How to Deactivate Game Turbo on Xiaomi Devices: A Comprehensive Guide
Xiaomi’s Game Turbo is a feature designed to enhance the gaming experience on its devices. It optimizes system performance, reduces distractions, and provides various in-game tools. While many users appreciate these benefits, some may find Game Turbo intrusive, resource-intensive, or simply unnecessary for their gaming habits. If you’re among those who prefer a more vanilla Android experience or are experiencing issues with Game Turbo, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to deactivate it effectively.
Understanding Game Turbo
Before diving into the deactivation process, it’s crucial to understand what Game Turbo is and how it works. Game Turbo is essentially a suite of tools and optimizations that run in the background while you’re gaming. Its primary functions include:
* **Performance Optimization:** Game Turbo prioritizes system resources (CPU, GPU, and RAM) towards the game you’re playing, potentially boosting frame rates and reducing lag.
* **Network Optimization:** It optimizes the network connection to minimize latency and ensure a stable online gaming experience.
* **Call and Notification Management:** Game Turbo can block or silence incoming calls and notifications to prevent interruptions during gameplay.
* **In-Game Toolbox:** It provides a floating toolbox with quick access to features like screen recording, screenshots, and performance monitoring.
* **Touch Optimization:** Game Turbo can tweak touch sensitivity and responsiveness for a more precise and enjoyable gaming experience.
While these features are generally beneficial, they can sometimes lead to unexpected issues, such as:
* **Battery Drain:** The continuous optimization processes can consume significant battery power, especially during extended gaming sessions.
* **Performance Issues:** In some cases, Game Turbo might conflict with certain games or apps, resulting in performance degradation instead of improvement.
* **Intrusive Overlays:** The floating toolbox and other Game Turbo elements can be distracting or obstructive for some users.
* **Unwanted Call/Notification Blocking:** The call and notification management features might inadvertently block important communications.
If you’re experiencing any of these issues or simply prefer to manage your device’s performance manually, deactivating Game Turbo is a viable solution. Let’s explore the various methods you can use.
Method 1: Disabling Game Turbo from Security App Settings
This is the most straightforward and recommended method for deactivating Game Turbo. It involves navigating to the Security app settings and toggling off the Game Turbo feature directly.
**Step-by-Step Instructions:**
1. **Open the Security App:** Locate the Security app icon on your home screen or app drawer and tap to open it. The icon typically resembles a shield or a padlock.
2. **Navigate to Game Turbo:** Within the Security app, scroll down until you find the “Game Turbo” option. It might be located under a section like “Performance” or “Boost.”
3. **Access Game Turbo Settings:** Tap on the “Game Turbo” option to access its settings page. This page usually displays a list of installed games that are being optimized by Game Turbo.
4. **Disable Game Turbo (Master Switch):** Look for a master toggle switch, often labeled “Game Turbo,” “Boost speed for games,” or something similar. This switch controls the overall activation of the Game Turbo feature. Toggle this switch to the “Off” position. This will effectively disable Game Turbo for all games and applications on your device.
5. **Confirm Deactivation (If Prompted):** In some cases, the system might prompt you to confirm your decision to disable Game Turbo. If prompted, confirm that you want to proceed.
6. **Verify Deactivation:** After toggling the master switch, restart your device to ensure that the changes are applied correctly. Then, launch a game that was previously being optimized by Game Turbo. You should no longer see the floating toolbox or any other Game Turbo elements.
**Troubleshooting:**
* **Game Turbo Option Not Found:** If you can’t find the “Game Turbo” option in the Security app, it might be located in a different section or have a slightly different name depending on your MIUI version. Try searching for “Game Turbo” in the Security app’s search bar.
* **Toggle Switch Grayed Out:** If the master toggle switch is grayed out and cannot be toggled, it might be due to restrictions imposed by your device’s administrator or a third-party app. In such cases, you might need to consult with your device’s administrator or uninstall the conflicting app.
Method 2: Removing Games from Game Turbo Individually
If you don’t want to completely disable Game Turbo but rather prevent it from optimizing specific games, you can remove those games from the Game Turbo list.
**Step-by-Step Instructions:**
1. **Open the Security App:** As in Method 1, locate and open the Security app on your device.
