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For the clearest picture and fastest response, connect your PS5 or Xbox Series X|S directly to a television HDMI input that supports 4K at 120Hz, enable that input’s Enhanced/4K120/VRR signal mode, select Game mode, and use a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Then configure 120Hz, VRR and HDR on the console and run its HDR calibration. A console setting cannot create 4K/120 capability that the TV, port or cable does not provide.
The exact menu names vary by television model and firmware. The workflow below separates settings that apply to almost every setup from the brand-specific switches that commonly prevent HDR or 120Hz from working.
What you need for 4K, HDR and 120Hz
PS5 and Xbox Series X|S can output 4K at 120Hz, but only when every part of the signal path supports it: the game, console, cable, HDMI input and television processing. Xbox Series X|S also supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). The PS5 supports HDMI 2.1, 4K 120Hz output, VRR and a 120Hz Output control.
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|---|---|---|
| Television panel and processing | Native 4K resolution, 120Hz panel/input support, HDR support and VRR support if required | A 60Hz or non-HDR set cannot be upgraded by changing console settings. |
| HDMI input | Port label such as 4K 120Hz, 4K 120Hz/8K, HDMI 2.1 or VRR | Many TVs have fewer full-bandwidth ports than total HDMI ports. |
| HDMI signal mode | Enhanced format, 4K120, 8K, VRR or the model’s equivalent | Standard mode may limit bandwidth and disable HDR or 120Hz. |
| Cable | Console-supplied cable or certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable | Older High Speed cables may fail at 4K/120, HDR and VRR bandwidth. |
| Connection path | Console connected directly to the TV while troubleshooting | Receivers, soundbars, splitters and switches can impose lower HDMI limits. |
| Firmware | Current TV, console and receiver firmware | Manufacturers frequently fix HDMI 2.1, VRR and HDR compatibility problems in updates. |
Connect the console to the correct HDMI port
- Find the HDMI socket marked 4K 120Hz, 4K 120Hz/8K, HDMI 2.1 or VRR. Use the television manual if the labels are unclear.
- Connect the PS5 or Xbox directly to that socket. Do not add an AV receiver, HDMI switch, capture device or soundbar until the direct connection works.
- Use the HDMI cable included with the console. Sony recommends the supplied cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for 4K/120Hz; Xbox recommends its included Ultra High Speed cable for HDMI 2.1 features.
- Open the television’s settings for that exact input and select its enhanced-bandwidth option. Typical labels include Enhanced format (4K120, 8K), Enhanced format (VRR), HDMI 2.1 or Input Signal Plus.
After changing the signal format, switch the TV to the console input again or restart the console if the display does not immediately renegotiate the signal.
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Use Game mode and low-latency features
Select Game, Game Optimizer or the television’s low-latency preset for the console input. These modes reduce image-processing delay by bypassing film-smoothing, noise reduction and other processing intended for video content. You can adjust brightness, contrast and color afterward without leaving Game mode.
If the TV and console support ALLM, automatic low-latency switching can select Game mode when a game signal is detected. On PS5, supported TV behavior and VRR output can trigger low-latency mode. If the TV remains in a movie or standard picture mode while playing, enable ALLM in the TV’s HDMI or gaming settings, or select Game mode manually.
- Keep motion interpolation, cinematic smoothing and frame interpolation off for games unless you deliberately accept extra delay.
- Disable overscan or set the picture size to the TV’s 1:1, Just Scan, Screen Fit or Full Pixel option so the console image is not cropped.
- Leave sharpness near the neutral point; excessive sharpening adds halos rather than detail.
- Turn off energy-saving picture restrictions while calibrating HDR, because they can change peak brightness during the test.
PS5 video settings for 4K HDR and 120Hz
On the PS5, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Configure the options in this order so the console first establishes a stable signal, then adds refresh-rate and HDR features.
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Resolution and 120Hz Output
- Set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p. Automatic lets the console negotiate the highest mode the TV reports; 2160p forces 4K when the display supports it.
- Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic or On. The switch affects games that offer a 120Hz mode; it does not make a 30fps or 60fps game render at 120fps.
