Low FPS makes any game feel bad. The good news: most phones can run games smoother with a few setting changes. Here are the tweaks that actually help, in order of how much difference they make, plus the “tips” you should skip.
10 ways to get more FPS
- Set the screen to its highest refresh rate. Go to Settings → Display → Motion smoothness / Refresh rate and choose 90, 120 or 144 Hz (or Adaptive). Games that support high FPS can’t go above your screen’s limit.
- Choose high FPS in the game itself. Many games are set to 30 FPS by default. Look for Frame rate in the game’s graphics settings and pick the highest option your phone can hold.
- Lower the graphics to raise the FPS. Shadows, anti-aliasing and resolution cost the most. Medium graphics at high FPS usually feels better than ultra at 30.
- Turn off battery saver. Power saving modes cap the processor and often the refresh rate. Turn them off while gaming.
- Use your phone’s game mode. Samsung Game Booster, Xiaomi Game Turbo, OnePlus Games and others can give games priority, block notifications and pick a performance profile.
- Keep the phone cool. Heat is the biggest FPS killer in long sessions. See how to stop overheating.
- Keep some storage free. A nearly full phone is slower everywhere. Try to keep at least 10–15% free.
- Close what’s running in the background. Downloads, uploads and video calls take processor time and bandwidth.
- Update Android, the game and your graphics drivers. Some phones (like Snapdragon devices with “Game Driver” or “Updatable GPU driver” options) get driver updates that improve performance.
- Restart your phone before a long gaming session. It clears out stuck processes.
What NOT to do
| “Tip” | Why to skip it |
|---|---|
| RAM cleaner / “booster” apps that kill apps | Android manages memory itself. Killing apps makes them reload later and can cost more battery and performance. |
| Force 4x MSAA in Developer Options | It makes the GPU do more work. It can lower FPS and add heat. |
| “Disable HW overlays” for games | It moves work to the GPU and can make performance worse. |
| GFX tools that change game files | Can break the game and get your account banned in online games. |
A good game launcher can be handy for one-tap profiles and blocking notifications. Our list of the 10 best game booster apps for Android covers the useful ones.
How to check your FPS
Many phones have a built-in FPS counter in their game mode (Samsung Game Booster, Xiaomi Game Turbo). Otherwise, check Developer Options for a frame rate overlay, or turn on the FPS display inside the game if it has one. Emulators like PPSSPP have their own FPS counter in the settings.
FAQ
How can I increase FPS on my Android phone?
Set the screen to its highest refresh rate, choose high FPS in the game’s settings, lower graphics, turn off battery saver, use your phone’s game mode and keep the phone cool.
Does Force 4x MSAA increase FPS?
No. Force 4x MSAA makes graphics smoother at the edges but makes the GPU work harder, which can lower FPS.
Do RAM cleaner apps increase FPS?
Usually not. Android manages memory itself, and force-closing apps often makes performance and battery worse.
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