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For the best PS5 Pro picture and performance, first make sure the TV, the HDMI port, and every device in the connection chain support the features you want. Then leave resolution on Automatic, enable 120 Hz and VRR only when your display and game support them, calibrate HDR on your own screen, and choose a game’s quality or performance mode to suit how you want to play.
1. Check the display and HDMI connection
A PS5 Pro can only output the formats supported by the screen and the full HDMI chain. A 4K signal requires a compatible 4K TV or monitor, and a display’s ports may not all support the same resolution, refresh rate, HDR, or VRR features. Check the display manual or its input settings for the port that supports the features you plan to use.
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Sony recommends using the HDMI cable included with the console. If you need a replacement or a longer cable, choose an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz; most people do not need to buy a different cable. Sony’s setup guidance is at PS5 console resolution.
On the console, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. The connected HDMI device information shows which resolution, VRR, and HDR capabilities the console detects. Use this as a first check if a setting or output mode you expect is missing.
#1 Best Overall
- Ray Tracing - Immerse yourself in worlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games.
- Faster Loading - Fast-travel across the map and get back into the game almost instantly with the PlayStation 5 console’s ultra-high-speed SSD and fast load times.
- Stunning Visuals - Experience the vast world in stunning 4K and HDR at 120 FPS (with a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display)
- Breathtaking Immersion - Discover a deeper gaming experience with support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D Audio technology.
- Backwards Compatibility - Play over 4,000 PS4 games on PS5. Enjoy faster and smoother frame rates in some of the PS4 console's greatest games.
2. Set resolution and HDR
Resolution
In Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Resolution, leave the setting on Automatic for the console to select the highest resolution supported by the TV. If you want to specify 4K, select 2160p. Automatic cannot make a non-4K display show a 4K signal.
HDR
Set HDR to On When Supported if you want HDR output for compatible games and apps without converting ordinary content. Always On also converts non-HDR content to HDR output, which may not suit every display or viewer.
Run Adjust HDR and follow the console’s on-screen calibration using the display you actually play on. Brightness values from another TV are not a reliable substitute because screens differ.
3. Enable 120 Hz, VRR, and ALLM where supported
| Setting | When to use it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 120 Hz Output | Enable it if the connected display supports 120 Hz and you play a game with a 120 Hz mode. | This enables a compatible output mode; it does not make every game run at 120 fps. |
| VRR | Enable it for a VRR-compatible display and supported games if you want variable refresh to help smooth frame pacing. | Results vary by TV. You can try Apply to Unsupported Games, but turn it off if you see unexpected behavior. |
| ALLM | Leave it enabled or automatic if your display supports it. | ALLM lets a compatible TV switch to a low-latency mode during gameplay. VRR output can trigger low-latency mode even when ALLM is set to Off; to disable ALLM fully, turn VRR off too. |
Sony says compatible PS5 Pro games can reach 60 fps or up to 120 fps, with ray tracing and AI-enhanced 4K resolution through PSSR. Those are capabilities for compatible games, not a guarantee for every title or display. Sony’s product information is at PS5 Pro.
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8K output
For a conventional 4K setup, leave 8K output off. Sony says PS5 Pro 8K output requires an 8K/60 Hz display with Display Stream Compression (DSC), and VRR is disabled while outputting 8K. It is a specialized configuration, not a general picture-quality upgrade.
PSSR image quality and PS4 games
Sony’s guidance for the CFI-7000 model group says Enhance PSSR Image Quality is on by default and can be switched off in Video Output if needed. This is not a universal setting across all PS5 models.
For the same CFI-7000 model group, Sony lists Enhance Image Quality for PS4 Games; its 2026 Pro guide says to activate this setting to use PS4 Game Boost. Turn it off if you encounter unexpected gameplay behavior. See Sony’s PS5 Pro guide to PS4 Game Boost.
Rank #2
- Ray Tracing - Immerse yourself in worlds with a new level of realism as rays of light are individually simulated, creating true-to-life shadows and reflections in supported PS5 games.
- Faster Loading - Fast-travel across the map and get back into the game almost instantly with the PlayStation 5 console’s ultra-high-speed SSD and fast load times.
- Stunning Visuals - Experience the vast world in stunning 4K and HDR at 120 FPS (with a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display)
- Breathtaking Immersion - Discover a deeper gaming experience with support for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D Audio technology.
- Backwards Compatibility - Play over 4,000 PS4 games on PS5. Enjoy faster and smoother frame rates in some of the PS4 console's greatest games.
RGB Range
Do not change RGB Range just to experiment. Sony advises changing it only if an HDMI device is not sending RGB range information correctly.
5. Choose a mode inside each game
There is no single best mode for every PS5 Pro game. A quality or fidelity mode generally prioritizes visual detail or effects; a performance mode generally prioritizes responsiveness or frame rate. A Pro-specific mode may combine some of those priorities, but the balance depends on the individual game. Check the game’s own description and try its options rather than assuming a mode name guarantees the same result across titles.
Sony offers Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart as a specific example: Insomniac Core Technology Director Mike Fitzgerald describes Performance Pro as combining Fidelity mode’s crisp 4K resolution and ray tracing with Performance mode’s 60 frames per second. Sony also quotes Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Mike Fitzgerald describing its Performance Pro mode as combining 4K resolution and ray tracing with 60 frames per second. These are descriptions of those games, not a promise that other titles will behave the same way.
For Stellar Blade, Sony quotes Technical Director and CTO Dongki Lee saying players can get 4K resolution at 50 fps or more, with an HFR option at 80 fps when using a 120 Hz display. That figure and option are specific to the game and its supported display setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Fix missing 4K/120 Hz, flicker, or a misaligned image
If 4K/120 Hz is unavailable
- Update the TV or monitor firmware and confirm that the connected HDMI port supports the output mode.
- Connect the PS5 Pro directly to the display, bypassing an AV receiver or HDMI switch, to check whether another device in the chain is limiting the signal.
- On the console, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p. Keep Video Transfer Rate on Automatic.
- Check the display’s input settings: some TVs require a feature-specific setting to be enabled for the HDMI port.
If the picture flickers
First check the cable, port, and any receiver or switch in the chain. If the problem remains, Sony suggests trying Video Transfer Rate at -1 or -2 under Video Output. These settings limit some output modes and color formats, so use them as troubleshooting fallbacks rather than as a default quality setting.
If the picture is cropped or has a border
Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Screen > Adjust Display Area and follow the on-screen instructions.
If your display is best used at 1440p
Use Test 1440p Output in Video Output to check whether the display supports SDR or HDR at 60 Hz or 120 Hz, as well as VRR.
Quick Recap
A practical default setup
- Resolution: Automatic (or 2160p for an explicit 4K output on a compatible screen).
- HDR: On When Supported, followed by Adjust HDR on the display you use.
- 120 Hz Output: enabled when the screen supports it and the game provides a compatible mode.
- VRR: enabled for compatible displays and games; disable Apply to Unsupported Games if it behaves unexpectedly.
- ALLM: enabled or automatic when supported by the display.
- 8K: off for a conventional 4K setup.
- Video Transfer Rate: Automatic unless troubleshooting flicker.
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