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For 4K gaming at 120Hz on an LG OLED, connect the console or PC directly to an HDMI 2.1-capable TV port, select that HDMI input, and open All Settings > General > Game Optimizer. Enable VRR and ALLM when your model and source support them. Then match the console or PC output settings to the TV. The exact menu names and maximum refresh rate vary by LG OLED model and webOS version, so confirm the manual for your television.

This guide gives working baselines for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and gaming PCs, explains the trade-offs between VRR, fixed 120Hz and picture controls, and provides a troubleshooting sequence for missing 4K/120Hz, flicker or blocked settings.

What HDMI 2.1 changes on an LG OLED

HDMI 2.1 provides the bandwidth and gaming features needed for 4K output at up to 120 frames per second on supported sources. It also carries variable refresh rate (VRR), automatic low-latency mode (ALLM) and, on compatible televisions and games, HDR formats such as Dolby Vision for Gaming.

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VRR continually matches the panel refresh to the game’s changing frame rate. That reduces tearing and helps prevent judder when a game cannot hold a fixed 120 frames per second. ALLM detects a game signal and switches the TV to its low-delay gaming mode. LG describes ALLM as technology that reduces the delay between console input and TV output, including game sounds and images.

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HDMI 2.1 is not identical across every LG OLED. LG’s gaming overview lists supported model families, while individual manuals define the number of full-bandwidth ports, VRR range and maximum refresh rate. For example, LG’s 2024 G4 specification lists 4K 120 fps over HDMI, a 120Hz native panel, VRR up to 144Hz on listed sizes, response time below 0.1ms, Game Optimizer, ALLM, NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility, AMD FreeSync compatibility, HGiG and Dolby Vision for Gaming at 4K 120Hz. Treat those figures as G4 specifications, not as a guarantee for every OLED model.

Recommended baseline settings by platform

Source LG OLED Source-device settings Connection
PlayStation 5 Select the PS5 input, choose Game Optimizer, and enable VRR and ALLM where available. Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output: Resolution Automatic or 2160p; 120 Hz Output On; VRR On; Video Transfer Rate Automatic. Direct to an HDMI 2.1-capable TV port with the included PS5 lead or a certified Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable.
Xbox Series X|S Select the Xbox input, choose Game Optimizer, and leave VRR and ALLM enabled when reported as supported. Open the Xbox display configuration and run its 4K, 120Hz and VRR capability tests. Direct to the correct HDMI 2.1 port with a certified cable rated for the required bandwidth.
Gaming PC Select the PC input, use Game Optimizer, and enable VRR & G-Sync for a compatible NVIDIA GPU. Enable the corresponding FreeSync option for AMD when present. Set 4K and the desired refresh rate in the operating system or GPU control panel, then verify that adaptive sync is active. Use a direct HDMI connection; adapters, docks and receivers can prevent full-signal negotiation.

Set up the LG OLED first

  1. Connect the console or PC directly to an HDMI 2.1-capable input on the television. Do not begin with an AV receiver, soundbar passthrough or HDMI switch while diagnosing the signal.
  2. Press the LG remote’s settings button, choose All Settings > General > Game Optimizer, and select the HDMI input carrying the game device.
  3. Turn on Game Optimizer. This is the TV-side picture mode that prioritizes low input delay and exposes gaming controls.
  4. Open the VRR control and enable it on supported webOS versions. For NVIDIA PCs, open VRR & G-Sync; LG notes that this control is enabled only when an HDMI cable is connected and the TV is using Game Optimizer screen mode.
  5. Leave ALLM enabled if you want the TV to switch automatically into low-latency mode. If you need unrestricted picture adjustments, temporarily disable ALLM, make the changes, and then restore your preferred setting.

Menu content can differ by model, region and webOS release. If Game Optimizer or a VRR control is absent, check the exact model manual rather than assuming the television is defective.

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PS5: 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM

TV settings

Select the HDMI input used by the PS5 and enable Game Optimizer. Turn on VRR and ALLM if the TV offers both. Use the television’s HDMI 2.1 port, not a lower-bandwidth input.

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PS5 settings

  1. On the PS5, open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
  2. Set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p.
  3. Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic or On, depending on the wording shown by your system software.
  4. Set VRR to On when the TV reports support. The optional setting to apply VRR to unsupported games can be enabled if you prefer smoother output, but results vary by title.
  5. Leave Video Transfer Rate on Automatic. Use -1 or -2 only when diagnosing flicker or an unstable signal.
  6. Review Current Video Output Signal on the same screen to confirm the negotiated resolution, refresh rate, HDR state and VRR status.

Sony states that PS5 supports the HDMI 2.1 specification and 4K 120Hz video output. Sony’s troubleshooting sequence still requires a compatible TV, current firmware, a direct connection to the correct HDMI 2.1 port and an Ultra-High-Speed cable. The cable supplied with the PS5 meets the normal starting requirement.

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Important ALLM and VRR interaction

If ALLM is completely disabled on the PS5, VRR output must also be disabled according to Sony’s guidance, because VRR output can continue to trigger the TV’s low-latency mode. If you want VRR, leave the console’s automatic low-latency behavior available and let Game Optimizer handle the TV mode.

Xbox Series X and Series S

TV settings

Select the Xbox HDMI input and enable Game Optimizer. Leave VRR and ALLM on when both the LG model and Xbox capability screen report support. If the options are missing, verify the model manual and HDMI port before changing console settings.

