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The best PS5 settings depend on the result you want and on what your display, HDMI connection, game, audio equipment and PS5 model support. For smoother motion, enable 120 Hz and VRR only when both the screen and game support them. For image accuracy, use HDR: On When Supported and run Adjust HDR on your own screen. For clearer sound, configure the output device and measure TV-speaker 3D audio from your normal seat. Accessibility and power options solve different problems and should not be treated as universal performance upgrades.
Use the following paths as a safe starting point. Change one setting at a time, test a game or app, and revert the change if you see flicker, missing output, washed-out color or unexpected gameplay behavior.
Start with the outcome you want
There is no single “best” PS5 configuration. A 4K television with a 120 Hz panel has different useful options from a 60 Hz monitor, and a game must support a feature before it can use it. Your HDMI port, cable path, display firmware and console model can also affect which choices appear.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Priority | Settings to investigate | What must support it | Main trade-off or failure mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoother motion | 120 Hz Output, VRR | Compatible display, correct HDMI port and a game that supports the feature | Output problems, flicker or inconsistent behavior in some games |
| Lower perceived input delay | ALLM, VRR when appropriate | Display low-latency support; VRR can itself trigger low-latency mode | Not every HDMI 2.1 display implements the same features |
| Accurate HDR | On When Supported, Adjust HDR | HDR-capable screen and correctly configured display input | Always On changes SDR games and apps to HDR output |
| Clearer TV audio | 3D Audio (TV), output-device settings | TV speakers and a quiet measurement position | 3D processing may sound less natural to some listeners |
| Headphone listening | Audio Output settings for the connected headset | Compatible wired or wireless headset | Device-specific controls and profiles vary |
| Ease of use | Accessibility and controller options | Your particular needs and each game’s supported features | These improve usability, not frame rate or image quality |
| Lower power use | Power Saver | A game that supports Sony’s Power Saver features | Performance can scale back; VR and other features may be unavailable or limited |
Sony’s feature overview explains that capabilities vary by compatible equipment and software: PS5 features: Discover new ways to play on PlayStation 5.
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Open the PS5 video settings first
Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. This is where resolution, refresh-rate output, VRR, ALLM and related signal options are managed. Leave automatic choices alone unless you have a specific compatibility or troubleshooting reason to override them.
Resolution: keep Automatic unless you have a reason to override it
Resolution: Automatic lets the PS5 negotiate an output with the connected display. Choosing a fixed resolution can help diagnose a display that reports capabilities incorrectly, but it can also prevent the console from using a mode the screen supports. Sony’s resolution guidance is documented in How to change PS5 console resolution.
Some compatible televisions and monitors offer 1440p output. It can be useful when a display is designed around 1440p, but it is not automatically sharper or better than 4K. Use the console’s test option, if available, and choose the mode that matches your panel and viewing distance rather than assuming a higher number is always preferable.
120 Hz Output: enable the signal, not a guaranteed frame rate
- Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic or enable it when the option is presented.
- Confirm that the television or monitor supports 120 Hz at the resolution you intend to use and that the PS5 is connected to the display’s compatible HDMI input.
- Use a game that specifically supports a 120-frame-per-second or 120 Hz mode, then select that mode in the game’s own graphics settings if required.
This setting allows the PS5 to send a 120 Hz signal; it does not make every game render at 120 frames per second. If a supported game produces video-output problems on your monitor or television, Sony advises disabling 120 Hz Output and testing again.
VRR: useful only with a compatible display and game
- In Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, set VRR to Automatic on a compatible HDMI 2.1 variable-refresh-rate display.
- Launch a game that supports VRR and check its own graphics or display menu for a VRR option.
- Leave Apply to Unsupported Games off unless you want to experiment with the optional behavior.
VRR synchronizes the display’s refresh timing with the console’s changing output, but the result depends on the television and game. Applying VRR to unsupported games can produce unexpected behavior; turn that option off if you see visual artifacts or instability. The same Sony video guide covers these controls: How to change PS5 console resolution.
ALLM: let the display switch to its low-latency mode
ALLM asks a compatible television to use its low-latency or game mode while you play. It is not present or implemented identically on every HDMI 2.1 set. Sony also notes that VRR output can cause a television to enter low-latency mode even when ALLM is set to Off. If you need to disable that behavior completely, disable VRR as well.
