If PS5 graphics look blurry or shimmer after you change an upscaling option, first check that the console is sending the resolution and refresh-rate signal you expect. Then isolate signal features such as Video Transfer Rate, 120 Hz and VRR before changing game-specific graphics settings. Change one thing at a time and compare the same scene; a stable console signal with artifacts limited to one game points toward that game’s rendering settings, not a universal PS5 fix.
How to fix blurry or shimmering graphics after enabling PS5 upscaling
- Record the current output. On the PS5, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and inspect Current Video Output Signal. Note the resolution and whether VRR and HDR are reported. With Resolution set to Automatic, the console selects the highest resolution the connected TV supports, according to Sony’s resolution support guidance.
- Check the display’s supported mode. For 4K, Sony specifies a compatible 4K screen and a 2160p output selection. For a compatible 1440p display, run Test 1440p Output and select 1440p if that is the mode you want to evaluate. If the reported output is unexpectedly low, check the display’s supported modes, firmware and HDMI port before blaming the game’s upscaler.
- Compare the same scene carefully. Keep the game, scene, viewing distance, camera movement and display mode consistent. Change only one setting between comparisons so you can tell whether the picture changes with the console signal or a game option.
A useful first distinction is whether the symptom looks like an unstable output signal—flicker, blanking or changes when a signal setting changes—or whether softness and temporal shimmer appear only in one game’s rendering. The console’s reported output can help establish whether the signal is as expected, but it cannot by itself identify which game setting caused an artifact.
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Does Video Transfer Rate help with flicker or shimmer?
Sony’s resolution guidance says: “If you experience flickering on the screen, try selecting -1 or -2 to limit output. This may improve picture quality.” Treat Video Transfer Rate: -1 as a reversible test for flickering or unstable high-bandwidth output, not a guaranteed fix for temporal artifacts generated by a game’s upscaler. If -1 does not help, compare -2 separately; restore Automatic if neither improves the picture or the mode limits are undesirable.
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| Setting | Documented output limits |
|---|---|
| -1 | Limits 4K 120 Hz and 4K 50/60 Hz RGB/YUV444 Deep Color. At 4K HDR 50/60 Hz, YUV422 or YUV420 is used. |
| -2 | Limits 4K 120 Hz and 4K 50/60 Hz RGB/YUV444. At 4K 50/60 Hz, YUV420 is used. |
These trade-offs can change available output modes and color formats. If an image only shimmers while a particular game’s camera moves, and changing the transfer rate does not change it, do not assume that lowering the signal rate will solve the game’s rendering behavior.
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Isolate 120 Hz and VRR if the problem is mode-specific
Test 120 Hz Output
If the issue occurs only in a game or mode using 120 Hz, temporarily turn off 120 Hz Output and compare the same scene. Sony advises turning this setting off if those games have video output problems on a monitor or other display device. If the symptom does not change, restore the setting you normally use.
Test VRR separately
If unexpected behavior occurs with VRR, turn off Apply to Unsupported Games and retest. Sony presents this as an optional setting and advises disabling it when unexpected gameplay behavior occurs. VRR compatibility and behavior vary by display and game, so use this only to isolate the cause—not as a promise that VRR-off will remove blurry pixels or shimmering. Sony’s feature overview describes that variation at PS5 features: enhanced visuals and audio.
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Check whether your PS5 supports the PSSR image-quality option
Sony documents Enhance PSSR Image Quality for the CFI-7000 model group, not every PS5. On a supported console, find it at Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance PSSR Image Quality. It is on by default and applies to certain compatible games. If the problem began after changing this option, turn it off temporarily and compare in a supported game. If the setting is absent, do not treat that as a fault: it is not documented for all PS5 models.
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Flicker, blanking or an unexpectedly reduced resolution can come from the signal path as well as the console’s selected mode. Work through these checks before buying anything:
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- Make sure the HDMI plugs are secure at both the console and display.
- Try an appropriate HDMI port on the display and check whether its manufacturer requires a setting for high-resolution or high-refresh-rate input.
- Temporarily connect the PS5 directly to the screen, bypassing a receiver, sound bar, capture device or other intermediary.
- Check for current display firmware.
- If possible, compare with another suitable cable. Sony recommends the HDMI cable included with the PS5; its 4K 120 Hz guidance names an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for that output as an alternative.
A cable change is a signal-path check, not a universal graphics-quality fix. Sony’s picture and sound troubleshooting steps are at PlayStation Support’s PS5 picture and sound guide. If resolution problems persist after checking the settings and connection, Sony directs players to PlayStation Repairs.
When the problem is probably specific to a game
If the PS5 reports the expected output and the softness, aliasing or moving-edge shimmer appears only in one title—or began after changing that title’s graphics mode—the next step is to identify the game’s own options. Upscaling and graphics modes are game-specific; Sony’s console output guidance does not establish one setting that fixes every game’s rendering. Check the title’s available quality, performance, resolution or upscaling choices, and compare them in the same scene. A specific recommendation needs the game title and the modes it offers.
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Should you try 1440p?
1440p can be a useful comparison for edge quality if your TV or monitor supports it. Sony says a game with a higher native resolution, such as 4K, may benefit from improved anti-aliasing when supersampled to 1440p output. This is not a general cure for a soft image or shimmer: the result depends on the game and display. Use the PS5’s Test 1440p Output flow before comparing it with your usual resolution.
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