If you have an iPhone with a 120Hz ProMotion display, Safari should feel noticeably smoother when scrolling and swiping. If it still looks like 60Hz, it’s usually because a system setting (or Low Power Mode) is limiting refresh rate. Follow the steps below to enable the highest refresh rate Safari can use on your device.

1) Confirm your iPhone supports 120Hz (ProMotion)

120Hz in Safari is only possible on iPhones that include ProMotion. If your iPhone doesn’t support it, no setting will unlock 120Hz.

  • ProMotion models: typically “Pro” iPhones with ProMotion displays.
  • If you’re unsure, check your exact model in Settings > General > About, then verify whether that model includes ProMotion.

2) Turn off Low Power Mode (most common reason)

Low Power Mode often reduces performance and can cap refresh rate to save battery, which makes Safari feel less fluid.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Battery.
  3. Toggle Low Power Mode Off.

Tip: If your battery drops and you re-enable Low Power Mode later, Safari may return to a lower refresh rate.

3) Check the “Limit Frame Rate” (or similar) display setting

iOS includes an accessibility/display control that can intentionally limit the maximum frame rate. The wording can vary by iOS version, but it’s commonly labeled as Limit Frame Rate.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Accessibility.
  3. Tap Motion.
  4. If you see Limit Frame Rate, set it to Off.

4) Ensure you’re not forcing a low-power display behavior

Some display-related settings can affect how aggressively iOS manages refresh rate.

  • Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and review any options that may prioritize power saving.
  • Keep Auto-Brightness on if you want iOS to manage brightness efficiently, but note it shouldn’t normally lock you to 60Hz by itself.

5) Update iOS and restart (quick reliability fixes)

If settings look correct but Safari still feels stuck at 60Hz, a software issue or background state can be the cause.

  1. Update iOS: Settings > General > Software Update.
  2. Restart your iPhone after updating (or even before) to clear any stuck processes.

6) Verify Safari is actually running at a higher refresh rate

iOS dynamically changes refresh rate based on what’s on screen. That means Safari may not stay at 120Hz constantly—static pages can drop lower. To test properly:

  • Try scrolling quickly on a long webpage (news article, long forum thread).
  • Compare with Low Power Mode turned on vs. off; the difference is usually easy to feel.
  • If you use third-party frame-rate test tools or developer overlays, remember that iOS can adaptively vary the refresh rate, so results may fluctuate.

Troubleshooting: Safari still feels like 60Hz

  • Battery is low: Even without Low Power Mode, iOS may behave more conservatively at very low charge.
  • Thermal throttling: If the phone is hot (charging, heavy apps in background), performance can dip.
  • Content limitations: Certain pages (heavy scripts, embedded video, complex animations) can stutter due to CPU/GPU load rather than refresh rate settings.
  • Reduce Motion: This setting changes animations and transitions; it usually doesn’t cap refresh rate, but it can change perceived smoothness. Check Settings > Accessibility > Motion.

Summary

To get the smoothest Safari experience on a ProMotion iPhone, ensure Low Power Mode is off, disable any frame-rate limiting accessibility option, keep iOS updated, and remember that iOS uses an adaptive refresh rate—so 120Hz is used most noticeably during fast scrolling and interaction.