For a reliable PS5 picture baseline, leave Resolution on Automatic, set HDR to On When Supported if your screen supports HDR, and enable 120 Hz, VRR, or ALLM only when both the display and the game support them. These settings cannot add capabilities your TV, monitor, HDMI port, or game does not have.
Set a sensible PS5 resolution
- Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Check Current Video Output Signal to see what the connected HDMI device reports.
- Leave Resolution on Automatic for a typical setup. PlayStation Support says the console detects the TV’s capabilities and automatically selects the best available resolution. Choose 2160p when deliberately setting 4K and the display and connection support it. A PS5’s 4K capability alone does not guarantee 4K output. PlayStation Support: changing PS5 resolution.
If your display supports 1440p, use Test 1440p Output in the resolution options. The test checks SDR and HDR at 60 Hz and 120 Hz, as well as VRR; rely on the result for your particular display rather than assuming every mode works.
Enable and calibrate HDR
- Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- Set HDR to On When Supported if your screen supports HDR. This uses HDR for compatible games and apps while leaving non-HDR content in SDR.
- Choose Always On only if you want the PS5 to convert non-HDR content to HDR output as well.
- Select Adjust HDR and follow the on-screen prompts for your display. Calibration is screen-specific; there is no universal numeric setting to apply to every TV or monitor.
See PlayStation Support’s HDR setup guidance for the console’s HDR options.
Choose performance features your display and games support
Resolution, refresh rate, VRR, and ALLM do different jobs. Check your display’s specifications for the exact HDMI input you use, not just the model name or a general HDMI 2.1 label. Also account for any receiver or other device between the PS5 and screen.
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| Setting | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 120 Hz Output | Enables 120 Hz video output for compatible games and displays. | Turn it on when your display and the game support 120 Hz. It does not make an unsupported game render at a higher frame rate. |
| VRR | Adjusts the display refresh rate in real time for supported combinations. | Enable it if your display and game support VRR. Results vary by TV. |
| ALLM | Allows a supported TV to switch to a low-latency mode during gameplay. | Leave it at its default or automatic behavior when supported. The PS5 does not send the ALLM signal while a media app is running. VRR output can keep low-latency behavior active even when ALLM is Off; to fully turn ALLM off, turn VRR off too. |
These controls are in Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Consult PlayStation’s resolution guidance and its HDR guidance alongside your display manual when checking compatibility.
Keep Video Transfer Rate on Automatic unless troubleshooting
Video Transfer Rate is an output-bandwidth troubleshooting setting, not a general picture-quality upgrade. Keep it on Automatic unless you are diagnosing flicker or an unstable signal. Sony suggests trying -1 or -2 to limit the signal if needed, but both settings restrict some output modes.
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- -1: At 4K HDR 50/60 Hz, the available colour formats are YUV422 or YUV420. Some 4K modes, including 4K/120 Hz, can be limited.
- -2: At 4K 50/60 Hz, output uses YUV420. Some 4K modes, including 4K/120 Hz, can be limited.
If lowering the transfer rate resolves the problem, return to Automatic when you need the full output capability. The available format and mode depend on the signal and connected equipment. See Sony’s video-output troubleshooting guidance.
Fix missing or unstable 4K/120 Hz output
If the screen is blank, drops to 1080p/120 Hz, or does not offer 4K/120 Hz, check the whole signal path. Sony says the PS5 supports HDMI 2.1 specification and 4K/120 Hz output, while noting that issues can occur as the technology transitions across the market. HDMI 2.1 branding alone does not establish that a particular port supports every feature; verify the port and its capabilities in the display manual. Follow these checks:
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- Confirm that the TV or monitor supports 4K at 120 Hz.
- Update the display firmware.
- Connect the PS5 to the HDMI input that supports the required feature.
- If a receiver or other intermediary is in the signal path, connect the PS5 directly to the TV to check whether that device is limiting output.
- Set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p, and Video Transfer Rate to Automatic.
- Check the HDMI cable. Sony recommends the cable supplied with the PS5 or an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz. A replacement is only necessary if the supplied cable is missing or the cable in use is unsuitable.
These checks are from PlayStation Support’s 4K resolution guidance.
Correct cropping, borders, and RGB range only when needed
Do not change RGB Range as a routine enhancement. Sony advises changing it only if the HDMI device does not correctly send RGB range information. For cropped edges or a black border, use Settings > Screen and Video > Screen > Adjust Display Area instead.
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What to expect from model-specific options
Some options documented by PlayStation Support are limited to particular PS5 models, so do not assume they appear on every console. Sony describes 8K output as requiring an 8K/60 Hz display with Display Stream Compression and notes that VRR is disabled during 8K output. Consult the model-specific details in Sony’s resolution guide before treating 8K or other model-restricted features as available to your console.
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