Force Peak Refresh Rate In Developer Options: How To Make Your Android Display Run Smoother?

ByHisan Kidwai Updated on
Image of Android phone
Image: Unsplash

High refresh rate displays on smartphones have quickly become a key buying factor, thanks in part to how they improve the user experience. But despite manufacturers advertising 120Hz refresh rate displays, many phones do not actually utilize the full potential, and most apps run at well below 120Hz.

However, there are ways in the Developer Options with which users can not only verify the refresh rates of their displays but also set their devices to run at peak refresh rates.

How to enable high refresh rate on smartphones?

Before pushing your phone to its maximum refresh rate, it is important to enable the high refresh rate setting on your phone. To do this:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down to Display.

    Screenshot of Display Setting
  3. Locate and enable the Smooth Display settings. Note: This setting might vary in name across different phone brands.

    Screenshot of smooth display setting which increases the refresh rate

How to Verify the Display’s Refresh Rate?

Within the Developer Options, there’s a convenient tool that displays the current refresh rate of the screen, thus allowing users to check whether the smooth display setting is operational or not. Here’s how to check:

  1. Enable Developer Options by navigating to Settings > About Phone > Tapping the Build Number 10 times.
  2. Open the Settings app and scroll down to System.

    Screenshot of System settings
  3. Access the System tab and click on Developer Options.

    Photo of Developer option setting
  4. Locate and enable the Show Refresh Rate setting.

    Screenshot of show current refresh rate setting

Why don’t brands take advantage of their displays?

To put things into perspective, high refresh rate displays consume a lot of battery. Therefore, when a phone performs tasks that don’t demand the maximum refresh rate—such as viewing a 30fps video—it conserves the battery by adjusting its refresh rate. And although this switching works seamlessly on flagships, it can be a bit stuttery on budget phones.

How to Force Maximum Refresh Rate?

If your device feels laggy due to the switching between refresh rates, forcing it to maintain the peak refresh rate at all times might help. However, it is important to note that enabling this feature will consume a significant amount of battery. To activate this feature:

  1. Open Settings and navigate to Developer Options.
  2. Search for Force Peak Refresh Rate and toggle it on.

    Screenshot of force peak refresh rate

Hisan is a high school graduate with a passion for technology. His quest for tech began in 2018 when he was searching for a new phone to buy. He is now pursuing a degree in computer science with a focus on Data Science at university. In addition to his interest in technology, Hisan also enjoys sports such as table tennis and cricket. He recently discovered a love for writing and is excited to share his insights and knowledge on the latest tech trends.

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