To get 4K at 120Hz with VRR on a Samsung TV, connect your console or PC to the TV’s HDMI port marked for 4K/120Hz, use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps, enable Input Signal Plus for that port, turn on Game Mode, and select 3840×2160 at 120Hz in the source device. Every link in the chain—the TV model, HDMI port, cable, source, game and intermediary equipment—must support the target signal.
Samsung’s menus and port capabilities vary by model and software version, so use the exact model’s e-manual when a label or option differs. The procedure below covers Samsung TVs that support HDMI 2.1 features, 4K/120Hz and VRR.
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What you need before starting
- A Samsung TV model with at least one HDMI input that supports 4K at 120Hz. Some models have multiple suitable ports; others have only one.
- A console or PC capable of outputting 3840×2160 at 120Hz. The game itself must also offer a 120Hz mode if you want 120 frames per second.
- A certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, commonly described as an HDMI 2.1 cable rated for 48Gbps.
- Direct connection from the source to the TV while setting up. A soundbar, AV receiver, capture device or HDMI switch must also pass the required bandwidth and VRR signal if you later put it back in the chain.
HDMI 2.1 is the connection standard used for higher-bandwidth capabilities such as Fixed Rate Link (FRL), Display Stream Compression (DSC), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). A television can support some HDMI 2.1 functions without every port or every function having identical capability, so check the model specification rather than assuming all HDMI sockets are equivalent.
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Set up 4K 120Hz and VRR step by step
1. Identify the TV’s 4K/120Hz HDMI port
Look at the labels beside the TV’s HDMI sockets or in the e-manual. Samsung commonly marks a compatible input with a gaming-controller icon or wording such as 4K at 120Hz. On models with more than one capable input, any of the designated ports may work; on other models, only one port supports the full mode.
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Connect the PlayStation, Xbox or PC directly to that identified port. Do not start through a receiver or soundbar while diagnosing the connection. If the source is plugged into a regular HDMI input, the TV may remain limited to 60Hz even when the rest of the equipment is suitable.
2. Use a certified Ultra High Speed cable
Use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps—the practical shopping description Samsung recommends for 4K at 120Hz. Certification matters more than a package simply saying “HDMI 2.1.” Replace an unlabelled or older cable if the TV cannot negotiate 120Hz, loses the signal, or repeatedly falls back to 60Hz.
Keep the cable connection direct and fully seated at both ends. Cable quality and installation length can affect high-bandwidth reliability, so test with a known-certified cable before changing several settings at once.
3. Turn on Game Mode
For a console, Game Mode may activate automatically when the TV detects the game source. For a PC, Samsung generally requires manual activation:
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- Open the TV’s Quick Settings.
- Select Game Mode and switch it on.
The exact label or location can vary with the TV’s software. Game Mode is intended to reduce gaming response delay and may also expose gaming information in the Game Bar.
4. Enable Input Signal Plus for the exact HDMI port
Input Signal Plus expands the HDMI input range and enables HDMI 2.1 features for the selected connected device. Turn it on for the port you are actually using:
- Open Settings.
- Choose Connection.
- Open External Device Manager.
- Select Input Signal Plus.
- Enable it for the HDMI input connected to the console or PC.
Samsung notes that enabling this option can cause a brief flicker while the input renegotiates. That is expected; a persistent blank screen or repeated dropouts are not. If the setting is already enabled but 120Hz is unavailable, switch it off, restart the TV and source, then enable it again for the correct port.
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5. Set the source to 4K, 120Hz and VRR
Open the console’s or PC’s display settings and select 3840×2160 and 120Hz when those choices are available. Enable the source’s VRR option as well. The TV cannot create a 120Hz or VRR signal when the source, game or cable does not output one.
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On a PC, verify that the desired resolution and refresh rate are selected in the operating system or graphics settings, not only inside a game. A game may still run at a lower frame rate if its own performance mode, resolution, ray-tracing settings or frame-rate limit prevents 120 frames per second. VRR can remain useful below 120 frames per second because it synchronizes the panel’s refresh timing with changing frame output.
6. Verify the active signal
Open the Samsung Game Bar if your model supports it, or use the source device’s display-information screen. Confirm that the active signal reports 4K, 120Hz and VRR when supported. The Game Bar can show information such as FPS, HDR and VRR on compatible Samsung TVs.
Check the signal while a game is running, not just on the console or PC home screen. Some devices change output modes when a game launches.
What each setting and feature does
HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1 provides the bandwidth and signaling used by features including FRL, DSC, VRR and ALLM. It does not guarantee that every HDMI 2.1 feature is available on every TV port. Samsung model documentation determines the supported port count, maximum refresh rate and VRR behavior.
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4K at 120Hz
4K/120Hz means a 3840×2160 image refreshed up to 120 times per second. It is a chain requirement: the TV panel and selected port, HDMI cable, console or PC, game and any device between the source and TV all have to support the mode. If one element supports only 60Hz, the negotiated output normally falls back to 60Hz.
