A few of the new iPhone 13 models support 120Hz refresh rates in a feature Apple calls ProMotion. This variable refresh rate can result in a smoother, more responsive feeling when using the phone. However, you might find that buttery feeling a little odd, or perhaps you’re worried about battery usage. Fear not, for there’s an easy way to turn off the 120Hz refresh rate.
How to disable iPhone 13 120Hz
To turn off the 120Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 13, you’ll need to toggle the Limit Frame Rate setting. First, head into Settings. Under Accessibility, you’ll find an option for Motion. Tap it, then at the bottom of the menu, select the toggle for Limit Frame Rate. This will effectively disable the device’s 120Hz refresh rate.
If you think you may switch the feature on and off frequently, there is a faster method. You can simply type “Limit Frame Rate” into the iOS Search menu. When the limiter is on, 120Hz is disabled. Turn it off, and 120Hz will be enabled.
It’s worth mentioning that these features are only available on the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 13 Pro Max. The non-professional iPhone 13 variants don’t feature a ProMotion compatible display, thus there’s no need to use the frame rate limiter.
Toward that notion, it’s also worth mentioning that the ProMotion feature technically varies the refresh rate, from 10Hz up to 120Hz. Limiting the frame rate may not necessarily disable ProMotion itself — though it will at least cap its upper limit. Assuming it’s always running, the frame limiter shouldn’t have much of an effect on iOS 15 battery life.
If you want to turn off iPhone 13 120Hz refresh rate for any reason, simply use the Limit Frame Rate option. This toggle will set the device’s upper limit to 60 frames per second. It’s a simple fix for a simple job. Thankfully, that’s also the case for fixing the awkward new address bar in iOS 15 Safari.
