Change Samsung Galaxy Screen Resolution & Refresh Rate

This guide shows you how to adjust the display resolution and refresh rate on a Samsung Galaxy phone. Changing these settings can improve battery life, boost performance, or make text and images sharper, depending on what you choose. You’ll need a Samsung Galaxy phone running One UI (most models from 2019 onward), and you should be comfortable navigating the Settings app.

What You’ll Need

• A Samsung Galaxy phone (Galaxy S, Note, Z Fold, Z Flip, or A-series) with One UI 3.0 or newer.
• Your phone’s screen unlocked and the Settings app accessible.
• Sufficient battery charge (above 15% is recommended, as some changes may briefly restart the display).

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification shade, then tap the gear icon in the top-right corner. Alternatively, find the Settings app in your app drawer.
2. Navigate to Display settings. Scroll down the Settings menu and tap Display. This is where all screen-related options are grouped.
3. Adjust Screen Resolution. Tap Screen resolution. You’ll see a slider with options like HD+ (720p), FHD+ (1080p), and QHD+ (1440p) — the exact options depend on your phone model. Drag the slider to your preferred resolution. A preview text will show how the screen will look. Tap Apply at the bottom. The screen will briefly go black and then come back on with the new resolution.
4. Adjust Motion Smoothness (Refresh Rate). Go back to the Display settings menu. Tap Motion smoothness. You’ll typically see two options: Standard (60Hz) and Adaptive (120Hz, or 90Hz on some models). Select your preferred option. A brief description will explain the trade-off between smoothness and battery life. Tap Apply to confirm your choice.
5. Confirm and Exit. After applying either setting, you can simply press the Home button or swipe up to exit Settings. Your new display settings are now active.

Common Mistakes

• Not seeing the resolution option: Some Galaxy A-series and budget models do not offer a resolution change option. If you don’t see “Screen resolution” in Display settings, your phone is locked to its default resolution.
• Choosing the highest resolution and refresh rate together: Combining QHD+ with 120Hz can drain the battery noticeably faster. If battery life is a priority, consider FHD+ with 120Hz or QHD+ with 60Hz.
• Forgetting to tap Apply: Simply moving the slider or toggling the option does not save the change. You must tap the Apply button for the setting to take effect.
• Confusing resolution with refresh rate: Resolution is the number of pixels (sharpness), while refresh rate is how many times the screen updates per second (smoothness). They are separate settings.

Tips

• Battery optimization: If you want the best battery life, use FHD+ resolution with Standard (60Hz) motion smoothness. This combination is ideal for everyday tasks like messaging and web browsing.
• Gaming and media: For a smoother gaming experience or while watching fast-paced videos, enable Adaptive motion smoothness (120Hz). The difference is most noticeable when scrolling through long lists or playing supported games.
• Sharpness for VR or reading: If you use your phone for reading small text or VR, choose QHD+ resolution. The extra pixel density makes text crisper and reduces the “screen door” effect in VR.
• Use Adaptive refresh rate: The “Adaptive” option automatically drops the refresh rate to 60Hz when you’re viewing static content (like a photo) and ramps up to 120Hz when you’re scrolling or gaming. This gives you the best of both worlds.
• Check per-app settings: Some Galaxy phones with Game Booster or Labs settings allow you to override the refresh rate for specific apps. Explore Settings > Display > Motion smoothness > Labs (if available) to force 120Hz on apps that don’t default to it.

Troubleshooting

• The screen stays black after applying: Wait a few seconds. The display should turn back on automatically. If it doesn’t, hold the Power button for 10-15 seconds to force a restart. Your settings will be saved.
• The option is greyed out: This usually happens when battery saver mode is enabled. Go to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery, and turn off Power saving mode. Then return to Display settings and try again.
• The refresh rate doesn’t feel like 120Hz: Check that you’re not in Power saving mode. Also, the phone automatically drops to 60Hz in certain conditions, like when the screen brightness is very low or the phone is overheating. Try increasing brightness or closing heavy apps.
• Can’t find Motion smoothness: On some older One UI versions, this setting is called “Refresh rate” and is located directly under Display settings. If you don’t see it, your phone’s display may not support 90Hz or 120Hz.
• Changes don’t stick after restart: This is rare, but if it happens, go back to Display settings and re-apply your chosen resolution and refresh rate. If the problem persists, check for a software update in Settings > Software update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will changing the resolution affect app compatibility?
A: No. All apps are designed to scale to different resolutions. Some apps may briefly restart when you change resolution, but they will work normally afterward.

Q: Does a higher refresh rate damage the battery?
A: No, it doesn’t damage the battery, but it does drain it faster. The 120Hz mode uses more power because the screen refreshes twice as often. Using Adaptive mode helps mitigate this by lowering the rate when not needed.

Q: Can I set a custom resolution not listed?
A: No, Samsung only offers the preset options (HD+, FHD+, QHD+). Custom resolutions require third-party apps and often require root access, which is not recommended for most users.

Q: Why is my phone stuck at 60Hz even with Adaptive mode on?
A: The phone automatically switches to 60Hz when the screen is static to save battery. It also locks to 60Hz when battery saver is on, when the screen brightness is below a certain threshold, or when the device temperature is high.

Q: Does changing resolution affect photos and videos I take?
A: No. The camera captures images at its full sensor resolution regardless of your display settings. Your photos and videos will remain unchanged.

Q: Will these settings reset after a software update?
A: Usually not. Samsung typically preserves user display settings during updates. However, if you perform a factory reset, all settings will return to their defaults (usually FHD+ and Adaptive).

Related

• Tips Tools Computer Builders: 7 Must-Have Essentials
• How to Unroot Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 SM-T810
• MacBook Microphone Not Working? Fixes That Work