2. **Navigate to Game Turbo:** Access the Game Turbo settings page within the Security app, as described in Method 1.
3. **Identify the Game to Remove:** On the Game Turbo settings page, you’ll see a list of installed games that are currently being optimized. Locate the game that you want to remove from Game Turbo’s optimization.
4. **Remove the Game:** There are typically two ways to remove a game from the Game Turbo list:
* **Toggle Switch (if available):** Some MIUI versions provide a toggle switch next to each game in the list. Simply toggle the switch to the “Off” position to prevent Game Turbo from optimizing that specific game.
* **Remove Button (if available):** Other MIUI versions might have a “Remove” button or an “X” icon next to each game. Tap the “Remove” button or the “X” icon to remove the game from the list.
5. **Confirm Removal (If Prompted):** If prompted, confirm that you want to remove the game from Game Turbo’s optimization.
6. **Repeat for Other Games:** Repeat steps 3-5 for any other games that you want to exclude from Game Turbo’s optimization.
7. **Verify Removal:** Launch the game that you removed from the Game Turbo list. You should no longer see the floating toolbox or any other Game Turbo elements within that game.
**Important Note:** Removing a game from the Game Turbo list only prevents Game Turbo from actively optimizing it. The Game Turbo service itself will still be running in the background. If you want to completely disable Game Turbo, you should use Method 1 instead.
Method 3: Disabling Game Turbo Notifications
Even if you disable Game Turbo, you might still receive notifications related to it. To prevent these notifications, you can disable them through the system settings.
**Step-by-Step Instructions:**
1. **Open the Settings App:** Locate the Settings app icon on your home screen or app drawer and tap to open it.
2. **Navigate to Notifications:** Within the Settings app, find and tap on the “Notifications” option. The exact wording might vary slightly depending on your MIUI version (e.g., “Notifications & Control Center”).
3. **Find the Security App:** In the Notifications settings, you’ll see a list of installed apps. Scroll down until you find the “Security” app.
4. **Manage Security App Notifications:** Tap on the “Security” app to manage its notification settings.
5. **Disable Game Turbo Notifications:** Look for options related to Game Turbo notifications. These options might be labeled as “Game Turbo,” “Game Speed Booster,” or something similar. Disable these notifications by toggling the corresponding switch to the “Off” position.
6. **Fine-Tune Other Security App Notifications (Optional):** While you’re in the Security app’s notification settings, you can also fine-tune other notification options, such as disabling promotional notifications or security alerts that you find unnecessary.
7. **Verify Notification Disablement:** After disabling Game Turbo notifications, you should no longer receive any notifications related to Game Turbo. However, you might still receive other notifications from the Security app, depending on your settings.
Method 4: Using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to Disable Game Turbo (Advanced)
This method is more advanced and requires the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a command-line tool that allows you to communicate with your Android device from a computer. This method is generally used when other methods fail or when you want more granular control over system services.
**Warning:** Using ADB incorrectly can potentially damage your device. Proceed with caution and follow the instructions carefully.
**Prerequisites:**
* **ADB Installed on Your Computer:** You need to have ADB installed on your computer. You can download the ADB platform tools from the official Android Developers website.
* **USB Debugging Enabled on Your Device:** You need to enable USB debugging in your device’s developer options. To do this:
1. Go to Settings > About phone.
2. Tap on “MIUI version” (or “Build number”) repeatedly (usually 7 times) until you see a message saying “You are now a developer!”.
3. Go back to Settings and find “Developer options” (it might be under “Additional settings”).
4. Enable “USB debugging”. You might also need to enable “USB debugging (Security settings)” and “Install via USB”.
* **USB Cable:** You need a USB cable to connect your device to your computer.
**Step-by-Step Instructions:**
1. **Connect Your Device to Your Computer:** Connect your Android device to your computer using the USB cable.
2. **Open a Command Prompt or Terminal:** Open a command prompt (on Windows) or a terminal (on macOS or Linux) on your computer.
3. **Verify ADB Connection:** Type the following command and press Enter:
`adb devices`
If your device is properly connected, you should see it listed in the output. If not, make sure you have the correct USB drivers installed and that USB debugging is enabled on your device.
