The gaming experience on a smartphone can be incredible, but over time or if our device is not the latest generation, it is common for problems to appear. performance: lags, unexpected shutdowns, or slow performance. While we'd all like to always have the most advanced phone model, with a powerful processor, generous RAM, and ultra-fast storage, the truth is that most of us have to make do with what we have. However, there are specific tips and tricks that can help you. speed up games on your Android phone and make the most of their capabilities.
There are no miracles, and if your phone is especially old, you'll notice insurmountable limits. But if your smartphone is a few years old, you can get a noticeable improvement in gaming performance following the appropriate recommendations. Let's go over in detail the best tricks, settings, and apps to improve the fluidity and speed of Android games.
Effective tricks to improve game performance on Android
Close background applications and processes
One of the main enemies of performance in Android games is the lack of free RAM. Background apps consume resources essential resources, such as RAM and sometimes part of the processor. Limiting these processes helps the system dedicate all available power to the game you're running.
To close all background apps, use the Android app switcher (the recent apps view) and swipe to close each one. If your device allows it, use native features like "Close All" or "Clean RAM." You can also use apps like Advanced Task Killer, which automatically eliminates unnecessary processes and frees up memory more efficiently than the standard system, allowing your game to use the maximum amount of resources.
Additional tip: Some apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram continue to run in the background, even when they're not open. Disable auto-launch for heavy apps in your settings or stop them manually before launching your favorite game.
Remove the case from the device before playing
During gaming sessions, it's common for your phone to heat up. This heat impacts performance because modern processors include thermal protection mechanisms: they reduce their speed to prevent overheating. Cases, especially those made of plastic, silicone, or thick materials, hinder heat dissipation. Remove the cover improves natural ventilation and allows the phone to maintain peak performance for longer without thermal throttling.
Don't be fooled by apps that promise to cool your phone: the best way to reduce the temperature is to allow the heat to dissipate by removing the case and avoiding gaming in hot environments.
Free up storage space
Full storage not only prevents you from installing new games, but it also reduces the overall speed of your device. Android systems use some of the free storage for caches and temporary files; if this space is insufficient, the entire system (including games) becomes slower. Delete files, apps, or photos you don't use and keep at least 15-20% free storage.
One of the best tools to free up space is Google files, which identifies large files, duplicates, and remnants of uninstalled apps. Keeping your storage clear allows for faster data loading, shorter wait times, and a lower risk of crashes in demanding games.
Uninstall or disable heavy and unnecessary applications
Many pre-installed apps (known as bloatware) or apps you rarely use can overload your system, taking up memory and storage. Uninstall or, if not possible, disable all unused apps so your device can spend less resources on secondary tasks and more on smooth game play.
You can do this from Settings > Apps, reviewing them one by one to avoid deleting apps essential to the system. A phone with less bloatware will always offer greater responsiveness in games.
Activate Do Not Disturb mode and optimize network settings
Frequent notifications (calls, messages, social media alerts) can interrupt gameplay and also cause performance drops if the system is multitasking. Enable the do not disturb mode before playing to eliminate distractions and free up even more resources. Also, make sure your Wi-Fi connection is stable; play near your router or use a less congested bandwidth to minimize lag spikes in online games.
Update the operating system and drivers
System updates and security patches not only add new features, they also fix bugs and optimize hardware efficiency, especially in components like the GPU and CPU. Installing all available updates can make a noticeable difference, especially on devices from previous years.
Check Settings > System Update and always apply the latest patches available for your model. Don't forget to check for game-specific updates, as developers frequently release patches that improve compatibility and graphics performance.
Apps to speed up games on your Android phone
In addition to the basic tricks, there are specialized apps that allow you to automatically optimize your phone's settings and get the most out of your gaming performance. These apps modify advanced RAM, CPU, GPU, and network settings to prioritize game execution. Let's take a look at the best ones.
Gamers GLTool: Advanced and custom optimization for games
GLTool Gamers It's the most comprehensive app for those looking for deep, customizable optimization. Unlike other Play Store apps that promise miracles, Gamers GLTool actually implements tangible improvements in the performance of Android games.