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
VRR synchronizes the display’s refresh behavior with the graphics processor’s changing frame output. This reduces visible tearing and can make motion smoother when a game does not deliver a perfectly steady frame rate. VRR availability and operating range differ by Samsung model and software version; consult the model’s specifications rather than assuming a universal range.
Game Mode and ALLM
Game Mode is Samsung’s gaming-oriented picture and input mode. Console detection may turn it on automatically, while PC connections generally need manual activation. ALLM can allow a compatible source to request a low-latency mode, but the TV and source must both support it and the model’s implementation determines how it behaves.
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| Item | Console | PC |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Connect directly to the TV’s HDMI input marked for 4K/120Hz. | Use the same designated 4K/120Hz input; do not assume every HDMI socket has the same capability. |
| Cable | Certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps. | Certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps; replace an unverified cable first if 120Hz is missing. |
| Game Mode | May activate automatically when the console is detected. | Usually needs to be enabled manually in Quick Settings. |
| Input Signal Plus | Enable it for the HDMI port used by the console. | Enable it for the HDMI port used by the computer. |
| Output selection | Choose 3840×2160 and 120Hz in the console display settings, then enable VRR if offered. | Choose 3840×2160 and 120Hz in the operating-system or graphics settings, then enable VRR where available. |
| Game limitation | A game must provide a 120Hz or suitable performance mode. | The game’s settings, frame-rate limit and rendering workload determine the actual frame rate. |
| Automatic behavior | Console detection may switch Game Mode on. | Samsung generally expects manual Game Mode activation; menu behavior varies by model and software. |
How many 4K/120Hz ports does your Samsung TV have?
There is no single port count for all Samsung TVs. Some models provide more than one HDMI input capable of 4K/120Hz; others designate only one. The maximum refresh rate, VRR support and supported HDMI 2.1 functions also vary by model. Read the labels on the TV and the exact model’s e-manual or specification page before choosing a port or buying additional equipment.
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Do not infer capability from the HDMI connector’s shape or from a generic “HDMI 2.1” mention in a product listing. The relevant question is whether that specific input accepts 3840×2160 at 120Hz and the VRR format supported by your source.
Troubleshoot 4K/120Hz and VRR problems
The TV is locked to 60Hz
- Move the cable to the HDMI port marked for 4K/120Hz or identified in the e-manual.
- Confirm that the cable is a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps.
- Enable Input Signal Plus for that exact port through Settings → Connection → External Device Manager → Input Signal Plus.
- Turn on Game Mode, especially for a PC.
- Confirm that the source is set to 3840×2160 at 120Hz and that the game supports the mode.
- Restart the TV and source after changing Input Signal Plus. Samsung notes that toggling the setting can briefly flicker while the connection resets.
VRR is missing or greyed out
- Verify that the source hardware and game support VRR and that VRR is enabled in the source settings.
- Check that the selected TV port supports VRR; port capabilities are model-specific.
- Use Game Mode and Input Signal Plus on the active port.
- Test the source directly on the TV, bypassing a soundbar, receiver, switch or capture device. Every intermediary must pass the required VRR signal.
- Check for a TV software update. Samsung says an available update may resolve Smart TV problems.
The picture flickers, drops out or goes black
- Reseat both cable connectors and try the designated 4K/120Hz port again.
- Replace the cable with a certified Ultra High Speed model rated for 48Gbps.
- Toggle Input Signal Plus off and on for the correct port, then restart both devices.
- Remove intermediary HDMI equipment and retest with a direct connection.
- Check the TV’s model-specific e-manual for supported resolutions, refresh rates and VRR requirements.
Game Mode will not activate automatically
Automatic activation is not guaranteed for every source. Enable Game Mode manually from Quick Settings. This is particularly important for a PC, for which Samsung’s setup guidance generally calls for manual activation.
The source reports 120Hz but the game does not
A console or PC can advertise a 120Hz output while an individual game renders at a lower rate. Check the game’s performance or display menu and verify the Game Bar or in-game information while playing. A 120Hz output mode describes the display signal; it does not force every game to produce 120 frames per second.
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Samsung changes menu labels, automatic detection behavior and supported specifications across TV generations and regions. Before troubleshooting beyond the steps above, record the TV model number and check:
- Which HDMI inputs support 4K/120Hz.
- The maximum refresh rate at the resolution you want.
- Whether VRR is supported and the stated operating range.
- Whether the model requires Input Signal Plus for the selected input.
- Whether Game Mode and the Game Bar are available with your source.
Device screenshots and menu paths can therefore look different from the examples above even when the underlying setting has the same purpose.
Quick Recap
Recommended connection order
- Turn off the TV and source.
- Connect the source directly to the Samsung HDMI input designated for 4K/120Hz.
- Connect a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 48Gbps.
- Turn on the TV and source.
- Enable Input Signal Plus for the active port.
- Enable Game Mode, manually if the source is a PC.
- Select 3840×2160 at 120Hz and enable VRR in the source settings.
- Launch a compatible game and verify the signal in the Game Bar or source information screen.
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