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There is no PS5 setting called “frame generation.” For the lowest practical latency, use a TV’s Game Mode or ALLM, connect the console directly to the TV’s correctly labeled 4K/120Hz or VRR HDMI input, and set the PS5’s VRR, 120 Hz Output and Video Transfer Rate to Automatic. VRR improves frame pacing when a game’s frame rate varies; 120 Hz helps only in games that support 120 Hz. On PS5 Pro, PSSR is an AI image-reconstruction feature, not a universal frame-generation switch.
What “frame generation” means on PS5
PC graphics settings often use “frame generation” for technology that creates intermediate frames between rendered frames. Sony does not provide a general frame-generation toggle in the PS5 video-output menus. The controls that affect latency and motion are VRR, 120 Hz Output, ALLM, the TV’s Game Mode and Video Transfer Rate.
PS5 Pro adds PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution). PSSR analyzes each rendered frame and reconstructs image detail at a higher output resolution in supported games. It can improve clarity, but Sony does not present it as a console-wide setting that generates extra gameplay frames. Whether a game uses PSSR, a 120-fps mode or another rendering technique is decided by the game and its update.
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Latency and smoothness are related but different. Game Mode and ALLM reduce the time the TV spends processing an image. VRR reduces visible judder and tearing by matching the display’s refresh timing to the PS5’s changing output. A 120 Hz signal gives a compatible game more frequent display opportunities, but it does not make a 30-fps game run at 120 fps.
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The recommended PS5 video-output settings
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Start with the following values, then change only the options that solve a specific compatibility problem.
| PS5 option | Recommended value | Why it is the best starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Auto | Chooses the highest resolution reported by the connected TV. Use 2160p temporarily when troubleshooting a 4K handshake. |
| VRR | Automatic | Lets a compatible display adjust its refresh rate to the PS5’s output. |
| Apply to Unsupported Games | Off initially; test per game | May smooth games that do not officially support VRR, but Sony warns that behavior can vary. |
| 120 Hz Output | Automatic | Allows 120 Hz in games that support it without forcing every title to use that mode. |
| ALLM | Automatic | Allows a compatible TV to switch into its low-latency/Game Mode automatically. |
| HDR | On When Supported | Preserves a title’s SDR or HDR format instead of converting every application to HDR. |
| Video Transfer Rate | Auto | Uses the highest stable signal. Try -1 or -2 only if 4K output flickers or drops. |
| Deep Color Output | Automatic | Lets the PS5 and display negotiate the appropriate color depth. |
| RGB Range | Automatic | Lets the console and display negotiate the expected video range. |
Resolution
Leave Resolution on Auto for normal use. The PS5 selects the highest resolution the TV reports as supported. If you are diagnosing a failed 4K handshake, select 2160p as a test; return to Auto after the connection is stable.
VRR
Set VRR to Automatic. On a compatible HDMI 2.1 display, VRR synchronizes the panel’s refresh timing with the PS5’s graphical output. This is most useful when a game fluctuates around its target frame rate: instead of the TV refreshing on a rigid schedule, it waits for the next completed frame within its supported VRR range.
VRR does not create frames and cannot turn a 30-fps mode into a 60- or 120-fps mode. It also cannot repair a slow game engine, severe rendering drops or a TV whose VRR range does not include the game’s output. If a title shows flicker, brightness shifts, black screens or other instability, disable VRR for that title or return the TV to its normal mode.
Apply VRR to Unsupported Games
This optional switch applies VRR processing to games that do not declare official VRR support. Leave it off while establishing a stable baseline. If a particular game has uneven pacing and the picture remains stable, test the option and keep it only if the result is visibly better. Sony recommends turning it off when a game behaves unexpectedly, so treat it as a per-game experiment rather than a universal improvement.
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120 Hz Output
Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic. A supported game can then request a 120 Hz signal. The setting does not force unsupported games to render at 120 frames per second; many titles still offer only 30- or 60-fps modes.
Competitive games that provide a 120-fps performance mode can feel more responsive on a 120 Hz display because the screen can present updates more frequently. You need all three parts of the chain—game support, a TV input that accepts 4K/120 Hz or the game’s chosen resolution at 120 Hz, and a cable path rated for that signal.
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ALLM
Set ALLM to Automatic. With a compatible TV, the console can signal the set to enter its low-latency or Game Mode while you play. Sony also notes that VRR output can trigger low-latency mode even when ALLM is set to Off. To disable ALLM behavior completely, VRR must also be Off.
