Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The biggest PS5 gains come from four places: Game Presets (smoother motion or sharper image), Video Output (matching the console to your TV), Privacy (who can find, see and contact you), and Accessibility (display, text, audio and controller options). This guide covers each, with the menu path and the trade-off. It is based on Sony’s PlayStation Support guidance. Menu labels change with system updates, and some options exist only on certain console models, so check your own console if a label differs.
Performance: set your preference first, then match your display
No setting here guarantees a particular frame rate. Results vary by game, display and console model. The aim is to tell the console what you prefer and to stop display options from fighting your TV.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Game Presets: Performance Mode or Resolution Mode
Path: Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets.
- Performance Mode favors smoother motion.
- Resolution Mode favors higher image quality.
This works as a default preference. It only affects PS5 games that offer both modes, and some presets may not apply to every game. Sony describes the feature as a way to save time by setting common options once, in advance. The same menu holds presets for difficulty, camera movement (first-person and third-person), subtitles and audio, and online multiplayer session options. Setting these once saves you repeating them in each new game.
#1 Best Overall
- Heighten Your Senses. Discover Deeper, highly immersive gaming experiences.
- Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback
- Chat online through the built-in microphone or connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Play on more devices Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth wireless technology so you can easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range titles
Video Output: resolution, VRR, 120 Hz and ALLM
Path: Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Resolution: Automatic selects the highest resolution your connected TV supports. If your display supports 1440p, Sony says the 1440p output test can check SDR and HDR at 60 and 120 Hz, plus VRR.
- VRR (variable refresh rate): adjusts the refresh rate in real time, but needs a compatible TV and game. Sony says results vary by TV. Apply to Unsupported Games may help stabilize frame rate in games without VRR support. Turn it off if you see unexpected behavior.
- 120 Hz output: needs both a display and a game that support it. If it causes video output problems, turn it off.
- ALLM (auto low latency mode): switches a supported TV into its low-latency mode during play. Sony notes that VRR output can activate low-latency mode even when ALLM is Off. To fully avoid the behavior, you may need to change both settings.
HDR
This is a preference, not an upgrade for everyone.
- On When Supported shows HDR only in games and apps that support it. Everything else stays in SDR.
- Always On converts even non-HDR games and apps to HDR output.
Use Adjust HDR to calibrate brightness for your TV.
If the screen flickers
Video Transfer Rate is a troubleshooting option, not a routine tweak. Sony suggests trying -1 or -2 if the screen flickers. These values limit output and so reduce some high-bandwidth modes. Leave it alone if nothing is wrong.
Options that depend on your console model
In Sony’s guide, 8K output, Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games and Enhance PSSR Image Quality are limited to the CFI-7000 model group. 8K also needs a compatible TV and supported content, and the PSSR option applies to certain PSSR-compatible games. If you don’t see them, your console likely doesn’t offer them.
Rank #2
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
Do you need a new screen?
Only if you want 120 Hz or VRR and your current TV lacks them. Sony states that both depend on a compatible display. Check the exact model’s specifications, input capability and resolution before buying.
Privacy: decide who can find you, see you and contact you
Path: Settings > Users and Accounts > Privacy. Sony offers four presets, or you can review and customize each control. Privacy settings are tied to your account and carry across devices.
| Preset | Best understood as |
|---|---|
| Social and Open | Most visible, easiest for others to find and contact you |
| Team Player | Set up for playing with others |
| Friend Focused | Centered on people you already know |
| Solo and Focused | Least social exposure |
Sony publishes the preset names. The table’s descriptions are only a guide to the names, so open each preset and read what it changes before you apply it.
Rank #3
- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
Controls you can adjust individually include:
- Real name and profile picture visibility
- Friends and profile information
- Online status and current activity
- Gaming history
- Friend requests
- Parties, games and messages
- Blocking
- Crossplay game invitations
The strictest setting isn’t automatically right for everyone. If you play with a close group, a locked-down profile can make it harder for them to find you. If you play with strangers, limiting who can see your real name, activity and history matters more. Pick the audience you want first, then set the controls to match.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Child accounts
The family manager, parent or guardian can set a child’s privacy profile and decide which controls the child may change. Sony says parents and guardians can also see the child’s activity through the PS Family app. Child-account settings can vary by region.
Microphone habits
Sony’s audio guide describes microphone controls, including muting the mic by default or when it isn’t in use. That helps keep casual conversation out of voice chat. Exact controls can vary with the connected equipment. Output device selection and automatic device switching are under Settings > Sound.
Rank #4
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
Accessibility: tailor the console, then check each game
Path: Settings > Accessibility. The section covers game accessibility checks, haptic feedback, controller settings, display area adjustment, display and text settings, a screen reader, closed captions, chat transcription and mono audio. You can add Accessibility to the Control Center for quicker access. This guidance comes from Sony’s Canadian regional guide, so language lists and availability may differ elsewhere.
Display and text
- Color filters and intensity
- Text size and bold text
- High contrast
- Check marks on enabled settings, so you can see at a glance what is on
- Auto-scroll speed
- Reduce motion
Invert Colors reverses text and background colors, and it turns HDR off. If you rely on HDR, weigh that cost.
Chat transcription
Chat transcription turns other players’ voice chat into text and can read your typed text aloud. In-game chat transcription only works in games that support it. The Canadian guide lists English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.
Best Value
- Enjoy precise, comfortable control over 10,000+ supported Steam games.
- Easily pair the controller directly to your Windows PC via Bluetooth or play as you charge with the included USB Type-C cable
- Stay paired with up to four different Bluetooth devices, making it easy to enjoy the controller across Windows PC, Mac, PS5 consoles and smartphones. Discover more connection tips and tricks at playstation.com/pair-dualsense
- Access the latest available controller firmware directly from your PC with the free-todownload PlayStation Accessories app
- Play games streamed from your PS5 or PS4 console to your PC via the PS Remote Play App
Controller haptics
Haptic feedback options depend on hardware. Sony’s guide names DualSense, DualSense Edge and PS VR2 Sense controllers as supporting haptic feedback.
Game-specific features
System settings don’t cover everything. Accessibility features vary by title, so use the console’s game accessibility information panel on a game’s page to see what that game offers before you buy or start it.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
