Many owners of modern smartphones with 90 Hz or 120 Hz screens are faced with an unpleasant situation: the display is capable of displaying a high refresh rate, but games run strictly at 60 frames per second. This limitation is often built in by developers to save battery or ensure stability on a wide range of devices. However, if your gadget has sufficient computing power, an artificial barrier prevents you from getting a truly smooth picture and a competitive advantage in shooters.
Removing the limitation frame rate (FPS) is a non-trivial process, since chipset and operating system manufacturers systems Android prevent this in every possible way. Some methods require root access, while others can be implemented through hidden developer settings or special utilities on the PC. It is important to understand that a forced increase in FPS leads to increased heat generation and accelerated battery drain.
In this article we will look at all the current ways to unlock high frame rates: from safe settings in the menu to advanced manipulations with system files. We will not use dubious applications from the Play Market, which are often dummies, but will focus on real technical methods. Ready to get the most out of your device?
Checking hardware support and screen settings
Before you begin complex manipulations, you need to make sure that your smartphone is physically capable of producing more than 60 frames. Go to Settings → Screen → Refresh rate. If there is a choice between 60 Hz and 90/120 Hz, select the maximum value. Some shells, for example OneUI ot Samsung or MIUI ot Xiaomi, have an "Automatic switch" mode, which can forcefully reset the frequency in heavy games to save energy.
Disable any power saving features for a specific game. In the battery settings, find the desired application and set the operating mode to "High performance" or "Unlimited". The system can throttle (reduce the frequency) of the processor if it believes that the game is consuming too many resources, even if the screen supports 120 Hz.
Some game engines themselves determine the screen frequency at startup. Try restarting the game after changing the global screen settings to maximum.
It is also worth checking if the "Ultra Power Saving" mode or analogues that severely limit operation are enabled. graphics accelerator. Even on top processors Snapdragon or Dimensity such modes can block high frame rates at the system core level.
Using options for developers
In the depths of the operating system Android hidden menu for developers, which allows you to interfere with the operation of the graphics pipeline. To get there, you need to click on the build number 7 times in the About phonesection. After the "For Developers" item appears in the system settings, scroll down the list to the section "Hardware acceleration".
Find the item “Disable HW overlays”. By default, this option is disabled, and the system uses screen composition via the GPU to layer the interface. Enabling this function forces the GPU to process all scenes directly, which in some cases can remove software limits on FPS, but also increases the load on the video chip.
⚠️ Attention: Enabling the "Disable HW overlays" option may lead to increased power consumption and heating of the device even in standby mode. Use this method only for the duration of your gaming session.
Another important setting is the “Log Buffer Size” or settings related to GPU debugging. In new versions of Android (12/13/14), the option “Override refresh rate” has appeared. If your phone supports this feature, you can force 120 Hz for a specific application, even if the game developer has set the cap to 60.
Don't forget that changes in the developer menu are not always applied instantly. After changing the settings, it is better to completely reboot the device to reset the cached graphics driver settings. This is especially true for devices based on chips MediaTek, which are sensitive to overwriting configuration files.
Methods without root access via ADB and PC
If the standard settings did not help, you can use the tool ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method allows you to send commands to the system without gaining full superuser access, which is safer and does not void your warranty. You will need a computer, a USB cable and ADB drivers installed.
Connect your smartphone to the PC in USB debugging mode. Open a command prompt on your computer and enter the command to view your current display settings. To force a change in the refresh rate (if supported by the driver), use the command:
adb shell wm sizeHowever, a more effective method for games is to change the system properties responsible for V-Sync (vertical synchronization). In some shells, you can disable synchronization via ADB, which will allow the game to produce frames faster than the screen is updated, although this may cause tearing.
☑️ Preparing to work with ADB
There are specialized scripts, for example, from the project SetEdit (requires installing an APK, but not root), which allow you to edit the system settings table. Find the parameter responsible for peak_refresh_rate or similar, and try changing its value. Be careful: an incorrect value may result in a black screen until the settings are reset.
⚠️ Warning: Editing system tables via SetEdit or ADB may lead to unstable operation of the interface. Before making changes, write down the original values of the parameters so that you can return them.
Unlocking FPS with root access and modules
Having superuser rights (Root) provides access to the deepest system settings. This is the most effective way to remove the FPS limit, as it allows you to modify game configuration files or system libraries. For this, a manager is most often used Magisk.
One of the popular solutions is a module Universal GMS Doze or specialized tweaks like FPS Unlocker for specific games (PUBG, COD Mobile). These modules replace files .so or edit configs .ini, deceiving the game into thinking that the device supports 90 or 120 FPS.
