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For smoother supported games, check Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets and select Performance Mode; for display responsiveness, match the options under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output to your TV or monitor; and for privacy, review Settings > Users and Accounts > Privacy. These settings can improve the experience when a game and display support the relevant features, but no console toggle guarantees a frame-rate increase in every game.
Which PS5 settings make games smoother?
Choose Performance Mode for supported games
From the PS5 home screen, open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets, then choose Performance Mode or Resolution Mode. PlayStation describes the trade-off as: “Make motion in your game smoother with performance mode, or have higher graphic quality in resolution mode.” (PlayStation Support.)
This is a preference, not a universal performance boost. It applies to PS5 games, and the individual game must offer the relevant mode; some preset settings may not apply in every game. If a title has its own performance or graphics option, check its in-game settings as well.
| Preset | What it prioritizes | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Mode | Smoother motion | Choose it when you prefer responsiveness and the game supports a performance mode. |
| Resolution Mode | Higher graphic quality | Choose it when visual detail is more important to you and the game supports a resolution mode. |
The same Game Presets screen includes preferences for difficulty, first- and third-person views, subtitles and audio, and some online multiplayer session behavior. Those preferences are also game-dependent; this setting does not replace the options available inside a particular title.
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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.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range titles
How should I set PS5 video output?
Match output to the TV or monitor
Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Check the display’s actual supported resolution and refresh rate, whether it supports VRR or ALLM, which HDMI port is suitable, and whether the connected cable is rated for the output you want. There is no single best combination for every screen: the PS5, display, current system software, port and cable all matter. See PlayStation’s resolution and video-output guide.
ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) requires a compatible TV and current PS5 system software. Check the display manual rather than assuming that a television with HDMI 2.1 supports ALLM. VRR and ALLM also interact: with VRR output enabled, low-latency mode can activate even when ALLM is set to Off. To disable ALLM completely, Sony says to turn VRR off too. The PS5 does not send an ALLM signal while a media app is running.
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- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- 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.
Troubleshoot 4K/120 Hz output
If 4K/120 Hz is unavailable or the picture is unstable, check the whole connection rather than changing one setting at random:
- Confirm the TV or monitor supports 4K/120 Hz and has current firmware.
- Connect the PS5 to the display’s suitable HDMI port; consult the display manual because capabilities can differ between ports.
- Use a cable rated for the target output. Sony recommends the cable included with the console or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120 Hz. If the included cable meets the need, a replacement is not necessary.
- Review the PS5’s resolution and Video Transfer Rate under Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
- If the picture flickers, try Video Transfer Rate -1 or -2 to limit output; Sony says this may improve picture quality.
A cable alone cannot add a feature that the screen or its HDMI port does not support.
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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.
How do I control what other players can see or do?
Start with a privacy profile, then review individual controls
Open Settings > Users and Accounts > Privacy. You can select a preset profile as a starting point, then choose View and Customize Your Privacy Settings to adjust specific controls. PlayStation says account privacy settings are reflected across devices. (PlayStation Support.)
| Profile | Visibility and contact | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Open | Any player can see profile information; open to requests and messages. | Easier for other players to find and contact you, with less privacy. |
| Team Player | Most profile information is visible to any player; chat invitations require at least friends-of-friends. | Keeps broad profile visibility while limiting who can invite you to chat. |
| Friend Focused | Only friends can see profile information and invite you to chat. | More private, but players outside your friends list have less access. |
| Solo and Focused | Other players cannot see profile information or invite you, even if they are friends. | Strongest restriction in these presets; it can make social play and contact harder. |
Presets bundle several choices, so do not assume the profile label captures every control you care about. In View and Customize Your Privacy Settings, inspect who can see your real name and profile picture, friends, online status, currently played game, gaming history and hidden games. You can also manage friend requests, interaction through parties, games and messages, blocking, and crossplay game invitations.
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- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
If you want friends to see when you are online but do not want strangers to message you, adjust activity and communication controls separately rather than choosing a preset solely by its name. More restrictive settings can reduce unwanted contact, but may add friction when friends or new players try to find, invite or join you.
Child accounts and family permissions
For a child account, the family manager, parent or guardian may manage privacy settings and decide which ones the child is allowed to change. A child may therefore not be able to change every option from their own account. See PlayStation’s parental-controls guidance for family-role details.
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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
Do these changes require resetting the PS5?
No. Game presets, video output and privacy have their own settings paths above; a factory-style reset is not needed for routine tuning. Change the relevant option directly, then check the affected game, display connection or account behavior.
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