- Set VRR to Automatic when the TV supports HDMI VRR. You can enable Apply to Unsupported Games only if you accept that some titles may show uneven frame pacing or visual artifacts outside their certified VRR mode.
- Leave Video Transfer Rate at Automatic. If you see flicker, sparkles, dropouts or an intermittent black screen, try -1, then -2 as a compatibility fallback. These options reduce the signal rate and can make a marginal cable or HDMI path stable.
PS5 HDR
Set HDR to On When Supported (or the equivalent automatic option) so the console sends HDR only to compatible content and displays. HDR must also be enabled for the TV input, and the television’s enhanced HDMI mode must be active. The PS5 menus expose HDR and video-output controls, but the TV’s manual determines whether that particular HDMI socket accepts HDR.
Run the PS5 HDR adjustment after the TV input is configured and Game mode is selected. Adjust each screen until the symbol is barely visible according to the on-screen instruction. Revisit the calibration if you change the TV’s picture mode, disable its enhanced signal format or move the console to another HDMI port.
Xbox Series X|S settings for 4K HDR and 120Hz
On Xbox, open Settings > General > TV & Display Options. This screen reports the negotiated resolution, refresh rate and available features.
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Resolution, refresh rate and diagnostics
- Set Resolution to 4K UHD when your TV supports 4K.
- Set Refresh rate to 120Hz when the TV, port and cable support it. If 120Hz is not listed, use the troubleshooting section below rather than forcing an unsupported mode.
- Open 4K TV details to see which capabilities Xbox detects. A missing check mark usually identifies the limiting part of the signal path.
- Select Setup > Calibrate TV to adjust brightness, contrast, overscan and aspect-ratio boundaries.
- Select Setup > Calibrate HDR for Games and complete every screen with the TV in its normal Game picture mode.
Xbox HDR and Dolby Vision
Enable HDR on the TV input and leave the console’s HDR options enabled when the display reports HDR support. If Xbox HDR produces abnormal colors after you have checked the cable, port, signal format and firmware, Microsoft documents temporarily clearing Allow HDR10 and/or Auto HDR. Correct the underlying HDMI path, then re-enable those options and run Calibrate HDR for Games again.
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Enable the television’s HDR and HDMI 2.1 switch
Many sets ship with bandwidth-saving HDMI inputs. The console can report only 60Hz, SDR or a limited color mode until you enable the input’s enhanced setting. Change the option while the console is connected to that input, then restart the console if necessary.
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| Television family named in Xbox guidance | Common setting to enable |
|---|---|
| LG | HDMI ULTRA HD Deep Color for the console input |
| Samsung | HDMI UHD Color for the console input |
| Sony BRAVIA | HDMI signal format: Enhanced, with the 4K120/VRR variant where offered |
| Panasonic | HDMI HDR Setting |
| Vizio | HDR or HDMI Mode 2.1, where the model provides it |
These names are examples, not universal instructions. Menu wording and supported options differ by model, region and firmware, so use the television manual to identify the equivalent setting.
Configure VRR without sacrificing stability
VRR synchronizes the TV’s refresh timing with a game’s changing frame rate, reducing tearing and uneven pacing. Enable VRR on both the console and TV when the display supports it. ALLM changes latency mode automatically; VRR changes timing. They solve different problems and can be used together.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchVRR is not a frame-rate generator. A game still needs to render within the TV’s supported VRR range, and a title must implement a compatible output mode. If the picture flickers, blanks or shows corruption with VRR enabled, update firmware first, confirm the correct HDMI 2.1 port and enhanced signal mode, then test with VRR disabled. On Xbox, selecting 60Hz is an additional fallback. On PS5, leave Video Transfer Rate at Automatic unless reducing it to -1 or -2 resolves the instability.
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Why 120Hz or HDR is missing
120Hz is not offered in the console menu
- Verify that the TV model has a native 120Hz panel and that the connected HDMI input—not merely another port on the set—supports 4K/120.
- Enable the TV’s Enhanced, 4K120, 8K, HDMI 2.1 or VRR signal format.