Video Transfer Rate: a troubleshooting control
Keep Video Transfer Rate at Automatic for normal use. If a 4K signal flickers, drops out or repeatedly renegotiates, reduce the setting and test again. This can make the signal more conservative, but it may also limit the combination of resolution, color format or refresh rate available. If reducing it does not help, test the PS5’s bundled HDMI cable, another compatible HDMI input and a direct connection that bypasses receivers or switches.
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Configure HDR for the actual screen
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > HDR. Choose between two behaviors rather than assuming one is universally superior.
| HDR option | What the PS5 does | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Always On | Converts SDR games and apps to HDR output as well as sending HDR content in HDR. | Only if you prefer the display’s handling of converted SDR and accept that unsupported content will no longer remain SDR. |
| On When Supported | Outputs HDR where the game or app supports it and leaves unsupported content in SDR. | A conservative starting point for a mixed library and for preserving the creator’s SDR presentation. |
Run Adjust HDR after changing the display or its picture mode
- Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Adjust HDR.
- Follow each screen’s instruction using the same television or monitor, HDMI input and picture mode you use for games.
- Make the symbol in each step barely visible as instructed by the calibration screen; do not use a different display or switch inputs halfway through.
- Play an HDR game and check bright highlights, dark details and skin tones. If the result looks clipped, dim or unusually gray, rerun the adjustment and check the display’s HDR picture mode.
HDR image quality depends on the entire home-entertainment setup, not only the console. Sony’s instructions are in How to enable HDR on a PS5 console.
Make PS5 audio fit your output device
Go to Settings > Sound > Audio Output. Select the connected television, receiver, soundbar or headset and review its available format and device controls. The exact options depend on what the PS5 detects, so do not copy a setting intended for a different output chain.
Set up 3D audio through TV speakers
- Open Settings > Sound > 3D Audio (TV).
- Sit in your normal play position, at the same distance and height you usually use.
- Follow the on-screen measurement steps while using the wireless controller’s built-in microphone. Keep the room reasonably quiet during the measurement.
- Compare the stereo and 3D-audio examples when prompted.
- Keep the mode that gives you the clearest dialogue, positional cues and overall balance; preference is valid if stereo sounds more natural in your room.
This process creates a profile for the TV-speaker setup rather than for a headset. If you move the television, change seating significantly or use different speakers, repeat the measurement. Sony’s procedure is described in How to set up 3D audio on PS5 consoles.
Use a headset only when it suits your listening situation
A headset is optional, not a requirement for “better” PS5 settings. Connect the device, select it under Settings > Sound > Audio Output, then inspect the controls the PS5 exposes for microphone, volume, chat balance and 3D audio. Features differ by connected device. If game sound is missing, verify that output has not remained set to the television or that a mute, chat-balance or physical volume control is not suppressing game audio.
For the complete device-dependent menu, see Sony’s How to change audio settings on PS5 consoles.
Use accessibility and controller options for usability
Open Settings > Accessibility. Choose only the controls that solve a real need; these features are not performance tweaks.
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- Controllers: remap buttons or adjust controller-related behavior when a different layout is easier to operate.
- Display and text: change text size, bold text, contrast, color-correction options or other visual presentation controls available on the console.
- Zoom: enlarge part of the screen when small interface elements are difficult to read.
- Screen reader: have supported interface text read aloud and adjust its behavior.
- Captions: configure caption presentation for supported system content.
- Chat transcription: convert supported voice chat to text and, where available, text to speech.
- Mono audio: combine left and right channels when stereo separation makes important sounds difficult to hear.
Games can add their own subtitle, color, navigation, aim-assist, remapping and difficulty options. Open a game’s PlayStation game hub and inspect its listed accessibility features before assuming the console-wide setting covers it. Sony’s console menu is documented in How to use accessibility settings on PS5 consoles.
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Power Saver is a choice between lower consumption and game capability, not a universal quality improvement. Open Settings > System > Power Saving and review the Power Saver option if your supported games offer it. Sony says the feature can scale performance back, make VR unavailable and limit other gameplay features. If frame rate, resolution or a VR feature matters more than reduced consumption, leave it off for those games.