This application automatically identifies the Processor model, GPU, and amount of RAM in your smartphone, and offers specific settings to maximize performance based on the actual capabilities of the hardware.
Among its most notable features we find:
- Automatic hardware detection and real-time custom settings.
- Advanced RAM and Processor Modifications to focus power where it is most needed.
- Network and graphics system optimization, improving loading speed, fluidity and reducing lag.
- Simple interface so any user can make adjustments without advanced technical knowledge.
It's important to know that when you push the phone to its limit, it may become hotter than usual. Therefore, it's recommended to remove the case and play in cool environments to avoid overheating.
Gamers GLTool Main Settings
- Auto Gaming Mode: Automatically adjusts phone capabilities to adapt to the best possible CPU, GPU, and RAM performance.
- GameTurbo: It allows the use of all processor cores, eliminates background processes, and improves the device's raw power. It also detects if any applications are interfering with the system.
- Game Tuner: Here you can customize the graphics resolution, FPS, rendering method, shadow usage, and image quality (MSAA), all based on the available hardware and game type.
- Other Gaming Settings: Additional Wi-Fi, display, and night mode configuration options to adapt your phone to the gaming environment.
Gamers GLTool Premium Features
For a small fee, you can unlock additional features that make all the difference in online games and demanding titles:
- Ping Reduction with Google DNS, improving connection stability in multiplayer games.
- Ping test to find the fastest server available for your connection.
- Zero-Lag Mode, which adjusts game parameters to minimize lag and stuttering.
- Advanced configurator to run powerful games even on smartphones with modest hardware.
These options make Gamers GLTool the most versatile tool for maximize the performance of any game on Android.
How to use Gamers GLTool correctly
Once installed and your preferred settings configured for each game, you can create a shortcut on desktop or place your games in the app's dashboard. This way, you can simply open Gamers GLTool before each game to automatically apply all the settings and ensure your phone is using its full potential during your gaming session.
Other recommended apps to speed up games on Android
There are more options on Google Play that can help speed up your games, although most work by freeing up memory and closing background processes:
- Advanced Task Killer: Automatically kills active processes and frees up memory, ideal for users looking for a simple and effective app.
- Auto Gaming Mode: Adds a configurable game mode across many devices, automatically adapting RAM, CPU, and GPU to the game's needs without overtaxing the hardware.
- Game Booster: Another alternative that optimizes processes, closes apps, and improves fluidity, although it typically offers less customization than Gamer GLTool.
Remember that while these apps improve performance, the key is to free up resources and prevent other apps from competing with your game for RAM and computing power.
Advanced Settings: Get the Most Out of Your Android Hardware
Beyond using apps, there are several advanced settings that can take your gaming experience to the next level:
- Reduce system animations: Go to Developer Options and set the animation scale to 0.5x or disable it. This speeds up transitions and makes the interface more responsive.
- Turn off automatic sync: Prevents system resource consumption by synchronizing cloud accounts and services in the background.
- Use Power Saving mode only when necessary: This mode reduces CPU and GPU performance, so please disable it before playing.
- Restart your device before a long gaming session: This way you can ensure you start with the most resources available.
If your phone has native features like Game Space, Game Launcher or similar, activate them so that the system itself optimizes resources automatically.
Common mistakes when trying to speed up games on an Android phone
Many users make the mistake of overloading their phones with miracle apps or tips that don't actually work. Some examples to avoid:
- Install multiple booster apps at once: They tend to interfere with each other and will end up slowing down the system even more.
- Clear Excess RAMAndroid manages RAM efficiently; forcing it to clear continuously can affect system stability and overall performance.
- Use software cooling applications: These types of apps can't actually reduce the hardware temperature; cooling the device is only possible by improving physical ventilation.
- Reducing the graphic quality too much: Lowering it to the minimum can make the game smoother, but it can also negatively affect the experience if the hardware supports higher settings.
Improving gaming performance on Android is possible without having to buy a new device. Through efficient resource management, proper system settings, responsible use of specialized apps, and proper device ventilation, you can enjoy a much smoother and more stable gaming experience, even on devices that are no longer the latest on the market. Try these tips and customize your phone so that every time you play is an optimal experience, getting the most out of your current Android smartphone.
