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Xbox Series X|S supports output up to 120Hz, not 240Hz. To find out whether a particular game can use a 120fps mode, check the publisher’s information for that title, then confirm that your Xbox and the entire display connection support 120Hz at your chosen resolution. The “Optimized for Series X|S” badge alone does not promise 120fps.

Check whether the game has a 120fps mode

Look for an explicit statement about 120fps, 120Hz, or a performance mode in the game publisher’s product page, support pages, patch notes, or the game’s own video and graphics settings. Xbox says Optimized games can offer higher, steadier frame rates up to 120fps, but the enhancements vary by game; its guidance is to check with the publisher for details (Xbox: Optimized for Series X|S).

Do not treat “Optimized for Series X|S” as a frame-rate certification. Optimization can mean different improvements, including visuals or loading, and does not by itself establish a 120fps mode.

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Check whether Xbox can send a 120Hz signal

  1. On the console, open Settings > General > TV & display options.

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  2. Check the available refresh-rate choices. Select 120Hz if it is offered and appropriate for the resolution you want to use.

  3. If 120Hz is not available, open the console’s TV details screen and check the display manufacturer’s specifications for the exact HDMI input and resolution/refresh-rate combination.

  4. Trace the whole signal path: check the Xbox HDMI port connection, cable, display input, and any receiver, switch, or capture device between the console and display. Any part of that path may limit the available mode.

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Xbox’s TV guide describes Series X|S support for refresh rates up to 120Hz and explains that supported content and a compatible display are necessary (Xbox Wire: Xbox Series X|S TV guide). The console’s TV details screen can help identify display capabilities; Epic’s Fortnite instructions also use it when explaining how to select a refresh rate (Epic Games: Enable 120 FPS mode for Fortnite).

Understand what 120fps and 120Hz tell you

Frames per second (fps) refers to how many frames a game renders or delivers per second. Hertz (Hz) refers to how often a display refreshes each second. A game needs to offer a suitable high-frame-rate mode, and the connected display path must accept the corresponding signal, to show the full benefit. Setting the console to 120Hz does not make every game render at 120fps.

Xbox’s Series X|S hardware fact sheet likewise says 120fps requires supported content and a supported display (Xbox: Series X and Series S hardware fact sheet). So check both the game and the signal path rather than relying on either the console setting or the display’s headline refresh-rate claim alone.

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Check FPS Boost separately for backward-compatible games

FPS Boost is a title-specific feature for selected backward-compatible games; it is not a general setting that raises frame rates across the library. Xbox describes the per-game control under Manage Game > Compatibility Options, and its backward-compatibility catalog includes an FPS Boost filter (Xbox Wire: FPS Boost).

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For a game that may use FPS Boost, check its entry in the catalog or open its compatibility options on the console. Do not assume every backward-compatible title supports the feature.

What if the display is rated for 240Hz?

A 240Hz-rated monitor or TV does not increase the Xbox Series X|S output ceiling: the official Xbox guidance cited here specifies up to 120Hz. A 240Hz display may still be used at a refresh rate the console supports, but it will not make an Xbox game output at 240Hz. Consider 240Hz only if you also want that capability for another device.

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If you are choosing a display for Xbox, verify the refresh rate at the resolution you intend to use and confirm that the specific HDMI input supports that combination. Also account for any receiver, switch, or other device in the signal path. The display manufacturer’s documentation is the place to confirm model-specific support.

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Quick check

Game modes, console menus, and display support can change. Verify a named game’s current options with its publisher and check the current instructions for your console and display.

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