance for all cores.

4. Set the minimum frequency equal to the maximum (for example, 2840 MHz for a large core).

⚠️ This reduces battery life by 30-40% and accelerates battery degradation.

7. Alternative methods: from root to cloud gaming

If standard methods do not provide sufficient gains, consider advanced solutions. They require more effort, but can double FPS on weak devices.

• 🔧 Root + core: Installing a custom kernel (for example, FrancoKernel for Pixel or Perseus for Snapdragon 865) allows you to fine-tune CPU/GPU frequencies and control voltage Increase: up to 20% FPS, but the risk of “bricking” the device.
• ☁️ Cloud gaming: Services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming or Boosteroid stream games from servers, and your smartphone only displays the picture. Requires stable Internet (from 25 Mbit/s for 1080p/60fps).
• 🖥️ Emulation on PC: apps BlueStacks or LDPlayer allow you to run mobile games on your computer with ultra-graphics settings. Suitable for Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail and other heavy projects.
• 🔄 Android downgrade: On some devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy S20 on Android 13) rollback to Android 12 gives +10-15% performance due to a less demanding shell.

Root warning:

⚠️ Attention: obtaining root access will void the warranty, block the operation of banking applications (due to SafetyNet) and increase the risk device hacking. On new smartphones (2023+ years), unlocking the bootloader often leads to data loss and reset DRM keys (photo/video quality deteriorates).

If you decide to root, use Magisk to mask from SafetyNet and install modules like Game Optimizer or FPS Unlocker. These tools allow you to bypass FPS restrictions in games (for example, unlock 120 FPS in Fortnite Mobile on supported devices).

8. Hardware improvements: when software is powerless

If your smartphone is older than 2020 or belongs to the budget segment (for example, Redmi 9A, Samsung Galaxy A12), software optimization will have a limited effect. In such cases, consider:

• 🔄 Replacing thermal paste: On older devices, the factory paste dries out, which leads to overheating. Replacement cost: 1,000–2,500 ₽.
• 🔋 Battery replacement: A worn-out battery (capacity < 80%) forces the controller to limit performance. A new battery can return 10-15% FPS.
• 🖥️ External GPU: Through USB-C you can connect an external video card (for example, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT) using the docking station. Supported on Samsung DeX or via Linux distributions (requires deep knowledge).
• 🆕 Upgrade to a new smartphone: If your device is equipped with a weaker processor Snapdragon 730 or Mediatek Helio G90T, any optimization will give minimal effect. In 2026, the minimum requirements for comfortable gaming:
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 778G+ / Dimensity 1080;
  • RAM: 8 GB;
  • Screen: 90 Hz+;
  • Cooling: passive radiator or active cooler.

Advice for choosing a new smartphone for gaming:

Give priority to devices with:

- liquid cooling (for example, Black Shark 5 Pro, ASUS ROG Phone 7);

- display with a frequency of 120+ Hz (the difference between 60 Hz and 120 Hz in shooters is colossal);

- support for Vulkan 1.3 (tested via AIDA64);

- 5000+ mAh battery (games quickly drain the battery).

If the budget is limited, pay attention to used flagships 2022 (Samsung Galaxy S22+, OnePlus 10 Pro). They are often sold at 2 times cheaper than new ones, but are not inferior in performance to mid-budget new products.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about game optimization

Is it possible to overclock a processor on Android without root?

No, full overclocking (increasing frequencies above standard) is only possible with root access and a custom kernel. However, you can:

• Use game modes (for example, Game Turbo na Xiaomi), which temporarily increase frequencies to maximum.
• Disable thermal throttling via ADB (command adb shell settings put global thermal_engine_enabled 0), but this is risky for the battery.

Without root, real "overclocking" is limited to optimizing existing resources.

Why did games start to slow down after updating Android?

Updates are frequent bring:

• A more demanding shell (for example, One UI 6.0 heavier One UI 5.1).
• New background services (for example, Google Play Protect in the latest versions scans games in real time).
• Changes in GPU drivers (for example, Adreno 730 in Android 14 works differently than in Android 13).

Solutions:

1. Reset the settings to factory settings (save the data!).
2. Disable automatic system update applications.
3. Try to roll back to a previous version of Android (if there is a custom recovery).

How to check if the FPS is limited by the display or processor?

Use the test:

1. Enable FPS display in the game (for example, via Game Turbo or the built-in counter in PUBG Mobile).
2. Start the game and look at the indicators:
• If the FPS remains stably at the level 60 (or another round number), but below the maximum for your display, there is a GPU/CPU limit.
• If the FPS jumps (for example, from 40 to 80), but never exceeds the screen refresh rate (for example, 90 Hz) - display limit.

For accurate analysis, use GameBench - it shows CPU/GPU load and FPS limits.

Is it worth using "game accelerators" from Google Play?

Most applications like Game Booster, Dr. Booster or Speed Booster work on the same principle:

• Clear RAM (which can be done manually).
• Block background processes (sometimes too aggressively, killing instant messengers).
• Change the priority of the game process (the effect is minimal on new versions of Android).

The actual increase in FPS from them: 0–5%. Harm:

• Show annoying ads.
• Can collect data about your applications.
• Sometimes conflict with proprietary game modes (for example, Game Turbo on Xiaomi).

Exception: GFX Tools for specific games (for example, PUBG Mobile), but its use may lead to a ban.

How to play heavy games on a weak smartphone?

If your device is equipped with a weaker processor Snapdragon 660 or Helio G80, try:

1. Cloud gaming: NVIDIA GeForce NOW (free for a 1-hour session), Xbox Cloud Gaming (included in Game Pass Ultimate).
2. Emulation on PC: BlueStacks with settings 2 CPU cores i 2 GB RAM for the game.
3. Reduced resolution: Manually install in the game 480p or 720p with shadows disabled.
4. Using Lite versions: PUBG Mobile Lite, Call of Duty: Mobile Lite, Free Fire Max (optimized for weak devices).

To extreme case: buy a used one Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (Snapdragon 860) or Realme 8 Pro (Snapdragon 720G) - they cost ~10,000 rubles, but run most games on medium settings.