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Connect the Xbox’s HDMI output to an HDMI input on your TV, turn on the console, and select that same HDMI input on the TV. The HDMI cable supplied with the console is the right place to start; a different cable or a new TV is not required for basic play. Higher resolutions and refresh rates depend on the console, cable, TV, and the specific HDMI port all supporting the mode.
Connect the Xbox and select the TV input
- Turn off the TV and console. This makes it easier to connect the cable securely.
- Connect HDMI. Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI output on the Xbox and the other into an HDMI input on the TV. Start with the cable supplied with the console.
- Turn on the TV and Xbox. Use the TV remote’s Input or Source control to select the HDMI port you used, such as HDMI 1 or HDMI 2.
- Check the picture. If the Xbox home screen appears, the basic connection is working. If the TV reports no signal, verify the selected input and that both cable ends are firmly seated.
For Xbox One S, Xbox recommends using the included cable and connecting directly to a 4K UHD TV for best results. If you route the console through another device, such as a receiver, that device must support 4K UHD and HDCP 2.2 for that path to retain those capabilities. Xbox Wire’s Xbox One S guidance explains the requirements.
Choose the right HDMI cable and TV port
For ordinary play, use the supplied HDMI cable. If you are replacing it for a compatible 4K/120 Hz setup, an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is an appropriate choice; it is not a mandatory purchase if the supplied cable already works. Sony’s TV guide for video game consoles recommends the supplied console cable or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for 4K/120 Hz and advises using a TV input labeled for that mode, or enabling the TV’s applicable enhanced signal format.
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Check which display modes your Xbox and TV support
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox Series X|S support up to 120 Hz, Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), according to Xbox Wire’s TV readiness guide. These are console capabilities, not guarantees that every TV and connection will offer each mode. The television and the HDMI input in use must also support the feature.
On the console, open Settings → General → TV & Display Options, then check 4K TV details to see which 4K capabilities the connected display reports. If a desired option is missing, confirm the TV’s port and signal-format settings before concluding that the console or cable is the problem.
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Xbox One S and Xbox One X
Xbox Wire’s 2017 guidance lists 4K output modes of 3840 × 2160 at 24 Hz, 50 Hz, or 60 Hz for Xbox One S and Xbox One X. Those modes still depend on a compatible TV and connection. See Xbox Wire’s 4K and HDR guidance for the model-specific context.
Older Xbox models
The setup above describes an HDMI connection. Cable options and exact steps vary across Xbox generations, particularly for older consoles. For a model without the HDMI output described here, consult that console’s manual and the TV manual rather than assuming the same connection applies.
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Troubleshoot a missing picture or unavailable 4K/120 Hz
The TV shows no signal
- Check that the TV is set to the same HDMI input the Xbox is connected to.
- Reseat both ends of the HDMI cable and confirm it is connected to the Xbox’s HDMI output.
- Temporarily connect the Xbox directly to the TV, bypassing a receiver, switch, or other intermediate device.
The picture works, but an advanced mode is missing
- Look up the exact TV model’s HDMI input capabilities and use the port specified for the target mode.
- Check the TV’s settings or manual for an enhanced HDMI signal format that may need to be enabled on that port.
- Connect the console directly to the TV temporarily, then open Settings → General → TV & Display Options → 4K TV details on Series X|S and review the detected capabilities.
For a Series X signal path that includes an intermediate device, Xbox recommends testing a direct TV-to-console connection with the included cable. If you want to keep an audio device in the setup, use the TV’s ARC/eARC connection for audio where appropriate; the exact arrangement depends on the TV and audio equipment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When a different cable or TV makes sense
Consider replacing the cable only if the existing one is damaged, unreliable, or cannot support a display mode that the console, TV, and port otherwise support. For a display upgrade, compare the exact TV’s resolution, refresh rate, HDR, VRR, and ALLM support, and check which individual HDMI inputs provide those features. A higher specification on the TV alone does not guarantee the desired mode through every port or device in the signal path.
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