How to Turn On Native Refresh Rate in Pokémon GO

To turn on Native Refresh Rate in Pokémon GO, tap the Poké Ball, tap Settings, tap Advanced Settings, and check Native Refresh Rate. The game then draws at the same speed as your phone’s screen instead of a lower built-in limit. On phones with high refresh rate screens, such as iPhones with ProMotion, the map and animations look smoother.

Before you start

• Phones: the option is in the Pokémon GO app for both iPhone and Android, and the steps are the same on each.
• Game version: use the current version of Pokémon GO. Niantic says the game works best on the newest version.
• Screen: the benefit depends on your display. A screen that refreshes 90 or 120 times per second (90 Hz or 120 Hz) has the most to gain.
• Battery: drawing more frames is more work for the phone. Expect the battery to drain faster and the phone to run warmer during long sessions.

Refresh rate is how many times per second the screen redraws its picture, measured in hertz (Hz). Frame rate is how many pictures per second the game produces, measured in frames per second (fps). Motion looks smoothest when the two match, and that is what this setting is for.

Turn on Native Refresh Rate

1. Open Pokémon GO and wait for the map to load.
2. Tap the Poké Ball at the bottom of the map. Niantic calls this button the Main Menu.
3. Tap Settings at the top right of the menu.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the Settings list and tap Advanced Settings.
5. Tap Native Refresh Rate so the circle beside it shows a check mark.
6. Close the settings screens to go back to the map.

There is no confirmation message and nothing to save. Niantic’s Help Center does not have a page about this option, but it documents the same route into the menu in Download All Assets, another item in Advanced Settings: Main Menu, then Settings at the top right, then Advanced Settings.

How to tell that it is working

Pokémon GO does not show a frame counter, so you judge the change by eye. Back on the map, drag a finger to rotate the view, or scroll quickly through your Pokémon list. Movement should look more fluid than before, with less stutter as the picture slides.

The difference depends on the screen:

• 90 Hz or 120 Hz screens: the biggest change, because the game can now use the extra refreshes.
• 60 Hz screens: a smaller change, or none you can see. The screen cannot show more than 60 pictures per second, whatever the game does.

If nothing looks different on a phone that has a fast screen, a phone setting may be holding the display back. See the troubleshooting section below.

How to turn it off again

Follow the same steps and tap Native Refresh Rate again to clear the check mark. The game goes back to its default frame limit. Nothing else changes: your Pokémon, items, and other settings stay as they were.

Turning it off is worth trying when the phone feels hot, when the battery drops faster than you would like, or when you are heading out for a long event day without a charger.

Should you leave it on?

Your situation	Suggested setting	Why
Short sessions on a phone with a 90 Hz or 120 Hz screen	On	Smoother motion, and battery use matters less
All-day play away from a charger	Off	Fewer frames means less work for the phone
The phone gets hot while playing	Off	A lower frame rate reduces the load
Older phone with a 60 Hz screen	Either	Try both and keep the one that feels better

How much extra battery the setting uses varies by phone, and Niantic does not publish a figure. For other ways to stretch a charge, see what Battery Saver does in Pokémon GO and how to turn off AR.

If you can’t find the setting or nothing changes

Native Refresh Rate is not in the list

• Look in the right menu. The option is inside Advanced Settings, which sits at the very bottom of the main Settings list. It is not in the main list itself.
• Update the game. Older versions may not have the option. Niantic explains the steps for both stores in How to Update the Pokémon GO App.
• Check your phone. Niantic’s Supported Devices page lists the minimum iPhone and Android requirements. Menu names can also shift a little between game updates.

The setting is on, but the game does not look smoother

The game can only match the rate your phone’s display is running at. Two phone settings can hold that rate down:

• iPhone with ProMotion: open the iPhone’s Settings app, tap Accessibility, then tap Motion. If Limit Frame Rate is on, turn it off. Apple says this switch limits the display to a maximum of 60 frames per second. See Customize onscreen motion on iPhone.
• Google Pixel: open Settings, tap Display & touch, tap Advanced, and turn on Smooth Display. Google says this raises the refresh rate for some content and increases battery usage. See Manage screen & display settings on a Pixel phone.
• Other Android phones: look in the phone’s display settings for a refresh rate or smoothness option. The name varies by manufacturer.

A phone’s battery saving mode may also reduce display performance. On iPhone, Apple’s Low Power Mode page says the mode turns off some visual effects, and a yellow battery icon in the status bar means it is active. If the game looks less smooth while that icon is yellow, turn Low Power Mode off or charge the phone and compare.

The game is choppy with the setting on

A higher frame rate asks more of the phone, so an older or hot phone can stutter. Try these in order:

1. Turn Native Refresh Rate off and see whether the stutter stops.
2. Close the game, restart the phone, and open the game again.
3. Update Pokémon GO to the newest version.
4. Try refreshing game data, which is in the same Advanced Settings menu. Niantic warns that this may switch off Adventure Sync, so check that setting afterward. Here is how to turn Adventure Sync on or off in Pokémon GO.

Niantic also notes that older or lower-end devices may not fully draw the map toward the horizon and may show a fog background instead. That is separate from this setting, and Native Refresh Rate does not change it.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Native Refresh Rate in Pokémon GO?

It is in the game’s own settings, not the phone’s. Tap the Poké Ball on the map, tap Settings at the top right, scroll to the bottom, tap Advanced Settings, and look for Native Refresh Rate.

Does Native Refresh Rate affect catching?

It does not change catch rates or any game rules. It only changes how smoothly the game is drawn. Some players find that smoother motion makes throws feel easier to time, but that is personal preference.

Does Native Refresh Rate drain the battery?

It can. Producing more frames each second makes the phone’s processor and screen work harder, which uses more power and creates more heat. The size of the effect depends on the phone, so the practical test is to play with it on and off and compare.

Is Native Refresh Rate on by default?

Treat it as off until you have checked. The option is a check box that you turn on yourself, and Niantic does not document its default. It is also worth a second look after you reinstall the game or sign in on a new phone. The same goes for any time you sign out of your Pokémon GO account and sign back in. Open Advanced Settings and look for the check mark.

Does it work on an iPhone without ProMotion?

You can turn it on, but the screen sets the ceiling. ProMotion is Apple’s name for iPhone displays that can refresh up to 120 times per second. An iPhone with a standard 60 Hz display cannot show more than 60 frames per second.

Will turning it on fix lag or crashes?

No. Slow loading, freezing, and crashes usually come from the connection, the game version, or the phone itself. If the game will not get past the first screen, see the fixes for Pokémon GO stuck on the loading screen.

Next step

Turn the setting on, play a normal session, and note how much battery you use. If the drain or heat bothers you, switch it off before your next long outing.