How to Customize Your Android for Gaming

Using Android phones for gaming can be an amazing experience, especially with the amount of control the system gives you. However, it can also be a little overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. For that reason, we have compiled a list of the most important tips for gaming optimization of your Android device. Mobile gaming powerhouse Android has proven over the years to be a veritable powerhouse for gaming. The amount of titles is constantly growing, from high-budget AAA ports to casual indie games. On top of that, the popularity of iGaming is another big branch of the […] The post How to Customize Your Android for Gaming appeared first on Phandroid.

Feb 11, 2025 - 15:40

How to Customize Your Android for Gaming

Using Android phones for gaming can be an amazing experience, especially with the amount of control the system gives you. However, it can also be a little overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. For that reason, we have compiled a list of the most important tips for gaming optimization of your Android device.

Mobile gaming powerhouse

Android has proven over the years to be a veritable powerhouse for gaming. The amount of titles is constantly growing, from high-budget AAA ports to casual indie games. On top of that, the popularity of iGaming is another big branch of the industry, and it doesn’t fall behind when it comes to the quality and presentation of the games. Casinos, sports, and live games are huge on Megadice, and their variety is constantly growing. Phones are becoming the next big platform for competitive multiplayer as well, with several big-time MOBAs hosting massive mobile tournaments. And if you want to enjoy that world to the fullest, here are the things you need to do.

1. Update your system

Keeping your Android up to date is of utmost importance to have your games running smoothly. Even though sometimes system updates can provide some setbacks, the patches included in them often address exactly the compatibility issues that make some newer games crash for no apparent reason. Luckily, big updates are not coming out that often so this is not something you have to worry about all the time.

2. Turn off battery saver

It might seem counter-intuitive, but battery savers can actually diminish your phone’s processing power in order to buy more battery life. This might be great if you’re just scrolling social networks, but it can greatly diminish the enjoyment of games. Make sure to have battery saver mode turned off for maximum performance.

3. Use the fastest connection available

If you’re enjoying online multiplayer games, this one is going to be crucial to have an uninterrupted experience. If available, always opt for WiFi instead of mobile data. If possible, choose the 5GHz band. Try to stay closer to your router, and turn off all the devices not currently in use to avoid bandwidth overload.

4. Turn on game boosting

With the rise of high-level mobile gaming, manufacturers are now developing and including game-boosting apps on newer phone models. These might come in the form of just a regular “game mode” option switch under settings, or they can be a full app that takes care of most of the background processes, notifications, and hardware resources in order to give you the best experience while you’re gaming. Game boosters come in the form of third-party apps as well, and they can do a great job as well if you’re using a somewhat older phone model.

5. Set screen refresh rate to high

Mobile games are not far behind their PC and console counterparts when it comes to graphical fidelity anymore. If you want to enjoy the visual presentation to the fullest and avoid screen tearing and lack of fluidity in competitive games, keep your screen refresh rate high (60 or 120 Hz depending on your phone’s capabilities). This should result in smooth animations and give you the needed edge in online multiplayer.

6. Turn off Force 4x MSAA

Turning on 4x multisample anti-aliasing can indeed help the graphical presentation, especially on phones with older hardware. This option can accelerate graphic rendering through OpenGL, but the price you pay in battery life and high device temperature might not be worth the benefits gained on the other side.

7. Close background processes

This one should come as a no-brainer, even though there are ongoing discussions if closing apps does any good for your phone’s performance. Having too many apps working in the background can clutter RAM usage and divert CPU power from where it’s needed most at the moment. Aside from turning off any unnecessary apps, you can also limit their number in the developer options section of your phone settings.

8. Keep your phone cool

As with any other computer, keeping your phone cool is vital for the best performance, but also the overall health of your hardware. Maintaining stable performance requires the temperature to stay within normal limits, otherwise, the CPU and GPU can start throttling, and your battery life can be greatly reduced. The best way to do so is by using fans or cooling pads during longer gaming sessions, and lowering graphic settings for more demanding games if you notice your device overheating.

9. Use mobile controllers

Touch screens are a great piece of tech, but it’s not always the best way to play games with more complex controls. Luckily, there are now many Android gamepads and attachable controllers that can make gaming easier and more enjoyable. These peripherals can give you a greater and more precise control of your game, with customizable controls. This is important for competitive gamers, but also for people looking to play ports of AAA games on their phones where it’s not as easy to have all the buttons mapped on the screen.

10. Overclock the CPU (advanced)

Most phone CPUs are limited at much lower rate than what they are really capable of doing. In this light, overclocking the processor can vastly improve performance, but it doesn’t come without risks. This is why we recommend this step only to advanced users, as it can overheat your phone and even make your warranty void. If you are willing to take that risk, you can also turn your phone into a gaming beast fairly easily depending on your model and BIOS.

The bottom line

Gaming on mobile phones is already very user friendly, even if you are an absolute beginner. Even so, gamers who are looking for ways to improve their immersion and general experience with high-end games can easily do so in just a few steps. After these customizations, you should have all the benefits of a dedicated gaming machine always available in your pocket.

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