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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For better picture and sound, check five HDMI settings: the input’s enhanced signal format, gaming options such as Game Mode and ALLM, VRR, eARC audio output, and whether the port and cable support the signal you want. Change only the options your TV and connected device support. Names and menu paths vary by TV model, software, region, and HDMI port, so identify your exact model and check its manual before changing settings.
1. Enhanced HDMI format: unlock the input’s higher-bandwidth options
A TV may need an enhanced signal setting enabled on a particular HDMI input to accept that input’s supported high-bandwidth formats. Depending on the manufacturer, it might be called Enhanced format, HDMI Deep Color, Input Signal Plus, or HDMI UHD Color. The label, available formats, and input-by-input controls vary; Sony says supported options depend on the TV model and input, and that 4K 100/120 Hz and 8K support can also depend on model, region, and country. See Sony’s HDMI picture-quality guide and its model-dependent enhanced-format guidance.
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Look for the HDMI signal-format setting associated with the port your console, player, or PC uses, then choose the format appropriate to that device and the picture signal you want. Menu examples in Tom’s Guide’s cross-brand overview can help you recognize alternate names, but use your TV’s manual for the actual route.
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Enhanced is not automatically the right choice for every device. Sony warns that some combinations may not output picture or sound correctly; if that happens, set that input back to Standard and test again. A wider signal format can expose features, but it can also reduce compatibility with a connected device or setup.
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2. Game Mode and ALLM: reduce gaming delay when supported
If you play on a console or PC, check whether the TV offers a gaming picture mode—sometimes named Game Mode or Game Optimizer—and whether it supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). These are gaming options, not a general improvement for films or TV shows. The exact controls and whether they are available can depend on the TV, the HDMI input, and the source device.
Sony’s BRAVIA gaming quick guide recommends using the appropriate enhanced format and setting the console for gaming, while noting that the relevant capabilities depend on the TV and port. Follow the TV and console manuals rather than assuming one menu path works across brands.
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3. VRR: use it for compatible games, not ordinary video
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) synchronizes the display’s refresh behavior with a compatible game source to address stuttering or image tearing. It is a gaming feature, not a setting you need for ordinary movie or TV viewing. Enable it only when the TV, the HDMI port, the connected source, and the game support it.
LG’s VRR and G-Sync instructions describe the feature as a gaming synchronization option and warn that support varies by TV model and graphics card. The page’s example is for WebOS 22: it requires an HDMI connection and Screen Mode set to Game Optimizer, and LG notes that steps may differ by product. Check your own TV’s instructions before looking for those controls.
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4. eARC and audio output: route sound to a connected soundbar or receiver
If you use a soundbar or receiver, connect it to the TV’s HDMI port marked ARC or eARC, then check that the TV’s audio output is directed to the external device. The relevant connection and available audio options depend on the TV and audio equipment. Consult both manuals for the correct port, menu labels, and supported audio formats; there is no single menu path or format setting that applies to every setup.
If you use only the TV’s built-in speakers, this is not a setting you need to change for external audio return.
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5. HDMI port and cable: match bandwidth to the signal you want
A high-refresh or high-resolution signal needs support from every link in the chain: the TV’s HDMI port, the source device, the selected signal format, and the cable. A cable upgrade will not make an unsupported TV port or source deliver a format it cannot output.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFor its 4K 100/120 Hz and 8K examples, Sony says an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable supporting 48 Gbps is required. For the cited high-quality 4K use, it specifies a Premium High Speed HDMI cable supporting 18 Gbps. These are requirements for the stated examples, not a reason for every viewer to replace a working cable. Check the specifications of your TV, source, port, and existing cable first; Sony’s HDMI guide gives the model- and signal-specific details.
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Why won’t my TV show 4K at 120 Hz?
Check the whole signal path rather than changing the cable first. Confirm that the TV model and selected HDMI port support the target format, that the source is configured to output it, and that the input’s enhanced format is enabled if required. Then verify that the cable meets the bandwidth requirement for that signal. Sony’s guide specifies a 48 Gbps Ultra High Speed cable for its 4K 100/120 Hz and 8K examples, but the exact capabilities of your TV and port remain model-dependent.
Quick Recap
How to approach the changes without losing a working setup
- Identify the equipment. Find the TV’s exact model and note which HDMI input the device uses. Check the TV and connected-device manuals for the capabilities of that specific port.
- Match the goal to the feature. For high-bandwidth picture formats, check the input’s enhanced signal format. For gaming, check Game Mode or ALLM and VRR where supported. For external audio, check the ARC/eARC connection and audio-output selection.
- Change one relevant setting at a time. Test the picture or sound after each change so you can identify a compatibility problem rather than altering unrelated inputs.
- Restore compatibility if needed. If picture or sound fails after enabling an enhanced format, return that input to Standard, as Sony advises for incompatible setups, and consult the manuals for the TV and source.
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