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For a strong starting point, leave PS5 resolution on Automatic, enable VRR and 120 Hz output only if your display supports them, and set HDR to On When Supported. Then choose the graphics mode inside each game: console video settings control the signal sent to your screen, while a game’s Quality or Performance mode controls how that title renders. No single console setting makes every game run at a particular resolution or frame rate.
Recommended PS5 video settings
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output to adjust the console’s output. These settings work best as a compatible baseline, not a guarantee that every game will use the same resolution, refresh rate, or visual mode.
| Setting | Recommended choice | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Automatic | Sony says the PS5 detects the connected TV’s capabilities and selects the best available resolution. Choose a fixed resolution only to troubleshoot or satisfy a specific display need. Sony’s resolution guide |
| 120 Hz Output | Automatic/on when the display supports it | Allows 120 Hz output for compatible games and displays; it does not make every game run at 120 frames per second. Turn it off if it causes output problems. Sony’s video output guide |
| VRR | Automatic/on when supported | Variable Refresh Rate synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with PS5 output and can reduce tearing or frame-pacing issues. Results depend on the display, game, and selected visual mode. Sony’s video output guide |
| Apply to Unsupported Games | Leave off unless you want to test it | If enabling this option causes unexpected behavior, turn it off. Compatibility and results can vary by game and display. Sony’s video output guide |
| ALLM | Automatic/on when supported | A compatible TV can switch automatically to a low-latency mode while gaming. Sony notes that VRR output can trigger this behavior even when ALLM is Off; to fully disable ALLM behavior, VRR must also be off. Sony’s video output guide |
| HDR | On When Supported | HDR-capable games and apps use HDR, while SDR content stays SDR. Always On converts non-HDR games and apps to HDR output. Use Adjust HDR to calibrate brightness. Sony’s video output guide |
| Video Transfer Rate | Automatic | Use -1 or -2 only when troubleshooting a flickering screen; these settings limit some high-bandwidth output formats. Sony’s video output guide |
| RGB Range | Automatic | Leave it unchanged unless the connected HDMI device reports the range incorrectly. Sony recommends changing it only for that compatibility problem. Sony’s video output guide |
Choose a graphics mode inside each game
A game’s Quality or Fidelity and Performance options determine its own rendering tradeoff. The labels are not standardized guarantees: check the game’s description or settings for its stated frame-rate target, resolution, detail and effects, and VRR or 120 Hz support.
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- Choose Quality/Fidelity if the game’s listed priority—such as higher resolution or visual detail—is more important to you than its performance target.
- Choose Performance if you prefer the title’s stated smoother-play target and accept the visual tradeoffs the game describes.
- If the game offers a 120 Hz or VRR mode, the connected display and console output must support the required signal as well.
Sony’s VRR guidance says results vary by game and selected visual mode; it does not establish a universal best mode or cross-game performance benchmark. PlayStation’s VRR announcement
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Test 1440p on your display
If you use a 1440p monitor or TV, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Test 1440p Output. Sony’s test checks SDR and HDR at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, as well as VRR. Its 2023 update announced VRR support at 1440p with compatible HDMI 2.1 displays and games, so verify the combination on your own screen rather than assuming every 1440p setup supports all modes. Sony’s resolution guide PlayStation’s 2023 system software update
Fix blank screens, flicker, or unexpected resolution
For a blank image, unexpected 1080p output, or trouble with 4K/120 Hz, check the entire signal path before concluding that a PS5 setting is at fault. Sony notes that issues can occur as 4K/120 Hz technology transitions across the market; an HDMI 2.1 label by itself does not guarantee the exact combination will work. Sony’s 4K resolution and 120 Hz guide
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- Confirm the TV or monitor supports the resolution and refresh rate you want, including 4K at 120 Hz if that is your target.
- Update the display’s firmware and check whether its HDMI port needs a TV-side setting for 4K/120 Hz or other high-bandwidth modes.
- Connect the PS5 directly to the appropriate HDMI port. Try the supplied cable first; if replacing it, use an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable suitable for the target signal.
- On PS5, check Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, including Resolution and Video Transfer Rate.
- If the screen flickers at 4K, try Video Transfer Rate -1, then -2 if needed. Because these options limit some output formats, return to Automatic when the issue is resolved or if the lower setting prevents a desired mode.
Options that depend on your PS5 model
Do not assume every PS5 has the same output options. Sony documents 8K and Enhance PSSR Image Quality for the CFI-7000 model group, not as universal settings for every console. Sony says 8K output requires an 8K/60 Hz display with DSC and compatible games. Sony’s video output guide
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