ALLM is a switching command, not a separate image-processing engine. The TV’s own Game Mode determines how much processing is removed, so verify that Game Mode is enabled and that your TV does not apply a different picture preset to HDR, SDR or 120 Hz input.
HDR
Choose On When Supported for faithful SDR/HDR behavior. The Always On option converts non-HDR games and applications to HDR output; that can produce a look you prefer, but it is not the original SDR signal. Run Adjust HDR for the specific TV after connecting the console, and repeat the adjustment if you change the TV, input, major picture mode or HDR configuration.
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Video Transfer Rate, Deep Color and RGB Range
Keep Video Transfer Rate on Auto. If a 4K image flickers, briefly loses signal or shows intermittent black screens, try -1, then -2. These values limit portions of 4K 120 Hz, RGB and Deep Color output to improve link stability; they are troubleshooting limits, not a latency enhancement.
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TV settings that reduce input delay
Enable Game Mode
On the TV, select the picture preset named Game Mode, Game or an equivalent low-latency mode for the HDMI input used by the PS5. Avoid cinema, filmmaker, motion-interpolation and noise-reduction modes when response time matters; these features add processing and can delay the displayed frame. Keep only processing controls that you have tested and genuinely prefer.
If ALLM is working, the TV should switch into its low-latency mode when a game signal arrives. Confirm this by opening the TV’s information or picture menu while a game is running. Some sets store separate presets for SDR, HDR and 120 Hz, so check each format rather than assuming one Game Mode setting covers all of them.
Use the correct HDMI input
Connect the PS5 directly to the TV’s HDMI input labeled 4K 120Hz, 4K 120 or VRR. Many televisions have only one or two inputs with full 4K/120 Hz bandwidth. A port labeled merely “HDMI 2.1” is not, by itself, proof that that input supports every HDMI 2.1 feature; verify the specific model’s input table and enable its enhanced, expanded-bandwidth or VRR signal format option if required.
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For the lowest-latency troubleshooting path, remove an AV receiver, soundbar or HDMI switch temporarily and connect the console to the TV. Once 4K/120 Hz and VRR work directly, add the other device only if it explicitly supports the same resolution, refresh rate, HDR formats and VRR protocol. A device in the middle can restrict bandwidth or prevent ALLM from reaching the TV.
Choose a suitable cable
Use the HDMI cable supplied with the PS5 or an Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K 120 Hz. Cable length, construction and certification can affect reliability. If a cable works at 4K/60 Hz but fails at 4K/120 Hz, that does not prove the console or TV is defective; the higher-bandwidth mode is a more demanding test.
How to get 120 Hz working on PS5
- Confirm the game. Open the game’s graphics or performance menu and select its 120-fps or 120 Hz mode if one exists. A console-wide setting cannot add 120-fps support to a title that does not provide it.
- Use the correct TV input. Move the PS5 to the input marked 4K 120Hz, 4K 120 or VRR, and enable that input’s enhanced/VRR format in the TV settings.
- Connect directly first. Bypass receivers, soundbars and switches while testing.
- Install current firmware. Update the TV and PS5, then restart both devices so they renegotiate the HDMI connection.
- Use a rated cable. Install the PS5 cable or a certified Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable and reseat both connectors.
- Set the console options. In Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, use Resolution Auto, 120 Hz Output Automatic and Video Transfer Rate Auto.
- Check the result. In the PS5 video-output information screen, verify the detected resolution and refresh-rate capabilities. Then launch the game and confirm its own performance-mode indicator.
If 120 Hz is still unavailable, select 2160p temporarily, try Video Transfer Rate -1 and then -2, and test again. If the image becomes stable only at a lower setting, the limitation is likely in the cable, input, intermediate device or TV bandwidth rather than in a hidden PS5 frame-generation option.
