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Connect your console or PC to the HDMI input that your exact TV or monitor model identifies as supporting 4K at 120Hz. There is no universal answer such as “HDMI 1”: capabilities differ by model, and some displays require you to enable an Enhanced or 4K120 signal format for that input. If you use eARC/ARC for a soundbar, check whether that input also supports 4K at 120Hz before assigning devices.

Find the input that supports 4K at 120Hz

Check the display’s port labels and official manual or support page for its HDMI input-capability chart. Look for an input explicitly identified as “4K 120Hz,” “4K120,” or equivalent. Sony’s guidance likewise tells users to connect a compatible console to a port labelled 4K 120Hz or 4K 120Hz 8K, or to one identified by the applicable signal-format setting. Sony’s console connection guidance explains the labels to look for.

Do not infer capability from the port number or from an “HDMI 2.1” label alone. The number of high-bandwidth inputs and their supported combinations vary by display model and regional variant. HDMI Licensing Administrator says a 4K TV marketed as HDMI 2.1 should identify whether one or more ports support 4K at 120Hz. HDMI.org’s explanation of HDMI 2.1 product features provides that guidance.

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Match the whole signal chain

A 4K 120Hz signal reaches the screen only when the source, display input, cable, and any device between them all support the requested mode. HDR and VRR support also depend on the capabilities of the devices and the selected input; a port that handles 4K 120Hz does not automatically support every combination of features or content.

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  • Source: Confirm the console or PC can output 4K at 120Hz and the HDR or VRR features you want. For example, Sony documents HDMI 2.1 and 4K 120Hz output for PS5, but the display and selected input must support the mode too. Sony’s PS5 4K-resolution guide covers its output capabilities.
  • Display input: Use the port chart for the exact model and regional variant, not a general description of the product line.
  • Intermediate devices: When diagnosing, connect the source directly to the display. If an AV receiver or soundbar sits between them, verify in its manual that the relevant input and passthrough support the same resolution, refresh rate, HDR, and VRR features.
  • Cable: For a console supporting 4K 120Hz, Sony recommends using the included HDMI cable or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. HDMI.org identifies uncompressed 4K 120Hz with HDR as a feature supported by the Ultra High Speed cable category. HDMI.org’s Ultra High Speed cable overview describes that category. You do not need to replace a working cable automatically; check its suitability and the device manufacturer’s guidance first.

Enable the required HDMI signal format

Some TVs require a per-input setting before a compatible port accepts higher-bandwidth formats. Open the TV’s HDMI signal-format settings for the port you are using and select the mode specified by the manual, such as Enhanced format, 4K120, or VRR. Exact names and menu locations vary by model. Sony’s support guidance directs users to select the appropriate Enhanced format when required, while its model-specific input-capability matrix can be found through the display’s official support page. Sony’s HDMI signal-format guidance explains the setting.

Plan around eARC or ARC

If your soundbar or audio system uses eARC or ARC, connect it to the display’s input labelled “eARC/ARC.” Sony’s terminal guide gives the same connection instruction. Sony’s connecting-terminal guide explains the label.

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That input may also be one of the display’s 4K 120Hz-capable inputs, but this is model-specific. Check the port chart before deciding which device connects where. If the only suitable 4K 120Hz input is also needed for eARC/ARC, consult the TV and audio-device manuals for a supported wiring arrangement; do not assume an adapter, receiver, or soundbar will pass every feature through.

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Set it up and check the result

  1. Find the full model number and regional variant of your TV or monitor.
  2. Open its official manual or support page and locate the HDMI input-capability table.
  3. Compare the desired output—4K, 120Hz, HDR, and VRR if needed—with the documented capabilities of each physical input. Choose one explicitly marked for 4K 120Hz where available.
  4. Connect the console or PC directly to that input while troubleshooting. Add a receiver or soundbar back into the chain only after confirming its passthrough capabilities.
  5. Apply the input’s required Enhanced, 4K120, or VRR signal-format setting in the TV menu.
  6. Use the included console cable or a suitable Ultra High Speed HDMI cable when the device maker calls for it, and connect an eARC/ARC audio system to the labelled port.
  7. Check the source’s output-status screen or display information to confirm the active resolution, refresh rate, and available HDR or VRR mode.

If the source still shows 60Hz

  • Recheck the port chart: Make sure the source is connected to a port that supports 4K at 120Hz on your exact model.
  • Check the input format: Confirm the chosen HDMI signal format is enabled for that input, not just another port.
  • Remove the middle device: Temporarily connect the source straight to the display to determine whether a receiver or soundbar is limiting the signal.
  • Verify the cable and source mode: Check the cable’s suitability and connection, then confirm the source itself is set to a supported 120Hz output. A display’s capable input cannot enable a mode the source or content does not provide.
  • Account for feature combinations: The supported maximum may differ when 4K, 120Hz, HDR, and VRR are combined. Confirm the exact combination in the manuals for the source and display.

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