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On your Xbox Series X or Series S, go to Profile & system > Settings > General > TV & display options. Open 4K TV details first to see what the connected display and HDMI path report. Select the supported Resolution, then open Refresh rate and choose 120Hz if it is available. In Video modes, enable only the options your display supports: Allow 4K, Allow HDR10, Allow variable refresh rate, and Allow auto low-latency mode.
These settings configure the signal the console sends. They do not make a non-4K television display 4K, and a 120Hz output does not make every game render at 120 frames per second.
What you need before changing Xbox display settings
The Xbox can expose only capabilities detected across the entire connection. The console model, HDMI cable, HDMI input, television or monitor, and any receiver, soundbar, switch, or capture device in between all matter. Xbox Wire says Xbox Series X|S support up to 120Hz; the maximum resolution and refresh-rate combination still depends on the display, its input bandwidth, and the game.
Check the display and input
- Confirm that the television or monitor has the resolution and refresh rate you want. A panel advertised as 120Hz may not accept a 4K/120Hz signal on every input.
- Use the display input identified for high-bandwidth signals. Manufacturers may label it HDMI 2.1, 4K/120, 8K, Enhanced, or a similar term.
- Look in the display’s own menu for an enhanced HDMI, full-bandwidth, gaming, or input-signal-plus option. The exact label varies by model, so use its manual when the Xbox reports missing capabilities.
Use an appropriate cable
For a Series X 4K/120Hz setup, use the certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable supplied with the console or another certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Xbox’s guidance explains that advanced 4K features require an HDMI 2.1 connection in the relevant setup and recommends certified cabling. A cable cannot add capabilities that the console, display, receiver, or HDMI input does not have.
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If the Xbox passes through an AV receiver, soundbar, HDMI switch, or capture device, the cable must be suitable for both links: console-to-device and device-to-display. For the first test, connect the Xbox directly to the display so an intermediate device cannot hide a capability.
Enable 4K, HDR10, and 120Hz step by step
- Open the display settings. Press the Xbox button, choose Profile & system, open Settings, select General, and choose TV & display options.
- Read 4K TV details. Select 4K TV details. The screen lists the capabilities Xbox detects from the current HDMI connection. Treat this as a diagnostic report for the complete signal path, not just the television’s advertised panel specification.
- Choose the resolution. Under Display, open Resolution and select the highest resolution that the 4K TV details screen confirms. A Series X commonly targets 4K on a compatible display. Series S owners should select only the resolution actually reported by their display and connection.
- Set the refresh rate. Open Refresh rate and choose 120Hz when the option appears. If 120Hz is not listed, leave the supported value selected and use the troubleshooting section below rather than forcing an unsupported mode.
- Enable video modes individually. In Video modes, turn on Allow 4K, Allow HDR10, Allow variable refresh rate, and Allow auto low-latency mode only when the 4K TV details screen and the display documentation indicate support. Applying one change at a time makes it clear which feature causes a problem.
- Let the display resync. The screen may go black briefly while the television or monitor changes mode. Wait for the picture to return before making another change. If the display stays blank, follow the recovery steps under troubleshooting.
What each Xbox option actually does
Resolution and Allow 4K
Resolution selects the output format the console uses for the dashboard and games. Allow 4K permits compatible games, video, and system content to use a 4K UHD signal when the display and signal path support it. It is not an upscaling switch that creates detail unavailable from the source.
Xbox troubleshooting guidance recommends temporarily turning off Allow 4K when 4K playback produces a blank screen or errors. Test at a lower supported resolution, verify the input and cable, then restore 4K after isolating the cause.
Allow HDR10
Allow HDR10 enables HDR10 output for supported content and displays. HDR changes the range of brightness and color values; it is separate from resolution and refresh rate. A television can accept 4K without HDR, or HDR without accepting 4K/120Hz, so verify each capability independently.
If the picture has incorrect colors, a gray veil, crushed highlights, or an unexpectedly dark image, Xbox recommends testing with Allow HDR10 and related HDR modes disabled. If the image becomes normal, update the display firmware and check its HDR picture mode before re-enabling the option.
