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Which PS5 Display Settings Improve Image Quality Without Adding Input Lag?

Use automatic PS5 output settings as a starting point, enable supported HDR, VRR, 120 Hz and ALLM, and troubleshoot the full HDMI path before changing defaults.
Length5 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Start with the PS5’s automatic display settings, then enable HDR, VRR, 120 Hz output and ALLM only when your game, console connection and display support them. These options can improve the signal or reduce display-side processing, but they do not guarantee that every game renders at its highest resolution or frame rate. The result depends on the whole setup.

PS5 display settings to use first

On PS5, open Settings > Screen and Video. Automatic settings are the best starting point for most TVs and monitors; change them when troubleshooting or when you have a specific supported output in mind.

Setting Recommended starting point What it does and when to change it
Resolution Automatic The console detects the display’s capabilities and selects the best available resolution. Choose a supported resolution manually, such as 1440p, only when you have a reason to do so. 4K requires a compatible screen and output configuration; Sony describes it as almost four times the definition of 1080p HD. PlayStation’s 4K guide.
HDR On When Supported HDR-compatible games and apps can use HDR, while unsupported content remains in SDR. Always On converts SDR content to HDR output, which may not look preferable on every display. Use Adjust HDR to calibrate for your screen rather than relying on a universal setting. PlayStation’s HDR and video settings guidance.
VRR Automatic On supported displays and games, Variable Refresh Rate adjusts refresh timing in real time. Apply to Unsupported Games is optional; if it causes unexpected behavior, turn it off. Sony notes that VRR can cause slight brightness fluctuations on some BRAVIA TVs, depending on content frequency. PlayStation VRR guidance and Sony BRAVIA VRR guidance.
120 Hz Output Automatic Allows 120 Hz output when the game and display support it. It does not make every game run at 120 frames per second. If enabling it causes video-output problems on a monitor or another display, turn it off. PlayStation video output guidance.
ALLM Automatic On a compatible TV, Auto Low Latency Mode switches the display into its low-latency mode while gaming. Current system software is required, and the PS5 does not send an ALLM signal while a media app is running. VRR output can engage low-latency mode even if ALLM is Off; disabling ALLM completely requires disabling VRR as well. PlayStation ALLM guidance.
Video Transfer Rate Automatic If the picture flickers, test -1 or -2. These options can limit combinations of 4K, 120 Hz and color formats, so use them as troubleshooting measures rather than picture enhancements. PlayStation video output guidance.
Deep Color Output Default or Automatic Leave it unchanged unless troubleshooting a specific compatibility issue.
RGB Range Default Change it only if the connected HDMI device is reporting RGB range incorrectly. A mismatch can affect how dark and bright parts of the image appear. PlayStation RGB Range guidance.
Adjust Display Area Default Change it only if the picture is cropped or surrounded by a border.

Which settings can reduce input lag?

Use ALLM when your display supports it

ALLM tells a compatible TV to use a low-latency picture mode for gaming, which avoids some display-side processing. Set it to Automatic so the TV can switch modes when appropriate. The console’s interaction with VRR matters: VRR output can trigger low-latency behavior even when ALLM is Off. On PS5, turning off ALLM entirely means also turning off VRR.

Use VRR and 120 Hz when the game and display support them

VRR matches the display’s refresh timing to supported game output; 120 Hz output enables a higher refresh rate when the game, display and HDMI path can handle it. These are compatibility features, not universal performance boosts. Neither setting guarantees a particular frame rate, resolution or measured reduction in input lag. Check the game’s own graphics or performance options as well as the display’s capabilities.

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How to get 4K at 120 Hz on PS5

A 4K/120 Hz signal depends on every part of the connection supporting the required format. If the option is missing or the display does not receive the signal, check the following:

  1. Confirm the display supports 4K at 120 Hz. Consult its manual for the exact model and the HDMI ports that accept this signal.
  2. Use the compatible HDMI port. Some TVs support advanced formats on only specific ports, and the port locations and available formats vary by model and region.
  3. Enable the TV’s HDMI format setting. The TV may require an enhanced or VRR-capable HDMI format to be selected for that port. Follow the model’s manual; for VRR, enable the TV’s VRR HDMI format where applicable.
  4. Check the connection path. A receiver or other intermediary may affect the signal. To isolate the issue, connect the PS5 directly to a compatible TV port.
  5. Update the TV firmware and confirm the PS5’s Resolution and Video Transfer Rate are set appropriately, starting with Automatic.
  6. Check the cable. Sony recommends the HDMI cable included with the console or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for 4K/120 Hz. If the included cable works, changing display settings alone is not a reason to replace it.

TV port capabilities and HDMI format labels vary by model and region. A version label by itself does not establish support for every combination of 4K, 120 Hz, VRR and HDR. Sony’s PS5 output guide and BRAVIA HDMI and VRR guide provide model-dependent checks.

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If HDR looks washed out

First keep HDR set to On When Supported, then run Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Adjust HDR and follow the console’s prompts for the connected display. The correct calibration depends on the screen; there is no single brightness setting that is right for every TV or monitor. Also check the display’s HDR picture mode and the game’s own HDR calibration, if it has one. Sony’s documented distinction is that unsupported games and apps remain SDR with On When Supported, whereas Always On converts SDR output to HDR.

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Know the limits of your console and display

Some options are model-specific. Sony says 8K output and Enhance PSSR Image Quality are available only on consoles in the CFI-7000 model group. 8K output requires a display supporting 8K at 60 Hz with Display Stream Compression, disables VRR while active, and has other feature limitations. Check the console model and display documentation before expecting those options.

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Sony’s BRAVIA guide cited here covers BRAVIA 9, BRAVIA 8, BRAVIA 8 II, BRAVIA 7, BRAVIA 5 and A95L. Its settings and supported HDMI formats may differ from other Sony displays, other brands and other regions. For any TV or monitor, compare native resolution, 120 Hz input support, VRR behavior, ALLM support, compatible HDMI ports, HDR performance and restrictions when features are combined.

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