Safari browsing with ProMotion: Initially deactivated on iPhone, Mac & Co.
More expensive Apple devices have supported higher refresh rates for years. However, in Safari, they are deactivated by default. The switch is simple.
ProMotion: Feature Flag in Safari on Mac.
Even if you have a device that allows a refresh rate of 120 Hertz, this display mode is initially deactivated in Apple's standard browser, Safari. This affects devices like the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, or iPhone Pro from recent years. Those who want to surf with a higher refresh rate, which can have advantages, must first activate it inconveniently. This is done via the so-called web developer functions in the settings, as designer Matt Birchler demonstrates in his blog.
A bit smoother with 120 Hertz
This works in Safari 26 on the Mac (from macOS 14 Sonoma) as well as on mobile devices. There, so-called feature flags must be activated, which set the preference for 60 instead of up to 120 Hertz. Websites should then be rendered accordingly, which can have positive effects on animations and scrolling effects, for example, as it looks even smoother. However, there are also people who do not see the difference at first glance.
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It is unclear why Apple has deactivated 120 Hertz in the browser by default; other web tools use the higher refresh rate. Apparently, the manufacturer fears compatibility problems and display errors. If these should unexpectedly occur, you can simply deactivate the function again.
Activate 120fps mode
To activate the function on the iPhone under iOS 26, first go to Safari settings (via system settings and apps). Then go to “Advanced” and “Feature Flags.” Here, “Prefer Pages Rendering Updates near 60fps” is deactivated, which starts the 120fps mode.
On the iPad, the setting is similar; on the Mac, it's a bit different. Here, under “Advanced,” you first activate the web developer functions (checkbox at the very bottom) and then find a new menu called “Feature Flags” in the settings. Here you search for 60fps – the same text as on the iPhone. This is unchecked – done. To deactivate the 120 fps mode, uncheck this area again. It may be advisable to restart the browser after the change.
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