For most setups, leave PS5 resolution and Video Transfer Rate on Automatic, set HDR to On When Supported, and enable 120 Hz or VRR only if both your display and the game support them. These settings control different parts of the picture and signal; no single toggle can make an incompatible TV or game output a feature it does not support.
Set the PS5’s resolution
- Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Check Current Video Output Signal to see what the connected HDMI device reports.
- Leave Resolution on Automatic for a typical setup. PlayStation says the console detects the TV’s capabilities and selects the best available resolution. Choose 2160p when you specifically want 4K and the connected screen supports it. A PS5’s 4K capability alone does not guarantee 4K output. PlayStation Support: How to change PS5 console resolution.
If your display supports 1440p, use Test 1440p Output in the resolution settings. The test checks SDR and HDR at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, as well as VRR; rely on the result for your particular display rather than assuming every mode works.
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Enable and calibrate HDR
- Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and set HDR to On When Supported if your display supports HDR. HDR-compatible games and apps can then use HDR, while non-HDR content remains SDR.
- Choose Always On only if you want the console to convert non-HDR content to HDR output as well. It changes the output treatment of SDR content; it is not a universal picture-quality improvement.
- Select Adjust HDR and follow the on-screen calibration prompts for your display. Use the console’s instructions rather than a universal numeric setting: calibration depends on the screen. PlayStation’s guidance is at How to enable HDR on a PS5 console.
Choose performance features your display and games support
These options serve different purposes: resolution affects output detail, HDR affects dynamic range, and refresh-rate features affect how the display presents motion or handles timing. They require compatible hardware and, in some cases, compatible games; enabling them does not force a game to render at a higher frame rate.
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| 120 Hz Output | Enables 120 Hz video output for compatible games and displays. | Turn it on if your display and the game support 120 Hz. |
| VRR | Lets the display’s refresh rate adjust in real time for supported combinations; results vary by TV. | Enable it when both the screen and game support VRR. |
| ALLM | Allows a supported TV to switch to a low-latency mode while gaming. | Leave its default or automatic behavior in place if supported. The PS5 does not send the ALLM signal while a media app is running. VRR output can keep low-latency behavior active even when ALLM is Off; to fully turn ALLM off, VRR must also be Off. |
Find these options under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Feature availability depends on the display’s capabilities and the HDMI port in use, not just the TV’s general product description. PlayStation’s notes on PS5 resolution cover supported output modes.
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Keep Video Transfer Rate on Automatic unless troubleshooting
Video Transfer Rate is an output-signal troubleshooting control, not a picture-enhancement setting. Leave it on Automatic unless you are diagnosing flicker or signal instability. PlayStation suggests trying -1 or -2 to limit the signal if needed. The compromise is reduced format availability: at -1, 4K HDR at 50/60 Hz uses YUV422 or YUV420; at -2, 4K at 50/60 Hz uses YUV420. These settings also limit some 4K modes, including 4K/120 Hz. Return to Automatic once the issue is resolved if you need the fullest output capability. Details are in PlayStation’s resolution and video-output guidance.
Fix missing 4K/120 Hz output
If the console reports 1080p/120 Hz instead of 4K/120 Hz, or the picture goes blank, check the signal path in order. A device’s HDMI 2.1 branding alone does not establish that every port supports 4K/120 Hz or other features; PlayStation advises checking the display manual and the specific port.
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- Confirm that the display itself supports 4K/120 Hz, and update its firmware.
- Connect the PS5 to the TV’s HDMI input that supports the required feature. If a receiver or another intermediary is in the path, connect the console directly to the TV to check whether that device is limiting the signal.
- In Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p, and Video Transfer Rate to Automatic.
- Check the HDMI cable. PlayStation recommends the cable supplied with the PS5 or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz. A replacement is only relevant if the supplied cable is unavailable or the cable in use is unsuitable; buying another cable is not necessary when the supplied one works.
PlayStation says PS5 supports HDMI 2.1 specification and 4K/120 Hz output, while noting that 4K/120 Hz can encounter issues during the technology transition. See PlayStation’s 4K resolution guidance for its checks.
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Leave RGB Range alone unless you know it is wrong
Do not change RGB Range as a generic way to improve contrast or colour. PlayStation recommends changing it only when the HDMI device does not correctly send RGB range information. If the image is cropped or has a black border, use Settings > Screen and Video > Screen > Adjust Display Area instead.
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Check the whole signal path, not just the console
Before changing multiple settings, identify what the display and each device in the HDMI path actually support: 4K resolution, HDR, 120 Hz, VRR and ALLM. A receiver, adapter or selected TV input can affect which features reach the screen. PlayStation notes that image quality depends on the home entertainment setup, and its resolution guide describes additional model-specific options, including 8K and PSSR-related features for CFI-7000 models. Those options are not available on every PS5. Sony says 8K output requires an 8K/60 Hz screen with Display Stream Compression, and VRR is disabled during 8K output.
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