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For smoother motion, set the PS5 game preset to Performance Mode; for higher graphic quality, choose Resolution Mode. Then check your display’s supported resolution and enable HDR, 120 Hz output, or VRR only when your screen and the game support them. These settings are starting points—not guarantees of a particular frame rate or picture on every game and TV.
Choose between Performance Mode and Resolution Mode
Set the default game preset at Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets. Choose based on what matters more to you:
| Preset | Prioritizes | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Mode | Smoother motion | You prefer responsive, fluid-looking gameplay. |
| Resolution Mode | Higher graphic quality | You prefer visual detail over motion smoothness. |
Sony describes Performance Mode as making motion smoother and Resolution Mode as providing higher graphic quality (Sony’s guide to PS5 game presets). The preset applies to PS5 games that offer these modes; it does not make every game behave alike. If a game has its own graphics or performance setting, use that menu to adjust the game’s behavior.
Check resolution and the active video signal
Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output to review the console’s output settings, current video signal, and connected HDMI device details. The PS5 detects display capabilities and automatically selects the highest available resolution, so Automatic is a sensible starting point rather than a setting that needs routine overriding.
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- Heighten Your Senses. Discover Deeper, highly immersive gaming experiences.
- Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback
- Chat online through the built-in microphone or connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Play on more devices Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth wireless technology so you can easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones.
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If you have a 1440p display, the console can test SDR and HDR, 60 Hz and 120 Hz, and VRR output. You can choose 1440p when it is supported, but it is not a universal upgrade: the result depends on the display and the game. See Sony’s PS5 resolution and video output guide for supported output details.
Set HDR for your display
Use HDR only with a compatible HDR screen, and run Adjust HDR in the PS5 video output settings to tune it for your display and room.
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- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
- On When Supported: HDR content uses HDR output; non-HDR games and apps remain in SDR. This is the sensible starting choice if you want HDR only for content that supports it.
- Always On: converts non-HDR games and apps to HDR output as well. This changes the output format; it does not mean the original content was made in HDR.
Enable 120 Hz, VRR, and ALLM only when compatible
These options depend on the connected screen as well as the game. Find them under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, and check the connected HDMI device details if an option or expected output is missing.
- 120 Hz Output: enable it when both the display and the game support 120 Hz. The setting alone does not make a game run at 120 Hz.
- VRR: enable Variable Refresh Rate for a compatible display and game. Sony notes that results vary by TV. The optional Apply to Unsupported Games setting may help stabilize frame rate, but turn it off if it causes unexpected gameplay behavior.
- ALLM: Auto Low Latency Mode can switch a compatible TV to low-latency mode during play. VRR output can also trigger low-latency behavior even when ALLM is Off; to fully disable ALLM, turn VRR off too.
Troubleshoot flicker or missing 4K/120 Hz output
If the screen flickers at 4K
Try Video Transfer Rate at -1 or -2 in Video Output settings. These choices limit some output formats, including certain 4K/120 Hz and color-format combinations. If the limitation costs you an output option you want, return the setting to Automatic.
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- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
If 4K/120 Hz is unavailable
Check the complete connection path and the settings rather than assuming the console is at fault:
- Confirm that the TV or monitor supports the resolution and refresh rate you want, and install its current firmware.
- Use the HDMI port on the display that supports the required output; support may differ between ports.
- Connect the PS5 directly to the display while troubleshooting, rather than through a receiver or other device.
- Use the HDMI cable bundled with the console or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for the expected output.
- In Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, check the resolution and Video Transfer Rate settings, then review the current video signal.
Sony’s video output troubleshooting guidance covers these checks. A different cable is not automatically necessary if the included cable and your setup already support the output you want.
Quick Recap
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- Enjoy precise, comfortable control over 10,000+ supported Steam games.
- Easily pair the controller directly to your Windows PC via Bluetooth or play as you charge with the included USB Type-C cable
- Stay paired with up to four different Bluetooth devices, making it easy to enjoy the controller across Windows PC, Mac, PS5 consoles and smartphones. Discover more connection tips and tricks at playstation.com/pair-dualsense
- Access the latest available controller firmware directly from your PC with the free-todownload PlayStation Accessories app
- Play games streamed from your PS5 or PS4 console to your PC via the PS Remote Play App
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- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
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