You can also manually edit the file build.prop or create a system call interceptor. The essence of the method is to force the game to request from the system not the standard 60 frames, but more. On devices with processors Snapdragon it often works by changing the values in the files responsible for the thermal throttling policy, which allows the processor to maintain high frequencies longer.
Risks of obtaining root access
Obtaining superuser rights will void the warranty on the device. In addition, banking applications and some games with anti-cheat (for example, Pokemon GO or some modes in PUBG) may refuse to launch on a rooted device. To bypass the anti-cheat, you will need additional modules for hiding the root (Magisk Hide / Zygisk).
Users of custom kernels (Custom Kernels) can unlock FPS through the kernel settings. Many cores, such as ElementalX or KonaBess (for Adreno GPU), allow you to manually set frame rate limits and disable vertical synchronization at the driver level.
Specifics of Snapdragon and MediaTek processors
Unlocking approach FPS greatly depends on the chipset manufacturer. Processors Qualcomm Snapdragon have a closed GPU driver, but have a powerful tool Adreno Tweak. With its help, you can change GPU frequencies and remove limits. The application allows you to create profiles for different games, increasing the performance of the graphics core.
Owners of devices on MediaTek are in a slightly more advantageous position thanks to the utility MTK Engineer Mode. In the engineering menu you can find a section CIMG Triger or display settings, where sometimes you can directly change the display refresh rate, which is not available in the regular menu. However, the interface of the engineering menu may differ depending on the version Android and shell.
| Chip manufacturer | Tool for tweaks | Complexity | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm Snapdragon | Adreno Tweak / KonaBess | Average | High |
| MediaTek | MTK Engineer Mode | Low | Average |
| Samsung Exynos | Game Plugins (officially) | Low | Low |
| Google Tensor | ADB / Root scripts | High | Medium |
For chips Exynos from Samsung often the official plugin Game Plugins from the store Galaxy Storeis sufficient, in particular the "Game Tuner" module. It allows you to remove the FPS limit in some games in a legal way, since Samsung itself provides this tool for its devices.
The effectiveness of unlocking the FPS directly depends on the architecture of the GPU. Snapdragon owners have the largest selection of third-party tools for fine-tuning.
Optimizing cooling and stability
Removing the FPS limit is pointless if the phone overheats. When a critical temperature is reached (usually 45-50°C), the system forcibly resets the processor and GPU frequencies, which is why the FPS drops even below 60, despite unlocking. Therefore, it is critically important to ensure high-quality heat dissipation. The use of external coolers (active cooling systems) is a prerequisite for stable 90+ FPS in heavy games like heat removal.
The use of external coolers (active cooling systems) is a prerequisite for stable 90+ FPS in heavy games like Genshin Impact or Warzone. Passive radiators are ineffective under prolonged load. It is also recommended to remove the case during the game so as not to create a “thermal cushion” around the case.
Software optimization also plays a role. Close all background applications before starting the game. Use the "Do not disturb" mode so that incoming notifications do not cause micro-freezes, which are perceived as a drop in FPS. On devices with a large amount of RAM (12 GB and above), you can allow the game to take up more cache without closing it in the background.
⚠️ Attention: Long-term operation of the processor at maximum frequencies without proper cooling leads to battery degradation and possible peeling of the screen due to expansion of the adhesive layer due to high temperature.
Often asked questions (FAQ)
Is it safe to remove the FPS limit for my phone?
From a software point of view, it is safe if you do not change the voltage (voltage) of the components. However, the physical wear of the device is accelerated due to high temperatures. The battery will degrade faster, and the screen may burn out unevenly at static high brightness.
Why does the game start to twitch after unlocking the FPS?
This happens due to frame desynchronization (screen tearing), when the video card renders a frame faster than the screen can show it. It is also possible that the processor cannot cope with maintaining a stable 90 FPS, and the frequency jumps between 60 and 90, which is visually perceived as lags.
Is Root necessary for all games?
No, not for everyone. Some games (like Asphalt 9 or PUBG Mobile in certain modes) allow you to select 90 FPS in their own graphics settings if the phone is officially supported by the developer. Root is only needed for forced unlocking where there is no such option.
Does unlocking the FPS affect the operation of the anti-cheat?
In most single-player games, no. In online shooters with serious anti-cheat (BattlEye, Unreal Engine protection), modifying game files or using third-party tweaks can lead to account blocking. Use methods through the developer settings or ADB, they are less noticeable to anti-cheat.