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Run the Xbox capability tests

  1. Open the Xbox Settings, then General > TV & display options.
  2. Set the resolution to 4K UHD when available.
  3. Open the 4K TV details or display-capability screen and check the indicators for 4K UHD, 120Hz and VRR.
  4. Set Refresh rate to 120Hz if the test confirms that the TV and cable support it.
  5. Return to the capability screen after any change. A missing check mark usually points to the HDMI path, TV input or cable rather than to an individual game’s settings.

Xbox Series X targets 4K/120Hz; Series S commonly renders at lower resolutions but can still use 120Hz and VRR where supported. The television’s model-specific limits remain the final authority.

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Gaming PC: 4K high refresh and adaptive sync

LG settings for NVIDIA and AMD

Select the HDMI input connected to the PC and choose Game Optimizer. For an NVIDIA GPU, open VRR & G-Sync in Game Optimizer and enable it. LG lists NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility on supported models. LG’s G4 specification also lists AMD FreeSync compatibility, so AMD users should enable the corresponding FreeSync option if it appears in the model’s menu.

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Windows and GPU control panel

  1. Connect the GPU directly to the TV with an HDMI cable rated for the desired resolution and refresh rate.
  2. In Windows display settings, select the LG OLED and choose 3840×2160 when available.
  3. Set 120Hz, 144Hz or another rate only if the television model, GPU and cable all support it. Consoles generally target 4K/120Hz; some newer LG OLED models and PCs can negotiate more than 120Hz.
  4. In the NVIDIA or AMD control panel, enable the relevant variable-refresh option and select the TV’s native PC resolution.
  5. Launch a game and verify that the display is running in VRR mode. If the signal drops out, return temporarily to 4K/60Hz, then increase refresh rate after checking the cable and port.

USB-C docks, DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters, capture devices and AV receivers can limit bandwidth or block the VRR handshake. Remove them while testing.

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Choosing between ALLM, VRR and fixed refresh

Choice Best when Trade-off
ALLM/Game Optimizer You want the lowest practical input delay and automatic game-mode switching. When ALLM is automatic, LG may disable some picture adjustments. Turn it off temporarily to tune those controls.
VRR Frame rate changes frequently or falls below a fixed target. It requires compatible TV, source, cable path and game support. The refresh rate is less predictable than a locked 120Hz signal.
Fixed 120Hz A game holds a stable 120-fps output and you prefer predictable timing. Frame drops can produce tearing or judder if VRR is not available.
Direct HDMI path You are establishing or troubleshooting 4K/120Hz. It may require temporarily bypassing a receiver or switch, but it provides the clearest diagnosis.

HDR, HGiG and picture-control considerations

Game Optimizer is a low-latency mode, not a single mandatory calibration. If your model offers HGiG, use it when you want the game’s HDR tone-mapping rules to control highlight detail and then complete the console’s HDR calibration. Dolby Vision for Gaming at 4K 120Hz is listed on LG’s G4 specification, but availability depends on the game, source and exact TV model.

Do not assume that every OLED supports every combination of 4K, HDR, VRR and refresh rate. A model may provide 4K/120Hz on multiple ports but have a narrower VRR range, a lower ceiling at a particular screen size or different behavior with Dolby Vision. Record the model number and webOS version before following advice written for another LG series.

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Troubleshooting missing 4K/120Hz, VRR or a stable picture

  1. Update everything. Install the latest LG TV firmware, PS5 or Xbox system software, and PC graphics driver.
  2. Use the simplest path. Connect the source directly to the TV’s HDMI 2.1 port. Bypass receivers, soundbars, switches, docks and adapters.
  3. Check the cable. Use the PS5-included lead or a certified Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120Hz. A cable that works at 4K/60Hz may fail at 4K/120Hz or with VRR.
  4. Reopen Game Optimizer. Confirm that the selected input is the one carrying the source and that VRR or VRR & G-Sync is enabled.
  5. Inspect the source’s signal page. On PS5, read Current Video Output Signal; on Xbox, rerun the 4K TV details test; on PC, check the operating-system refresh rate and GPU control panel.
  6. Address flicker. Keep PS5 Video Transfer Rate on Automatic first. If flicker remains, test -1 and then -2, which reduce signal demands. On PC, temporarily test 4K/60Hz, disable VRR, and raise settings one at a time.
  7. Restore picture controls. If a setting is greyed out, disable ALLM temporarily, adjust the picture, and then re-enable the desired low-latency behavior.
  8. Power-cycle the handshake. Turn off the TV and source, unplug both briefly, reconnect the direct HDMI path, then power on the TV before the console or PC.

If the TV still reports a lower capability, consult the exact model manual. LG states that Game Optimizer support and menu content are limited to select models, so a missing option can be a model limitation rather than a configuration error.

Final setup checklist

  • The source is connected directly to an HDMI 2.1-capable TV port.
  • The cable is the PS5-supplied cable or a certified Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable.
  • The correct HDMI input is selected before opening Game Optimizer.
  • Game Optimizer is active, with VRR and ALLM enabled where supported.
  • PS5 shows 2160p/120Hz-capable output settings; Xbox’s 4K TV details screen confirms 4K, 120Hz and VRR; or the PC control panel shows the intended 4K refresh rate.
  • The TV firmware and source software or drivers are current.
  • The exact LG OLED manual confirms the model’s port, VRR range and maximum refresh rate.

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