If you’ve ever had your phone heat up mid-ranked match, or drop frames right when you’re about to secure the Lord or take down the enemy core, HFR mode might be the unexpected culprit even if you thought it was making your gameplay smoother. A lot of players toggle it on by default when they first download the game, without realizing it’s not a one-size-fits-all setting for every device. Today we’re walking through exactly how to turn off hfr mode in mobile legends, plus when you should (and shouldn’t) make that switch to get the most consistent play experience.
How to Turn Off HFR Mode in Mobile Legends for Android and iOS
The good news is this process is identical for both Android and iOS devices, since Mobile Legends keeps in-game settings uniform across all operating systems. You don’t need any special apps or device tweaks to make the change, and it takes less than 30 seconds to complete if you follow these simple steps:
- Open Mobile Legends and wait for the main lobby screen to load completely. Don’t adjust settings mid-match, as this can cause unexpected crashes or lost progress.
- Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner of the screen to open the settings menu.
- Select the Basic tab from the left-hand sidebar, which is the first option listed above the “Controls” tab.
- Scroll down until you see the “HFR Mode” toggle, then tap it to switch it from the blue “on” state to the gray “off” state.
- Close the settings menu and restart the game to make sure the change takes full effect before you jump into another match.
Now that you know how to turn off HFR mode in Mobile Legends, you might be wondering if it's the right call for your specific setup. If you don’t see the HFR mode option in your settings at all, that means your device doesn’t support the feature in the first place, so you don’t have to worry about adjusting this setting. This is common for older or entry-level phones that can’t handle 60fps gameplay even if you wanted to run it.
Why You Might Want to Disable HFR Mode in MLBB
HFR mode stands for High Frame Rate mode, and it runs the game at 60 frames per second instead of the standard 30fps. While that sounds like a pure upgrade on paper, it comes with several downsides for many players that often outweigh the visual benefits.
First, it causes excessive battery drain. Recent tests on mid-range Android devices show that running HFR mode uses up to 40% more battery per 15-minute match than playing with the feature off. If you’re playing out and about without access to a charger, turning it off can add 2 to 3 extra matches to your total playtime before your phone dies. I learned this the hard way last year when I was stuck waiting for a flight, and burned through 70% of my battery in just an hour of playing with HFR mode on.
It also leads to serious overheating issues on mid and low-tier phones. Many budget devices hit temperatures over 45 degrees Celsius after just 20 minutes of HFR play, which triggers thermal throttling that actually drops your frame rate lower than if you had HFR off in the first place. That means you’re not even getting the smooth 60fps you turned the setting on for, and you’re stuck with a hot phone to boot. If you've been dealing with any of these issues, choosing to turn off HFR mode in Mobile Legends is an easy first troubleshooting step that takes less than 30 seconds to complete.
The last big downside is worse performance on unstable networks. HFR mode requires more consistent data transfer to keep the high frame rate running smoothly. If you’re on mobile data or a spotty Wi-Fi connection, disabling it can cut in-game ping spikes by up to 20% in many cases, making team fights far less chaotic and reducing the chance of random disconnects.
When Should You Keep HFR Mode Turned On?
For some players, the benefits of HFR mode are well worth the tradeoffs, and there’s no reason to turn it off if you fall into one of these groups. First, if you have a flagship or high-end gaming phone with a built-in cooling system and a high refresh rate screen, HFR mode will make gameplay feel far more responsive. You’ll notice faster reaction times when dodging enemy skills or landing precision skill shots, which is a huge advantage in high-rank play or local tournaments.
You should also keep it on if you’re streaming or recording gameplay for social media or content platforms. HFR mode makes footage look far smoother and more professional, especially if you’re uploading to sites that support 60fps video. Just make sure you’re plugged in while you record, since battery drain will be significant even on high-end devices.
If you’re playing at home with a stable Wi-Fi connection and your phone doesn’t heat up easily after hours of play, there’s no real downside to keeping HFR mode enabled. Just keep an eye on your device temperature if you’re playing for 3+ hours straight, and take short breaks if you notice it getting too hot to hold comfortably.
Extra Settings to Adjust After Turning Off HFR Mode
Turning off HFR mode is a great first step to improve performance, but there are a few other small tweaks you can make to get even more consistent gameplay, especially if you’re on an older device. First, adjust your frame rate setting to “Smooth” if you’re still experiencing lag after turning off HFR. This will lower visual quality slightly, but it will keep frame rates consistent even when there are lots of effects on screen during team fights.
Next, turn off “Shadow Effects” and “High Particle Effects” if you’re still dealing with overheating. These two settings use more processing power than almost any other visual option in the game, and disabling them has almost no impact on your ability to play well. You’ll still be able to see enemy skills and map objectives clearly, you just won’t have fancy extra shadows under every hero.
You can also enable “Low Power Mode” in your phone’s system settings if you’re playing on the go. This will reduce background processes on your device while you play, extending battery life even further. I usually pair this with turning my screen brightness down to 50-60% when I’m playing at a café with no charger, and I can get almost 2 hours of playtime instead of 45 minutes with all high settings turned on.
At the end of the day, the right setting for HFR mode depends entirely on your device, play style, and situation. If you’re dealing with lag, overheating, or short battery life, learning how to turn off hfr mode in mobile legends is a quick fix that can make a huge difference in your gameplay experience. You can always toggle it back on later if you’re playing on a better device or have access to a charger. Don’t be afraid to test different settings to find what works best for you, even if it means stepping away from the “recommended” high settings that the game pushes by default. The most important thing is that your gameplay feels smooth and consistent, so you can focus on winning matches instead of dealing with technical issues.