UPDATE: We have just added a new Shizuku [non-root] method to force 120Hz Refresh Rate on your Android device. Do check that out as well.
In this guide, we will show you the steps to force the 120Hz refresh rate on any Android device. One factor that differentiated the flagships from budget devices was the former’s incorporation of 120hz refresh rate aka the number of times the display refreshes itself every second. However, as of now, this line is slowly getting blurred out and even many budget devices are offering this peak refresh rate. And this is something that we aren’t complaining about!
However, there isn’t any micro-level management as such. The OEM provides just two options- Standard and Adaptive. In Standard, the refresh rate is fixed at 60Hz whereas, in Adaptive, the rate oscillates between 60-120Hz depending on the current usage scenario. And that’s just about it. There isn’t any granular control in the hands of the users wherein they could stick with a rate of their choice (apart from 60).
In this regard, many users have said that they want the most fluid and smooth usage experience, or in other words, want to have the 120Hz rate at all times. While this would lead to excessive battery drainage, they are ready for the sacrifice as the last charge technology would take care of the same. If you also echo this thought process, then this guide is just what you might need. In this tutorial, we will show you the steps to force the 120Hz refresh rate on your Android device. Follow along.
Table of Contents
Force 120Hz Refresh Rate in any Android via ADB Commands
The below instructions are listed under separate sections for ease of understanding. Make sure to follow the same sequence as mentioned.
STEP 1: Install Android SDK
First and foremost, you will have to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. This is the official ADB and Fastboot binary provided by Google and is the only recommended one. So download it and then extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Doing so will give you the platform-tools folder, which will be used throughout this guide.
STEP 2: Enable USB Debugging
Next up, you will have to enable USB Debugging on your device so that it is recognizable by the PC in ADB mode. So head over to Settings > About Phone > Tap on Build Number 7 times > Go back to Settings > System > Advanced > Developer Options > Enable USB Debugging.
STEP 3: Establish ADB Shell Connection
- To begin with, connect your device to the PC via USB cable. Make sure USB Debugging is enabled.
- Then head over to the platform-tools folder, type in CMD in the address bar, and hit Enter. This will launch the Command Prompt.
- Now, type in the following command in the CMD window to verify the ADB connection:
adb devices
- If you get the device ID, then the connection stands successful. Now type in the below command to open the Shell environment:
adb shell
- It will now list out your device codename/name, which means that the shell connection has been successfully established and you are good to go ahead.
STEP 4: Force 120Hz Refresh Rate via ADB
Now, all that you need to do is set the minimum and maximum refresh rate to 120Hz. So execute the following two commands for that:
settings put system min_refresh_rate 120.0 settings put system peak_refresh_rate 120.0
Force 120Hz Refresh Rate in any Android via Shizuku
- To begin with, download and install the below apps [but do not launch them]:
Shizuku System UI Tuner System UI Tuner Add-on Install With Options
- On OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme, go to Developer Options and enable “Disable permission control”.
- Now install SystemUI Tuner, launch it, accept T&C, and go to the Grant Write Secure Settings page.
- Then open Command Prompt inside the platform-tools folder and type the below three commands:
adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.DUMP adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.systemuituner android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS
- Now, relaunch the application and give it the rest of the permissions. Once done, close the app.
- Then download, install, and set up the Shizuku app on your device.
- Now, launch Install with Options and hit Allow All the time in the Shizuku prompt that appears.
- Then check Allow Test and Replace Existing. Now tap Choose Files > select System UI Tuner Add-on.
- Now hit Install. You might get a prompt from Play Protect> hit Install Anyway. It should be installed.
- Now launch SystemUI Tuner > go to Advanced > Write Custom Setting and do as follows:
Tap Global and select System from the drop-down. Key: peak_refresh_rate Value: 1
- Hit Apply > tap Allow All the time in the Shizuku prompt > OK > Keep.
- That’s it. 120Hz is now all yours!
That’s it. These were the steps to force the 120Hz refresh rate in any Android device using ADB Commands and Shizuku. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.