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Refresh rate and 120Hz
Refresh rate controls how frequently the Xbox sends a new display frame. Selecting 120Hz tells a compatible display to operate at up to 120 refreshes per second. It does not guarantee that a game produces 120 frames per second.
The game must provide its own 120-FPS or performance mode, and some titles reduce resolution, ray-tracing effects, shadows, or other visual settings to reach that target. If a game has no 120-FPS mode, the console can still output a 120Hz signal while that game renders at a lower frame rate.
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Allow variable refresh rate
Allow variable refresh rate lets a compatible display adjust its refresh timing to the game’s changing frame rate. This can reduce tearing and make uneven frame delivery appear smoother. It requires support from the display and the correct HDMI path.
Xbox recommends disabling VRR temporarily if it causes visual corruption. Test the game at a fixed 60Hz output first; if the corruption disappears, check display firmware and compatibility before trying VRR again.
Allow auto low-latency mode
Allow auto low-latency mode allows a compatible television or monitor to switch automatically to its low-latency gaming mode when the Xbox is active. It does not increase frame rate or resolution. If your display does not report ALLM support, leave the option off and select the display’s gaming mode manually when needed.
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120Hz output versus 120 frames per second
These terms describe different parts of the system:
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- 120 FPS is the rate at which a particular game renders frames.
- A game can render at 30 or 60 FPS while the console continues sending a 120Hz signal.
- A game that supports 120 FPS may offer a separate performance option and may lower resolution or visual quality to maintain that target.
For example, Epic’s Fortnite instructions require players to enable 120Hz in the Xbox display menu and then configure the game’s own performance setting. The Xbox setting alone does not activate a game’s 120-FPS mode. See Epic’s Fortnite support instructions for that title-specific step.
Series X and Series S: what to expect
Both consoles use the same TV & display options workflow and support output up to 120Hz. The achievable combination of resolution and refresh rate depends on the console, display, HDMI input, cable, and game.
Series X
Series X is the usual target for 4K at 120Hz when paired with a display and HDMI path that support the mode. Select 4K in Resolution, confirm that 4K TV details reports the required capabilities, and then test 120Hz. Individual games still decide whether they render at 120 FPS.
Series S
Series S owners should not assume that a 4K/120Hz combination is available simply because the display is marketed as 4K/120Hz. Use the console’s 4K TV details screen as the authority for the connected setup. Select the highest supported resolution and refresh rate that it reports. A 120Hz-capable display may still run a particular Series S game at a lower resolution or frame rate.
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Why HDMI 2.1 and the signal path matter
For the most demanding 4K/120Hz configuration, the relevant HDMI input and every device in the path must carry the required bandwidth. Having one HDMI 2.1 input somewhere on a television is not enough if the Xbox is connected to a lower-bandwidth input.
Direct connection test
- Disconnect the receiver, soundbar, switch, or capture device from the video path.
- Connect the Xbox directly to the television or monitor’s identified high-bandwidth HDMI input.
- Use the certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Restart the display and Xbox, then reopen 4K TV details.
- If the capabilities appear now, the intermediate device or one of its cables is limiting the signal. Check whether that device supports the required 4K/120Hz, HDR, VRR, and ALLM passthrough before reconnecting it.
Audio equipment can remain connected through an alternative audio route while you diagnose video. Once the direct connection works, add devices back one at a time so you know exactly which component changes the detected capabilities.
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Use the symptom that matches what you see, make one change, and then return to 4K TV details to verify the result.
120Hz is missing
- Confirm that the display supports 120Hz at the resolution currently selected. Some displays allow 120Hz only at 1080p or 1440p, not 4K.
- Connect to the display’s specific high-bandwidth HDMI input and enable its enhanced or full-bandwidth mode.
- Replace an uncertified or damaged cable with the supplied cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
- Bypass an AV receiver, soundbar, switch, or capture device and test the Xbox directly.
- Select the supported resolution first, return to Refresh rate, and check again for 120Hz.
- Install current firmware for the Xbox, display, and any passthrough equipment.
The Xbox says the TV does not support 4K
Open 4K TV details and inspect which individual capability is missing. Check that the Xbox is connected to the correct input, that the input is set to its enhanced mode, and that every cable and passthrough device supports the desired signal. If the display still reports no 4K support, select a lower resolution temporarily and test the Xbox directly against the display. Do not infer capability from the television’s marketing page alone; the active input and mode determine what Xbox can detect.
