How to get a stable 60 FPS in games on Android

Mobile gaming has long ceased to be simple entertainment “for a couple of minutes on the subway.” Modern titles require colossal performance from hardware, and the smoothness of the picture directly affects success in competitive projects. Many users are faced with the fact that even on powerful devices, games produce only 30 frames per second, which creates a “slideshow” feeling and interferes with precise aiming.

There is a myth that the frame rate is strictly tied to the refresh rate of the smartphone screen. In fact, software limitations and power saving settings are often the biggest enemies of high performance. If you want to find out, how to make 60 fps in games on Androidyou will have to delve into the hidden menus of the system and, perhaps, change the standard behavior of the graphics accelerator.

In this article we will look at not only standard methods, but also advanced ways to unlock the frame rate. You will learn what options in the developer menu affect rendering, how third-party utilities work to change the configuration of games, and whether it is worth risking system stability for the sake of additional frames.

Hardware limitations and screen refresh rate

Before getting into the settings, you need to understand the physical nature of the process. Your smartphone has a matrix with a specific refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz). If the screen only supports 60 Hz, then it is physically impossible to output 90 or 120 FPS - you simply will not see the difference, although the processor will be idle.

However, the opposite situation is more common: the screen supports 90 Hz or 120 Hz, but the game is limited by software at 30 or 40 FPS. This is done by the developers to save battery power and prevent the device from overheating. Overclocking in this case means removing this software limit.

It is also worth considering the power SoC (systems on a chip). Budget processors may not be able to handle high-quality graphics even with the restrictions removed. In such cases, increasing FPS will lead to a drop in resolution or the appearance of artifacts if you do not lower the graphics settings inside the game itself.

⚠️ Attention: Forced increase in frame rate on devices with weak cooling can lead to throttling (reduced performance due to overheating) and rapid battery wear.

In-game settings graphics

The most obvious and safest method is checking the native game settings. Developers often hide the frame rate option in the "Advanced Settings" or "Graphics" submenu. If you play popular shooters like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile, this option is listed separately.

Look for an item called Frame Rate, Frame Rate or FPS. It is often blocked for devices that the game has not identified as "flagship". In such cases, the choice is limited to the values ​​"Low", "Medium" or "High", where High can mean only 40-45 FPS.

To unlock hidden options, many players use third-party configs. However, before applying them, try manually reducing the quality of textures and shadows. Freeing up video memory resources often allows the game engine to independently raise FPS to the desired level.

Developer menu: hidden control levers

The System Menu for Developers is a powerful tool that allows you to interfere with the Android graphics pipeline. To get there, you need to find the build number in the section Settings → About phone and quickly click on it 7 times.

After activation, a new section "For Developers" will appear in the menu. We are interested in items related to animation and rendering. Disabling window animations, transitions and animator duration will not increase FPS in the game itself, but will make the interface more responsive, which will subjectively improve the perception of work speed.

A more important setting is “Screen resolution override” or “DPI scale”. Lowering the rendering resolution reduces the load on the GPU, allowing it to produce more frames. For example, setting the resolution 1080×2400 instead of the native one 1440×3200 can give an increase of 15-20 FPS.

There is also an option “Disable HW overlays”. Forcing the GPU to be used for compositing can improve performance in some scenarios, but at the cost of increased power consumption. Experiment with this item only if other methods have not helped.

Using GFX Tool and third-party utilities

For games that severely limit the capabilities of the device, there are special configurator applications, such as GFX Tool. These utilities edit game configuration files (usually ActiveProfile or similar), replacing the device model with a more powerful one in the eyes of the game engine.

The principle of operation is simple: you select your game in the application, set the desired resolution and check the box 60 FPS or even 90/120 FPS. The application overwrites the system files of the game, making it think that it is running on a top-end smartphone with powerful cooling.

It is worth remembering that the use of such apps may violate the user agreement of the game. In multi-user projects with anti-cheat (for example, Free Fire or PUBG) this can lead to temporary or permanent account blocking. Use such methods at your own peril and risk.

⚠️ Attention: Anti-cheat systems are constantly updated. What worked yesterday may cause a ban today. Do not use cheats and macros in combination with the GFX Tool.

How does bypass protection work in the GFX Tool?

The utility changes the Device ID in the game configuration file. The engine sees, for example, the code of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 instead of your average processor and unlocks the corresponding graphics profiles that are usually unavailable.

System optimization and resource cleaning

Even a perfectly tuned game will not be able to produce 60 FPS if the operating system is choked by background processes. Before starting a heavy session, it is recommended to close all unnecessary applications and clear RAM.

Many manufacturers build a “Game” or “Game Turbo” mode into the shell. In this mode, the system prioritizes processor and video accelerator resources for the active game window, limiting background synchronization and notifications. Be sure to activate this mode.

It is also worth checking your battery settings. Power saving mode often artificially lowers the processor clock speed. Switch the power profile to "Performance" or "High Performance" mode before starting the game.

Parameter	Recommended value	Impact on FPS
Battery mode	Performance	High (+10-20%)
Background processes	No more than 2 processes	Average (stability)
Temperature CPU	Below 45°C	Critical (throttling)
Free RAM	More than 2 GB	Average (texture loading)

Don't forget about overheating. If the smartphone is hot, the system will automatically reduce frequencies. Use external coolers or play in a cool room. Overheating is the main enemy of a stable framerate over a long distance.

Advanced methods: Root and kernel

For users with superuser rights (Root), the possibility of deep modification of the system opens up. Using special applications, such as Kernel Adiutor or Franco Kernel Manager, you can manually control the frequencies of the CPU and GPU.

You can prohibit downvolting (voltage reduction) and fix the minimum processor frequency at a high level. This ensures that the system does not fall asleep during low-load moments, providing instant response during sudden movements in the game.

It is also possible to install custom kernels optimized for gaming. Such kernels often have improved task schedulers and aggressive memory profiles. However, firmware of a custom kernel requires precise knowledge of the device model and carries the risk of turning the smartphone into a “brick.”

⚠️ Attention: Obtaining root access will void the warranty on the device and may disrupt the operation of banking applications and some games with SafetyNet protection.

What is Governors in kernel?

Governors are algorithms that control the processor frequency. For gaming, the best mode is "Performance", which keeps the frequencies at maximum, or "Interactive", which quickly increases the frequency under load.

Frequently asked questions

Will enabling 60 FPS on an old phone harm the screen?

No, outputting 60 frames in itself does not harms the matrix. The damage is caused by overheating of components, which can occur if the processor operates at its maximum for a long time. Monitor the case temperature.

Why did 60 FPS disappear after updating the game?

Developers often reset graphics settings to default after major patches. In addition, they can optimize the game for new devices, accidentally worsening performance on older models. Check your settings again or update your GFX Tool.

Is it possible to get 60 FPS on a phone with a 60 Hz screen?

Technically the game will render 60 frames, but you will only see 60 of them. You won’t notice the difference from 30 FPS visually, but the controls may become a little more responsive due to the shorter frame time (input lag).

Is it safe to use the GFX Tool for your account?

Using third-party software always carries a risk. There is no risk in single-player games. In online shooters with a hard anti-cheat, there is a possibility of a ban, especially if you set unrealistic settings for your hardware.

How to check the real FPS in the game?

In the Android developer menu there is an item “Show refresh rate”, but it shows the screen frequency. To calculate real FPS in a game, it is better to use built-in counters in some launchers or overlays from manufacturers (for example, Game Turbo from Xiaomi).