VRR, 120 Hz and ALLM: which combination should you use?
| Priority | PS5 configuration | TV configuration | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive 120-fps play | VRR Automatic; 120 Hz Automatic; ALLM Automatic | Game Mode on; 4K/120 or VRR input; motion processing off | A supported game offers a 120-fps mode and the connection is stable. |
| Variable-frame-rate games | VRR Automatic; Apply to Unsupported Games off initially | Game Mode on; VRR enabled | The game’s frame rate moves around its target and you want smoother pacing. |
| Maximum compatibility | VRR Automatic; 120 Hz Automatic; Video Transfer Rate Auto | Game Mode on; direct HDMI connection | You want the console to negotiate capabilities without forcing unusual output. |
| Persistent flicker or dropouts | Keep VRR/120 Hz automatic, then test VRR off or Video Transfer Rate -1/-2 | Check firmware, input format and cable | Use the smallest change that restores a stable picture. |
| SDR/HDR accuracy | HDR On When Supported | Use the TV’s correctly calibrated SDR and HDR Game presets | You do not want SDR titles converted to HDR. |
There is no universal “best” combination independent of the game and display. Automatic settings preserve compatibility; per-game testing is appropriate when VRR or 120 Hz exposes a display-specific problem.
What to compare when choosing or checking a TV setup
Two televisions can both advertise HDMI 2.1 yet behave differently. Evaluate the complete setup, not just the label.
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- 4K 120 Hz support: Confirm the exact input and whether 4K/120 is available with HDR and VRR simultaneously.
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- VRR range and behavior: Check the supported refresh range, whether low-frame-rate compensation is provided, and whether VRR causes flicker in dark scenes.
- ALLM and Game Mode: Verify that the TV switches automatically and that its Game preset disables latency-adding processing.
- HDR handling: Check that HDR and SDR use separate, correctly configured Game presets and that the TV accepts HDR at the desired refresh rate.
- Cable and receiver path: Every device between the PS5 and panel must support the same signal. A single older switch or receiver can cap the chain.
- Independent input-lag testing: Look for a dated test performed on the exact TV model and mode. The settings above do not establish a millisecond figure, and there is no universal latency number for all PS5/TV combinations.
Troubleshooting by symptom
4K 120 Hz does not appear
- Move the console to the TV input explicitly labeled 4K 120Hz, 4K 120 or VRR.
- Enable the input’s enhanced, high-bandwidth or VRR HDMI signal format.
- Update TV firmware and PS5 system software.
- Connect directly to the TV and remove the receiver, soundbar or switch.
- Replace the cable with the PS5 cable or an Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable.
- Set Resolution to Auto or test 2160p, 120 Hz Output to Automatic and Video Transfer Rate to Auto.
The picture flickers or goes black
First reseat both HDMI connectors and test the direct connection. Then try Video Transfer Rate -1 and -2 in that order. If the issue occurs only with VRR, disable VRR for the affected game or disable Apply to Unsupported Games. A stable 4K/60 signal is more useful than an unstable 4K/120 signal, so keep the highest mode that remains reliable.
The image looks washed out or blacks are crushed
Return RGB Range to Auto on the PS5 and use the TV’s default or automatic black-level setting. Avoid manually forcing Limited or Full on only one side of the connection. Check SDR and HDR presets separately; a mismatch can look like a resolution problem even when the HDMI link is functioning.
ALLM does not switch the TV to Game Mode
Confirm that the TV supports ALLM, that its HDMI input is using the enhanced signal format, and that ALLM is Automatic on the PS5. Make sure VRR is not being disabled by another compatibility setting. If automatic switching remains unreliable, select the TV’s Game Mode manually for that input.
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Turn off Apply to Unsupported Games first. If the problem remains in an officially supported title, disable VRR for that game and check for TV firmware updates. VRR behavior depends on the TV’s implementation and operating range; it is not required for every game.
PS5 Pro and PSSR: what changes
On PS5 Pro, PSSR is available only where a game supports it. It reconstructs image detail from the rendered frame and can let developers target a sharper output at a chosen performance mode. PSSR does not replace VRR, 120 Hz Output or ALLM, and enabling it does not guarantee a higher frame rate or lower input lag. Choose the game’s own graphics mode according to whether you value resolution, effects or frame rate, then keep the console and TV latency settings configured as above.
Quick Recap
A practical final checklist
- PS5: Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Resolution: Auto.
- VRR: Automatic; test unsupported-game VRR individually.
- 120 Hz Output: Automatic.
- ALLM: Automatic.
- HDR: On When Supported, followed by Adjust HDR.
- Video Transfer Rate: Auto; use -1 or -2 only for instability.
- Deep Color Output and RGB Range: Automatic unless the TV manual specifies otherwise.
- TV: Game Mode enabled for the PS5 input.
- Connection: direct to the TV’s labeled 4K/120Hz or VRR port.
- Cable: PS5-supplied or Ultra-High-Speed HDMI.
- Game: select its own 120-fps or performance mode when available.
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