Rest-mode behavior is configured separately under Settings > System > Power Saving. Set the time before the PS5 enters rest mode and decide which rest-mode functions you want, such as network connectivity or USB power, according to your update, charging and energy priorities. Sony’s guidance is available at How to change power-saving settings on PlayStation consoles.
Practical starting profiles
| Your setup or goal | Starting choices | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| 4K television, 120 Hz panel, compatible HDMI 2.1 input | Resolution Automatic; 120 Hz Output enabled; VRR Automatic; ALLM enabled if supported; HDR On When Supported; run Adjust HDR | Use the display’s designated high-bandwidth HDMI port and a supported game before judging the result. |
| 60 Hz television or monitor | Resolution Automatic; leave 120 Hz unavailable or off; use HDR only if the screen supports it; calibrate with Adjust HDR | Do not expect a 120 Hz or 120-fps mode from a 60 Hz panel. |
| 1440p monitor | Test 1440p output if offered; otherwise leave Resolution Automatic | Compare readability and compatibility; 1440p is not automatically superior to 4K output. |
| TV speakers in a shared room | Select the TV as output; measure 3D Audio (TV), then compare it with stereo | Use your normal seat and repeat measurement after major room or speaker changes. |
| Headset user | Select the headset under Audio Output and configure its available controls | Check device-specific volume, microphone and chat-balance controls. |
| Accessibility-first setup | Configure only needed Accessibility options and inspect every game’s own accessibility menu | Some game features are independent of the PS5 system menu. |
| Lower-power supported game | Try Power Saver | Confirm whether VR, frame rate or other features become unavailable or limited. |
Fix common problems without losing your preferred setup
The screen flickers or loses the 4K signal
- Return to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and reduce Video Transfer Rate from Automatic.
- Reconnect the HDMI cable directly to the PS5 and the display’s compatible port.
- Test the HDMI cable bundled with the console before buying a replacement.
- Temporarily disable 120 Hz Output and VRR to identify which signal feature is involved.
Restore Automatic and the features that work once the connection is stable. If only one receiver, switch or HDMI port fails, that component or port is the likely limit.
120 Hz does not appear or a game remains at 60 frames per second
- Confirm the display supports 120 Hz at the selected resolution.
- Use the HDMI input specified by the display manufacturer for high refresh rate or HDMI 2.1 operation.
- Check the game’s own graphics menu; the console output setting cannot add a frame-rate mode the game does not provide.
- Verify that an intermediate receiver, capture device or switch is not restricting the signal.
VRR causes visual glitches
Turn off Apply to Unsupported Games first. If the problem remains, set VRR to Off and retest the game. Also test 120 Hz Output separately so you know which change altered the behavior.
HDR looks washed out or too dark
- Confirm the display input is in its HDR-capable mode.
- Use On When Supported if SDR content looks wrong under Always On.
- Run Adjust HDR again on the actual screen and picture mode.
- Check the game’s own HDR sliders; they are separate from the console calibration.
TV 3D audio sounds worse than stereo
Run the measurement again from your normal seat, reduce room noise and compare the examples. Keep stereo if it is clearer or more natural. The goal is intelligible, comfortable sound, not a particular label.
You need to undo several experiments
Reverse the last change first, then test. A reliable rollback sequence is: disable Apply to Unsupported Games, set VRR and 120 Hz Output to Off, return Video Transfer Rate to Automatic, select Resolution Automatic, choose On When Supported for HDR, and recheck Audio Output. Changing one item at a time preserves the information about what fixed the problem.
A safe order for tuning a new PS5 setup
- Connect the console directly to the display with the bundled HDMI cable and select the display’s compatible HDMI input.
- Leave Resolution and Video Transfer Rate on Automatic while confirming a stable picture.
- Set HDR behavior and run Adjust HDR on the final display picture mode.
- Enable 120 Hz only if both the display and a game support it.
- Enable VRR, then test a supported game before trying Apply to Unsupported Games.
- Review ALLM behavior, remembering that VRR can trigger low-latency mode independently.
- Configure TV-speaker 3D audio or select the headset, then test game and chat balance.
- Add accessibility changes that address your needs and inspect each game’s own options.
- Consider Power Saver only after deciding that its performance and feature limits are acceptable.
This order separates connection problems from game-specific behavior and keeps every change reversible.
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