On a supported PS5, you generally do not need to turn on AI upscaling: Sony’s Enhance PSSR Image Quality setting is on by default. Find it at Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance PSSR Image Quality. It applies to certain PSSR-compatible games, and Sony lists it for CFI-7000 model group consoles—not every PS5 or every game.
How to check the PSSR setting
- On the PS5 home screen, open Settings.
- Select Screen and Video, then Video Output.
- Look for Enhance PSSR Image Quality. Sony says it is on by default; turn it off here if you want to disable it.
PSSR stands for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. Sony describes this option as improving image quality in certain compatible games. It is not a universal upscaling switch for all PS5 consoles or titles. See Sony’s PS5 resolution support guide for the setting and console qualification.
Choose resolution separately from PSSR
The Resolution setting controls the console’s video output; it does not enable PSSR. With Automatic, the PS5 selects the highest resolution supported by the connected TV or monitor. A manual output choice may be useful when you need a particular supported mode, but the right choice depends on your display and whether you prioritize resolution, refresh rate, HDR, or VRR.
If you want to check 1440p compatibility, select Test 1440p Output in the Video Output menu. The test checks supported combinations, including SDR or HDR at 60 Hz or 120 Hz and VRR when the connected display supports the relevant modes.
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When 1440p output may help
1440p is a separate display-output option, not the PSSR control. Sony says a game rendered at a higher native resolution, such as 4K, may benefit from improved anti-aliasing when supersampled down to 1440p output. That potential benefit does not mean every game will look better at 1440p, and it does not switch PSSR on. See Sony’s PS5 features page.
What the other Video Output settings do
| Setting | What it affects | When to change it |
|---|---|---|
| VRR | Allows refresh rate to adjust in real time with compatible TVs and games. | Use it when your display and game support it. Sony notes results vary by TV and game. |
| 120 Hz Output | Enables 120 Hz output for compatible displays and games. | Enable it if you want to use a supported 120 Hz mode. Sony advises turning it off if video-output problems occur. |
| ALLM | Allows a compatible TV to switch to low-latency mode while gaming. | This is a latency setting, not an upscaling control. Sony notes ALLM may still activate with VRR output even when ALLM is set to Off; turn VRR off as well to fully disable ALLM. |
| HDR | Controls high-dynamic-range output. | On When Supported leaves non-HDR content in SDR. Always On converts non-HDR content to HDR output. HDR does not enable PSSR. |
| Video Transfer Rate | Limits the video signal transfer rate and can restrict some output combinations. | If the screen flickers, Sony suggests trying -1 or -2. This is signal troubleshooting, not an upscaling option. |
Sony documents these settings and their qualifications in its PS5 resolution support guide. There is no single best combination for every display and game.
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If Enhance PSSR Image Quality is missing
- Check the console model. Sony’s support documentation lists the option for CFI-7000 model group consoles. Do not assume it appears on other PS5 models.
- Check the game. The image-quality option applies to certain PSSR-compatible games, not every title.
- Check the connected display and HDMI path. Review the TV or monitor’s supported resolutions, refresh rates, HDR, and VRR, and confirm the PS5 is connected through equipment that supports the mode you want.
- Troubleshoot the signal only if needed. For ALLM, Sony recommends the included PS5 HDMI cable; it says an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable supporting HDMI 2.1 should also support ALLM. Replacing a cable may address compatibility or output issues, but it does not activate PSSR.
Sony’s general guidance does not name ideal settings for an unspecified display and game. Confirm the exact console model, display capabilities, and game compatibility before assuming a missing option or unavailable output mode is a fault.
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