Start at Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Leave Resolution on Automatic unless you have a reason to test a specific mode: PlayStation says the PS5 detects your TV’s capabilities and selects the highest available resolution. Check Current Video Output Signal and Information for the Connected HDMI Device to see what the console has negotiated, then adjust settings according to what your TV, HDMI connection and game actually support.
Check what the PS5 and TV have negotiated
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Before changing anything, look at Current Video Output Signal and Information for the Connected HDMI Device. These show the active signal and the capabilities the console detects through the connected HDMI path. They are a better starting point than assuming that a feature is available because it appears in the menu.
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Resolution, refresh rate, HDR, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) depend on the TV, the HDMI port and any receiver or other device between the console and TV, as well as the game. For model-specific compatibility, check the TV manual and its settings for the HDMI input you use. Sony’s official PS5 video output guide explains the console’s options and compatibility checks.
Choose a resolution your screen supports
Automatic resolution for most setups
Under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Resolution, Automatic lets the PS5 select the highest resolution it detects from the TV. Sony describes 4K output as available when the console is connected to a compatible 4K screen and set to 4K/2160p. Selecting 4K output does not mean every game renders internally at native 4K; the game determines its own rendering and performance modes.
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When to use 1440p
If your TV or monitor supports 1440p, select Test 1440p Output to check which combinations of SDR or HDR, 60 Hz or 120 Hz, and VRR work on that display. If the test confirms support, choose 1440p under Resolution to use it. Sony notes that games rendered at higher resolutions may benefit from improved anti-aliasing when output is supersampled to 1440p; the result depends on the game and screen. See Sony’s 1440p output feature details.
Set refresh rate, VRR and low-latency behavior
120 Hz Output
Turn on 120 Hz Output when both your display and the game support a 120 Hz frame rate. The option enables compatible output; it does not make every game run at 120 frames per second. If a game has output problems on a monitor or another display, Sony advises turning this setting off.
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Variable Refresh Rate
On a compatible TV or monitor, VRR synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the PS5’s graphical output. Sony cautions that results vary by display and game. The console also offers Apply to Unsupported Games, which may stabilize frame rate in some cases. If a game behaves unexpectedly with that option enabled, switch it off.
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On a compatible TV, ALLM can automatically switch the TV to a low-latency mode during gameplay. The PS5 does not send an ALLM signal while a media app is running. Also, VRR output can trigger low-latency behavior even when ALLM is set to Off. If you want to disable that behavior completely, turn VRR off as well. HDMI 2.1 branding alone does not confirm ALLM support, so check the TV manual for the specific input.
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Choose how HDR behaves
In the Video Output settings, set HDR according to whether you want non-HDR content converted to HDR output:
- On When Supported: HDR is used for supported games and apps; non-HDR content remains in SDR.
- Always On: the PS5 converts non-HDR-compatible games and apps to HDR output as well.
Use Adjust HDR and follow the on-screen calibration for your TV. There is no universal brightness value that suits every display.
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Troubleshoot 4K signal flicker
If the 4K picture flickers, Sony recommends testing Video Transfer Rate at -1 or -2. These settings limit some output formats to help with compatibility; they are troubleshooting options, not picture-quality enhancements.
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- -1 limits some 4K 120 Hz formats and some 4K 50/60 Hz RGB or YUV444 Deep Color formats.
- -2 limits some 4K 120 Hz formats and some 4K 50/60 Hz RGB or YUV444 output.
Try the least restrictive setting that resolves the flicker. Return to Automatic if the reduced output formats are unnecessary. Sony’s guide lists additional 8K 60 Hz restrictions for the CFI-7000 model group.
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Fix missing or reduced 4K/120 Hz output
If the screen is blank or the PS5 reports 1080p/120 Hz when you expect 4K/120 Hz, check each link in the signal path. A TV port, intermediary device or cable limitation can prevent the mode even when the TV itself is advertised as 4K/120 Hz.
- Confirm that the TV supports 4K/120 Hz, and update its firmware.
- Connect the PS5 directly to the TV to rule out a receiver or other intermediary.
- Use the TV’s appropriate HDMI port and check whether that input requires a setting change. Consult the TV manual for its menu labels.
- Use the cable included with the PS5 or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz.
- On the PS5, set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p, and set Video Transfer Rate to Automatic.
- Recheck Current Video Output Signal and the connected HDMI device information.
A replacement cable will not fix a TV-port, firmware or receiver limitation, so check the entire connection path rather than swapping accessories first. Follow Sony’s 4K resolution and 120 Hz troubleshooting guidance.
Know whether 8K applies to your console
The 8K output option is available only on PS5 consoles in the CFI-7000 model group. It also requires an 8K/60 Hz TV and Display Stream Compression (DSC). Treat it as a model-specific capability, not a standard option on every PS5.
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