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How to Fix PS5 Pro Upscaling Problems Like Blur or Flicker

A practical PS5 Pro troubleshooting sequence for blurry, flickering or shimmering images: isolate the game, compare PSSR settings, check the HDMI path and escalate persistent issues.
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If a PS5 Pro game looks blurry, flickers, shimmers, or loses fine detail, first check whether the effect is limited to one game or mode. Then compare that same scene with Enhance PSSR Image Quality turned off. If the problem appears across games or the console interface—especially with blanking or a wrong resolution—check the TV and HDMI signal path instead. PSSR results vary by title, so one setting is not a universal fix.

First determine whether the problem is game-specific

Before changing settings, note the affected game and its selected graphics mode. Check whether the blur or flicker appears only during motion, whether it is visible in a still scene, and whether other games or the PS5 interface show it too. This comparison helps distinguish an artifact in a particular game’s rendering from a broader display-output problem; it is a practical diagnostic approach, not a Sony-published test protocol.

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  • One game or mode only: suspect a title-specific rendering path or PSSR implementation. Tell the game’s publisher which title, mode, scene and settings reproduce the issue.
  • Several games or the console interface: investigate the TV, HDMI connection and selected output mode.
  • Blanking, intermittent signal or wrong resolution: prioritize the display-chain checks below rather than treating it as a PSSR artifact.

Update the game and check whether it uses PSSR

Install available PS5 system software and game updates. Then check whether the affected title and selected game mode use PSSR; a game’s patch or mode can determine its rendering path. The console-wide image-quality option does not necessarily override a game’s implementation.

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Sony announced an upgraded PSSR on February 27, 2026, and said broader system-software support began rolling out March 16, 2026. The company says users can apply the enhanced option to PSSR-supported PS5 Pro games, but results vary by title. Its announcement reported that PSSR had been used in over 50 PS5 Pro titles at the time; that dated company-reported count does not mean every title uses the upgraded method. Sony’s February 27 announcement and March 16 update details describe the rollout and supported-title qualification.

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Compare the PSSR image-quality setting

  1. On the PS5 Pro, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
  2. Select Enhance PSSR Image Quality and note its current state.
  3. In the affected game’s same mode and scene, compare the image with the option on and off. Change only this setting between comparisons.
  4. Keep the setting that looks better in that game, or restore the original state if switching it off does not help.

Sony says this option is on by default and available only on consoles in the CFI-7000 model group. Sony also advises that users can turn it off if unexpected visual effects appear. The upgraded method may improve stability and fine detail in supported implementations, but it cannot guarantee a fix across every game. Developers cited improvements in specific implementations: Remedy’s Tatu Aalto discussed image quality, stability and clearer motion in Control and Alan Wake 2; Square Enix’s Naoki Hamaguchi described more stable processing and less flickering or afterimage perception in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Those are developer statements about particular games, not independent comparative tests or universal guarantees. See Sony’s upgraded PSSR announcement and its PS5 resolution guide.

Check the TV and HDMI path for signal problems

Use these checks when the image blanks, the resolution is wrong, the signal cuts in and out, or a problem occurs at 4K/120 Hz. They address output compatibility, not reconstruction artifacts confined to one game’s PSSR rendering.

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  • Confirm that the TV supports the resolution and refresh rate you want, and install available TV firmware updates.
  • Connect the PS5 directly to the TV’s appropriate HDMI port rather than routing it through another device during diagnosis.
  • Check the console’s resolution and video transfer-rate settings against the TV and port’s capabilities.
  • Use the HDMI cable included with the PS5, as Sony suggests, or—if needed for 4K/120 Hz—an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for that mode. Check the display’s capability and port before changing cables; a cable is a compatibility check, not an image-quality enhancement accessory.

Sony notes that 4K/120 Hz support is not uniform across displays and that issues can occur. Its 4K/120 Hz troubleshooting guidance covers display capability, firmware, ports, connection, cable and output settings.

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Keep the PS4 image-enhancement setting separate

PS5 Pro also has Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games, a distinct option for PS4 game image enhancement. Do not confuse it with Enhance PSSR Image Quality. Sony’s guidance says PS4 enhancement requires a display supporting 2160p/60 Hz or 1440p/60 Hz, and recommends turning the PS4 setting off if unexpected gameplay behavior occurs. Its PS5 Pro troubleshooting page covers this separate feature.

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When to contact support

If flickering persists, use the PS5 Pro troubleshooting page’s Image Flickering support path. The page links to symptom-specific help; follow the current instructions there rather than relying on generic reset steps. For persistent resolution problems after checking the output chain, Sony’s resolution guide directs users to PlayStation Repairs for diagnostics and possible repair.

Visible PSSR flicker by itself does not establish a hardware fault. If other games and the interface display normally but one game or mode does not, report the reproducible title, mode and settings to that game’s publisher.

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