- Reconnect with the supplied Ultra High Speed cable and remove receivers, switches and splitters.
- Install current TV and console firmware, then restart both devices.
- Check the game’s own graphics menu. Many games require a Performance, 120Hz or High Frame Rate mode, and some render below 4K internally to reach 120fps.
HDR looks washed out, gray or too dark
- Confirm that HDR is enabled for the exact HDMI input and that Enhanced signal mode is active.
- Use the TV’s Game HDR picture mode rather than applying an SDR picture preset to HDR content.
- Run PS5’s HDR adjustment or Xbox’s Calibrate HDR for Games after the TV settings are correct.
- Check that the console is not sending HDR to an SDR display through an intermediate device.
- On Xbox, temporarily disable Allow HDR10 and/or Auto HDR only as a diagnostic step, then restore them after fixing the signal path.
The screen flickers, blanks or shows sparkles
- Update the TV, console and any receiver firmware.
- Confirm the console is in the television’s designated 4K120/VRR HDMI port and that Enhanced format is selected.
- Connect the console directly to the TV with the included or certified Ultra High Speed cable.
- On PS5, keep Resolution at Automatic or 2160p and Video Transfer Rate at Automatic; test -1 and then -2 only if needed.
- On Xbox, disable VRR or select 60Hz to determine whether the problem is specific to the high-refresh mode.
- If direct wiring works, reconnect intermediary equipment one device at a time and check its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth specification.
The TV switches out of Game mode
Enable ALLM on the TV and console where available, or select Game mode manually for the input. Some televisions use separate picture modes for SDR, HDR10 and Dolby Vision, so configure each mode when it first appears. A mode change can also occur when a console returns to the dashboard or opens a streaming app; that behavior is normal if the TV uses content-dependent presets.
Choosing a TV for PS5 or Xbox
When comparing models, treat “gaming” badges as a starting point rather than proof of a complete 4K/120 setup. Confirm the specifications and the manual for the exact model and region.
| Comparison point | Questions to answer before buying |
|---|---|
| Native refresh and resolution | Is the panel genuinely 4K and 120Hz, rather than accepting a 120Hz signal while displaying 60Hz? |
| HDMI 2.1 inputs | How many inputs support 4K/120, and do they support all required features simultaneously? |
| HDR behavior | Which HDR formats are accepted, and how does brightness change in Game mode? |
| VRR range | What refresh-rate range is supported, and does VRR work at 4K with HDR? |
| ALLM | Does the set switch to low-latency mode automatically with PS5 and Xbox? |
| Input lag | What is the manufacturer’s or independent measurement in Game mode at 4K/60 and 4K/120? |
| Input-specific toggle | Does the model require Enhanced HDMI, Deep Color, UHD Color or another switch for full bandwidth? |
Also count the location of the full-bandwidth ports. A side-mounted HDMI 2.1 input may be convenient for a console, while a wall-mounted installation may favor a rear port. If you plan to use two consoles, verify that both can occupy high-bandwidth ports at the same time rather than sharing one socket through a switch.
Recommended order for a new installation
- Update the TV and console firmware.
- Connect one console directly to the labeled 4K120/HDMI 2.1/VRR port with its supplied cable.
- Enable the TV’s Enhanced HDMI signal format and HDR input option.
- Select Game mode and enable ALLM if offered.
- Set the console to 4K, then enable 120Hz and VRR.
- Confirm the negotiated capabilities in the PS5 Video Output screen or Xbox 4K TV details.
- Run the console’s HDR calibration tool.
- Test a game that explicitly offers a 120Hz or high-frame-rate mode.
- Add a receiver, soundbar or switch only after the direct path is stable; verify each added device supports the same 4K/120, HDR and VRR features.
When 60Hz is the better setting
Use 60Hz when your TV is limited to 60Hz, when a game does not offer a 120Hz mode, or when 120Hz/VRR causes persistent dropouts after firmware, cable and direct-connection checks. A stable 4K HDR 60Hz signal is preferable to an intermittent 4K/120 signal. You can switch back to 120Hz after replacing the limiting cable or device, moving to the correct HDMI input or installing a compatibility update.
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