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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If graphics look blurry or shimmer after you change a PS5 upscaling or image-quality option, first check the console’s output signal, then test display features one at a time. A stable output signal with artifacts confined to one game points toward that game’s rendering or upscaling settings—not a universal PS5 fix.
How to tell whether the problem is the signal or the game
Use the same scene, camera movement, viewing distance, and display mode when comparing settings. Change one variable at a time so you can tell what affected the image.
| What you observe | Where to investigate first |
|---|---|
| Flickering, blanking, unexpectedly low resolution, or a picture that changes when you adjust a cable, port, or output feature | Console-to-display signal path and supported output modes |
| Softness, aliasing, or temporal shimmer confined to one game while the PS5 reports the expected stable output signal | That game’s upscaler, graphics mode, or other rendering options |
Sony’s output settings can help diagnose flicker or compatibility problems, but they do not establish a single setting that fixes artifacts generated by every game’s upscaler.
Check the PS5’s current output before changing settings
- On the console, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Review Current Video Output Signal for the resolution and whether VRR and HDR are reported for the connected HDMI device.
- If the resolution is lower than expected, check the display’s supported modes, firmware, and HDMI port before assuming the game’s upscaling is responsible. With Resolution set to Automatic, the PS5 selects the highest resolution the TV supports, according to Sony’s resolution support guidance.
- For 4K, Sony lists a compatible 4K screen and a 2160p output selection as requirements. For a compatible 1440p screen, use Test 1440p Output, then select 1440p if that is the output mode you are evaluating.
For flicker or unstable output, test Video Transfer Rate
If the picture visibly flickers or shimmers in a way that could indicate unstable output, test Video Transfer Rate at -1. Sony says, “If you experience flickering on the screen, try selecting -1 or -2 to limit output. This may improve picture quality.” If needed, compare -2 separately; restore Automatic if neither setting helps or the limitations are undesirable.
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| Setting | Sony-documented output limitation |
|---|---|
| -1 | Limits 4K 120 Hz and 4K 50/60 Hz RGB/YUV444 Deep Color. At 4K HDR 50/60 Hz, YUV422 or YUV420 is used. |
| -2 | Limits 4K 120 Hz and 4K 50/60 Hz RGB/YUV444. At 4K 50/60 Hz, YUV420 is used. |
These options limit output modes and can change the color format. They are a supported flicker diagnostic, not a guarantee against temporal shimmer produced inside a game.
Isolate 120 Hz and VRR separately
Test 120 Hz Output if the issue is mode-specific
If the problem appears only in a game or mode using 120 Hz, temporarily turn off 120 Hz Output and compare the same scene. Sony advises turning this setting off if games have video output problems on a monitor or other display device. Availability depends on the display and game.
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Test VRR if behavior changes unexpectedly
If the issue coincides with VRR, turn off Apply to Unsupported Games and retest. Sony documents this as an optional setting and advises disabling it when unexpected gameplay behavior occurs. VRR compatibility and behavior vary by display and game, so this is an isolation step—not a promised cure for blurry pixels. See Sony’s PS5 features page for its VRR and display guidance.
Check whether your PS5 and game support the PSSR setting
The Enhance PSSR Image Quality option is documented for the CFI-7000 model group and applies to certain PSSR-compatible games; it is not a setting for every PS5. On an applicable console, find it at Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Enhance PSSR Image Quality. Sony says it is on by default. If the image changed after you enabled or adjusted it, turn it off temporarily and compare in a supported game.
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Check the HDMI path before replacing a cable
- Make sure the HDMI connections are secure at both the console and display.
- Try another suitable HDMI port, and connect the PS5 directly to the screen for a test, bypassing a receiver, sound bar, capture device, or other intermediary.
- Check for display firmware updates and any manufacturer-specific setting required for high-resolution signals.
- Sony recommends the HDMI cable included with the PS5. For 4K 120 Hz, its guidance names an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for that output as an alternative. A replacement is relevant only if the existing signal path is at fault; a new cable is not a general remedy for game-rendering softness or shimmer. See Sony’s picture and sound troubleshooting guidance.
If resolution problems persist after checking the connection, port, and display, Sony directs players to PlayStation Repairs.
Use 1440p as an optional image-quality comparison
If your display supports 1440p, compare that output with your current mode. Sony notes that a game rendered at a higher native resolution, such as 4K, may benefit from improved anti-aliasing when supersampled down to 1440p. The result depends on the game and display; this is an edge-quality comparison, not a universal fix for a soft or shimmering image.
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When the image points to a game-specific setting
If the console reports the expected stable signal and artifacts occur only in one title or after changing that title’s graphics mode, inspect the game’s own rendering and upscaling options. Options and behavior differ by game, so the title and its available graphics modes are needed before recommending a specific setting. Compare the same scene while changing only one in-game option at a time.
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