4. **Identify the Game Turbo Package Name:** You need to identify the package name of the Game Turbo app. You can use a package name viewer app from the Google Play Store to find this. Alternatively, you can try the following command:
`adb shell pm list packages | grep game`
This command will list all installed packages that contain the word “game”. Look for a package name that seems related to Game Turbo. Common package names include `com.xiaomi.gamebooster` or `com.miui.gamebooster`.
5. **Disable the Game Turbo Package:** Once you have identified the package name, use the following command to disable the package (replace `com.xiaomi.gamebooster` with the actual package name):
`adb shell pm disable-user –user 0 com.xiaomi.gamebooster`
This command disables the Game Turbo package for the current user (user 0). This effectively prevents the app from running.
6. **Verify Deactivation:** Restart your device and check if Game Turbo is still active. You should no longer see the floating toolbox or any other Game Turbo elements.
7. **Re-enable Game Turbo (If Needed):** If you want to re-enable Game Turbo in the future, use the following command:
`adb shell pm enable com.xiaomi.gamebooster` (replace `com.xiaomi.gamebooster` with the actual package name)
**Troubleshooting:**
* **”adb” is not recognized as an internal or external command:** This means that ADB is not properly installed or that the ADB directory is not added to your system’s PATH environment variable. Make sure you have installed ADB correctly and that the ADB directory is added to your PATH.
* **Device not found:** This means that your device is not properly connected to your computer or that USB debugging is not enabled. Make sure that your device is connected to your computer using a USB cable, that USB debugging is enabled in developer options, and that you have the correct USB drivers installed.
* **Permission denied:** This means that you don’t have the necessary permissions to execute the ADB command. Make sure that you have enabled USB debugging and that you have granted ADB access to your device.
Method 5: Using Third-Party Apps to Disable Game Turbo (Not Recommended)
There are some third-party apps available on the Google Play Store that claim to disable or manage Game Turbo. However, using these apps is generally not recommended for the following reasons:
* **Security Risks:** Many of these apps require root access or access to sensitive system settings, which can pose a security risk to your device.
* **Instability:** These apps might not be compatible with your MIUI version or device model, which can lead to instability and crashes.
* **Limited Effectiveness:** Some of these apps might not actually disable Game Turbo completely or might only provide limited functionality.
* **Potential for Malware:** Some third-party apps might contain malware or adware, which can compromise your device’s security and privacy.
Therefore, it’s generally best to avoid using third-party apps to disable Game Turbo and stick to the official methods described above.
Which Method is Right for You?
The best method for deactivating Game Turbo depends on your specific needs and technical expertise:
* **For most users:** Method 1 (disabling Game Turbo from Security app settings) is the easiest and most recommended option.
* **If you only want to disable Game Turbo for specific games:** Method 2 (removing games from Game Turbo individually) is a good choice.
* **If you want to prevent Game Turbo notifications:** Method 3 (disabling Game Turbo notifications) is the way to go.
* **For advanced users who are comfortable with ADB:** Method 4 (using ADB to disable Game Turbo) provides more granular control.
* **Avoid using Method 5** (third-party apps) unless you are absolutely sure of the app’s safety and reliability.
Alternatives to Disabling Game Turbo
Instead of completely disabling Game Turbo, you might consider adjusting its settings to better suit your needs. For example, you can:
* **Customize the Game Turbo toolbox:** You can choose which tools and features are displayed in the floating toolbox.
* **Adjust performance settings:** You can choose between different performance profiles (e.g., Balanced, High Performance) to optimize battery life or performance.
* **Manage call and notification settings:** You can customize which calls and notifications are blocked or silenced during gameplay.
By carefully configuring Game Turbo, you might be able to enjoy its benefits without experiencing the issues that led you to consider disabling it in the first place.
Conclusion
Deactivating Game Turbo on Xiaomi devices is a relatively straightforward process, with several methods available to suit different needs and technical skill levels. Whether you choose to disable it entirely, remove specific games from its optimization, or simply disable its notifications, this guide provides the detailed steps and instructions you need to regain control over your gaming experience. Remember to proceed with caution when using advanced methods like ADB and to avoid using untrusted third-party apps. By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage Game Turbo and optimize your device’s performance according to your preferences.