How to see your real FPS on Android

The FPS numbers you can trust on Android come from the game itself or from the phone's own system tools. Some games have a frame-rate display in their settings, Pixel phones have an FPS counter in Game Dashboard, and some other brands build one into their game tools. A store app that promises an FPS counter on Android without that kind of system access deserves a healthy dose of suspicion.

FPS and refresh rate are different numbers

FPS (frames per second) is how many new images the game draws each second. Refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), is how many times per second the screen redraws itself. The two are linked, but they are not the same thing.

Android's documentation explains that apps can tell the system the frame rate they intend to run at, and the system then picks a screen refresh rate that suits it. The screen sets the ceiling. A 60 Hz screen cannot show more than 60 new frames a second, however fast the game draws. And a 120 Hz screen can still be showing a game that manages far fewer. So when you judge game performance, you want FPS. When you check a display setting, you want Hz. Our post on checking your phone's real refresh rate covers the Hz side.

Where real FPS readings come from

There are three places to look, starting with the most accurate.

The game's own settings

Many larger mobile games include a frame-rate option, and some also offer a performance display that shows FPS or network stats. Look in the graphics, display or advanced sections. Because the game counts its own frames, this is usually the most accurate figure you can get.

Game Dashboard on Pixel phones

Game Dashboard is Google's overlay that sits on top of a running game. Google's developer documentation lists a live FPS counter among its shortcuts, alongside screenshots, screen recording, Do Not Disturb and Game Mode. Google says it is available on all Pixel devices running Android 12 or higher.

To find it, open Settings and search for "Game Dashboard", then turn it on. Open a game, tap the dashboard's floating icon and look for the FPS option. The exact layout can change between updates.

Your phone maker's game tools

Google also notes that on other brands' phones, Game Dashboard might be removed or replaced with similar apps. Many phone makers ship their own game launcher or game space, and some of these include a frame-rate display. Search Settings for "game" to see what yours offers. Because these tools are built into the system by the phone maker, they have access that ordinary store apps do not.

What developer options can and cannot show

Developer options is a hidden settings screen meant for app developers. Google's instructions are to find Build number in your phone's About settings and tap it seven times. On some phones the screen has a different name or location.

Two options there are often mistaken for an FPS counter:

• Show refresh rate puts a small overlay on screen with the display's current refresh rate. It shows Hz, not the frames a game is drawing.
• Profile GPU rendering, called Profile HWUI rendering on some versions, draws one bar per frame against a green line at 16.67 milliseconds, the time budget for 60 frames a second. Google notes that it does not work with apps that use the NDK, because of how full-screen OpenGL apps draw. Many 3D games are built that way, so for them the bars tell you little.

For what else lives in that menu, and what to leave alone, see developer options gamers ask about.

Which FPS readout should you trust?

This table compares the common ways to check frame rate on Android.

A real frame count does not respond to a button. If a number leaps from 30 to 60 the moment you tap "Boost", it was never a measurement. Our post on red flags in game booster apps shows how to spot this.

How to read the number once you have it

• Steady beats high. A game that holds an even rate usually feels smoother than one that swings up and down. Google's own guidance to game developers says uneven frame rates strongly affect how players perceive performance.
• Compare like with like. Use the same map, the same settings and a phone at a similar temperature.
• Watch the trend. If FPS starts high and falls after a while, look at heat first.
• Separate frames from network. If FPS is fine but other players jump around, the problem is your connection, not the frame rate.

What CyberBoost shows instead

CyberBoost does not show a game's frame rate, and it does not pretend to. Its live HUD shows the display refresh rate in Hz, so you can see whether the screen is running at its high rate or has dropped back while you play. That sits next to ping, CPU clock, RAM headroom and battery temperature, which helps you work out whether a slowdown comes from heat, the network or a screen setting. For the frame rate itself, use the game's own display or your phone's built-in tools.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my FPS reading stay at 60 on a 120 Hz phone?

The game may be capped at 60, its frame-rate option may be set to 60, or battery saver or a game mode may have lowered the limit. Check the game's graphics settings first.

Is Game Dashboard available on Samsung or Xiaomi phones?

Not usually under that name. Google says other phone makers may remove Game Dashboard or replace it with their own tools, so search Settings for "game" to find the equivalent.

Can a Play Store app show the FPS of other games?

Only with help from the system or the game itself. Be wary of any app whose number changes when you press a button, because a real frame count does not respond to a tap.

What FPS is good for mobile games?

For most games, a steady 30 is playable and a steady 60 feels smooth. Fast shooters benefit from higher rates if your screen and phone can hold them for a whole match.