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For most TVs, start with Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, leave Resolution on Automatic, and check Current Video Output Signal before changing other options. The best result depends on the TV or monitor, its HDMI connection, and the game: a PS5 output setting does not make every game render at that resolution or frame rate.

Set up PS5 video output first

  1. On the PS5, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
  2. Check Current Video Output Signal. Note the resolution and refresh rate the console is actually sending.
  3. Start with Resolution: Automatic. PlayStation says the console detects the TV’s capabilities and automatically selects the best available resolution. If you need to force 4K, choose 2160p with a compatible 4K screen.
  4. Change one setting at a time, then check Current Video Output Signal again. This helps identify whether a setting or part of the connection changed the output.

The console’s output resolution is not proof that a game renders internally at that resolution. Individual games can use different rendering resolutions and frame-rate modes.

Resolution: Automatic, 4K or 1440p?

Automatic is the best starting point for most displays

Automatic selects the highest resolution the connected display supports, according to PlayStation Support’s 4K resolution guide. Use it unless you have a specific reason to force an output mode or are troubleshooting.

Choosing 2160p for a 4K display

If you want to specify 4K output, set Resolution to 2160p. This requires a compatible 4K screen. The setting controls the signal sent by the console; it does not guarantee that every game renders at native 4K.

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Using a 1440p monitor

PS5 supports 1440p output on compatible TVs and monitors. In Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, select Test 1440p Output to check the display’s combinations of SDR or HDR, 60 Hz or 120 Hz, and VRR. Results depend on the display. If the test supports the modes you want, set Resolution to 1440p. PlayStation notes that outputting a higher-native-resolution game, such as a 4K game, to a 1440p display may improve anti-aliasing through downsampling; this does not mean all games render at 4K. See PlayStation’s 1440p output guide.

120 Hz output and game frame rate

The 120 Hz Output setting enables 120 Hz video output for compatible displays and games that support a 120 Hz frame rate. It does not make every game run at 120 frames per second; support and performance depend on the game. If a display has video-output problems with games using 120 Hz, PlayStation suggests turning the setting off.

What must work for 4K at 120 Hz?

4K/120 Hz depends on the complete signal path, not just a console toggle. Check each part:

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  • The display supports 4K at 120 Hz, and its firmware is current.
  • The cable is the one supplied with the PS5 or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz.
  • The cable is connected to the display’s HDMI port that supports 4K/120 Hz. Check the display manual; an HDMI 2.1 label alone does not establish that every port supports every feature.
  • If using a receiver or another intermediary, it supports the required signal. To isolate a problem, connect the PS5 directly to the display.
  • On the PS5, set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p and Video Transfer Rate to Automatic.
  • The game supports the desired 120 Hz mode.

PlayStation documents 4K/120 Hz output support but notes that users can encounter issues as the technology transitions across displays and equipment. Its troubleshooting steps are in the 4K resolution guide. Check the supplied cable and the correct display port before buying anything; an optional replacement should be an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz.

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HDR: On When Supported or Always On?

Under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, PS5 offers two HDR behaviors:

  • On When Supported: HDR-compatible games and apps use HDR; unsupported content remains SDR. This is a predictable compatibility default.
  • Always On: the console converts even games and apps that are not HDR-compatible to HDR output.

Neither mode is universally best for every display or preference. If you want HDR only when content supports it, choose On When Supported. Use Adjust HDR to set brightness and optimize HDR rendering for your screen. Sony’s descriptions of these options are in its PS5 video output settings guide.

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VRR and ALLM

VRR

Variable refresh rate (VRR) lets a compatible display synchronize its refresh rate with the PS5’s graphical output. It requires compatible equipment, and the result varies by display and game. For games without VRR support, you can try Apply to Unsupported Games; turn it off if it causes unexpected behavior.

ALLM

Auto low-latency mode (ALLM) tells a compatible TV to switch to a low-latency mode during gameplay. Support depends on the TV, so consult its manual rather than relying on an HDMI version label. PS5 does not send an ALLM signal while a media app is running. When VRR output is in use, the display switches to low-latency mode even if ALLM is Off; to disable ALLM completely, Sony says to turn VRR off as well. See PlayStation’s video output settings information and 1440p, VRR and ALLM feature details.

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Video Transfer Rate: try this only to troubleshoot flicker

If the screen flickers at 4K, Sony suggests trying Video Transfer Rate: -1 or -2. These options limit the output signal and can resolve signal problems, but they also restrict available formats. Recheck Current Video Output Signal afterward.

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  • -1: restricts 4K 120 Hz and 4K 50/60 Hz RGB or YUV444 Deep Color. On CFI-7000 model-group consoles, it also restricts 8K 60 Hz.
  • -2: restricts 4K 120 Hz and 4K 50/60 Hz RGB or YUV444; 4K 50/60 Hz uses YUV420. On CFI-7000 model-group consoles, it also restricts 8K 60 Hz.

Because these settings trade signal formats for stability, they are troubleshooting options rather than general picture-quality improvements. Sony lists the restrictions in its PS5 resolution and video output guide.

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What are PSSR and PS5 upscaling?

Upscaling and output resolution are related but distinct. A game may render internally at one resolution and the console may send another; Sony says that a higher-native-resolution game downsampled to 1440p can benefit from improved anti-aliasing on a compatible display.

PSSR stands for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. Sony describes it as an image-quality feature for certain compatible games, not a mode used by every PS5 game. The support guide’s Enhance PSSR Image Quality option applies to certain PSSR-compatible games and is limited to the CFI-7000 model group. Turn it off if it causes unexpected behavior. Sony’s cited guide does not establish a complete supported-game list.

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Who can use PS5 8K output?

Allow 8K Output is documented for the CFI-7000 model group, not all PS5 models. It requires an 8K display that supports 60 Hz and DSC, as well as games that support 8K. The setting therefore does not mean every game runs at 8K or that every PS5 can output 8K. Check the model-specific requirements in PlayStation’s video output guide.

Compare display modes by the signal and the game

If a display offers multiple modes, compare the results the PS5 and the game actually support rather than choosing by a label alone.

What to compare What to check
Output mode Current Video Output Signal: resolution and refresh rate.
Game support Whether the specific game supports the frame-rate or graphics mode you want.
HDR Whether content is HDR-compatible and how On When Supported differs from Always On.
VRR Whether the display and game support it, and whether behavior is stable.
Connection The cable, the display’s appropriate HDMI port, and any receiver or intermediary.
1440p combinations Use Test 1440p Output to check SDR/HDR, 60/120 Hz and VRR combinations on your display.

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