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- Wait briefly for the display to resynchronize.
- If the picture does not return, disable Allow 4K temporarily and test a lower resolution.
- Reconnect the Xbox directly to the display with a certified cable.
- Update firmware on the display, Xbox, and any receiver or switch.
- Re-enable 4K after the connection is stable, then test HDR, VRR, and 120Hz separately.
Xbox’s published guidance specifically recommends disabling Allow 4K temporarily when 4K playback causes a blank screen or errors. This is a diagnostic step, not a permanent requirement.
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HDR colors look wrong
- Confirm that the display’s HDR mode is enabled for the active HDMI input.
- Test with Allow HDR10 disabled. If the colors return to normal, check the display’s HDR picture mode and firmware.
- Test with Auto HDR or other related HDR modes disabled, then restore options one at a time.
- Verify that a receiver or switch is not converting or stripping HDR metadata.
VRR causes flicker or corruption
Turn off Allow variable refresh rate and return the output to a fixed 60Hz while testing. If the image is stable, update the display firmware and confirm its supported VRR range. Re-enable VRR only after the fixed-rate test is reliable.
The picture is stable at 60Hz but not 120Hz
This usually identifies a bandwidth or compatibility limit rather than a console fault. Recheck the cable certification, display input, enhanced HDMI setting, and passthrough equipment. Try 120Hz at a lower resolution if the display manual permits it. If that works, the display may not support 4K/120Hz on the selected input even though it supports 120Hz in another mode.
How to compare a TV or monitor for Xbox Series X|S
When an upgrade is necessary, compare the actual input capabilities rather than the panel’s headline refresh rate.
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| Comparison point | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Native resolution | 4K UHD, 1440p, or 1080p on the input you will use | Determines the sharpness and maximum resolution the Xbox can send. |
| 120Hz input | Whether 120Hz is accepted at your chosen resolution | A 120Hz panel may accept 120Hz only at a lower resolution. |
| HDMI 2.1 | Which physical inputs provide the required bandwidth | The Xbox must use the capable input; a specification elsewhere on the product is not enough. |
| HDR | HDR10 support and the input’s HDR mode | Enables compatible games and video to use HDR10 output. |
| VRR | Supported VRR technology and operating range | Allows refresh timing to follow changing game frame rates. |
| ALLM | Automatic low-latency support | Lets the display switch to gaming mode automatically. |
| Firmware support | Update history and manufacturer support for the exact model | Firmware can affect HDMI compatibility, HDR behavior, VRR, and 120Hz modes. |
| Number and location of high-bandwidth inputs | How many capable ports exist and where they are located | Useful when you connect multiple consoles, a receiver, or a sound system. |
| Passthrough equipment | Receiver or soundbar support for the same resolution, HDR, VRR, and refresh rate | One incompatible component can reduce the capabilities reported by Xbox. |
A reliable order for testing features
Changing every option at once makes failures difficult to diagnose. Use this sequence after a direct connection is established:
- Confirm the display’s input mode and cable.
- Set the supported resolution.
- Test 60Hz output and verify a stable picture.
- Set 120Hz and verify that the display remains stable.
- Enable Allow 4K and test compatible content.
- Enable Allow HDR10 and check colors and brightness.
- Enable VRR, then test for flicker or corruption.
- Enable ALLM and confirm that the display switches to its low-latency mode.
- Add the receiver, soundbar, switch, or capture device back into the path and recheck 4K TV details.
This order separates resolution, refresh rate, HDR, variable timing, and automatic gaming mode. If one step fails, leave later options unchanged until the underlying connection is corrected.
Where to find official guidance
Xbox Wire’s display guide explains the Series X|S output limits, cable and HDMI requirements, and recovery steps for 4K, HDR, and VRR problems: Xbox Wire: Is your TV ready to power your dreams?
For a game-specific 120-FPS setup, consult that game’s support documentation after enabling 120Hz at the console level. Fortnite’s instructions, for example, add an in-game performance setting after the Xbox display change: Epic Games support. Control’s support documentation likewise distinguishes configuring a higher display refresh rate from the game’s own behavior: Remedy support.
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