Xbox Series X 4K 120fps and VRR Setup Guide (2026)
Unlock 4K at 120fps, VRR, HDR, and Auto HDR on your Xbox Series X with the right cable, TV settings, and console video modes.
The Xbox Series X has supported 4K at 120fps with VRR since launch, but plenty of owners never see it because the features depend on a chain of settings that are off by default. Between the cable, the TV's hidden bandwidth modes, and the console's video toggles, any weak link silently drops you to 4K60. This guide walks the full chain in order so you get the high-refresh, tear-free, HDR experience the console is capable of.
Quick answer
To unlock 4K 120fps and VRR on an Xbox Series X, use a 48Gbps Ultra High Speed cable in a labeled HDMI 2.1 port, then enable that port's enhanced HDMI mode on the TV (Deep Color, Input Signal Plus, or Enhanced, depending on brand). On the console, under Video modes, turn on Allow 4K, Allow 120Hz, Allow HDR10, Allow Auto HDR, and Allow Variable Refresh Rate; set VRR to Gaming Only and put the TV in Game mode. Greyed-out options almost always mean the port is still in standard bandwidth mode.
Key takeaways
- 4K120 needs an HDMI 2.1 display, a 48Gbps Ultra High Speed cable, and the enhanced HDMI mode enabled on the TV port.
- On the console, enable Allow 4K, Allow 120Hz, Allow HDR10, and Allow Variable Refresh Rate under Video Modes.
- VRR set to "Gaming Only" is the recommended mode for most people.
- Auto HDR adds HDR to many older SDR games automatically once the rest is configured.
- If VRR is greyed out, enable FreeSync or Adaptive Sync in the TV's own menu.
Get the cable and port right first
The Xbox Series X ships with a suitable cable, but if you have swapped it, you need an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable certified for 48Gbps. A standard 4K cable from a few years ago cannot carry 4K120. Just as important, plug the console into an HDMI 2.1 port on the TV. Many TVs have four HDMI ports but only one or two with full bandwidth, so check your manual and use the right one.
Warning
Even when a TV has HDMI 2.1 ports, they often ship in a restricted bandwidth mode. You must manually enable the enhanced mode on the specific port your Xbox uses, or 4K120 and VRR will be unavailable.
Enable the enhanced HDMI mode on your TV
This is the step that trips up most people. TV makers leave HDMI ports in a standard-bandwidth mode for compatibility with older devices. The full-bandwidth mode has different names by brand: Enhanced, HDMI UHD Color, HDMI Deep Color, or Input Signal Plus. Open your TV's input or external device settings, select the port your Xbox is connected to, and switch it to the enhanced option. Without it, the console cannot negotiate a 4K120 signal.
Because the setting hides under a different name on every brand, here is where to look:
| TV brand | Enhanced HDMI setting name | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| LG | HDMI Deep Color (set to On) | Settings > General > Devices > HDMI |
| Samsung | Input Signal Plus | Settings > Connection > External Device Manager |
| Sony | HDMI signal format > Enhanced | Settings > Watching TV > External inputs |
| TCL / Hisense | HDMI 2.1 Format or HDMI Mode > Enhanced | Input settings for that port |
| Panasonic | HDMI UHD Color | Setup > HDMI input settings |
If you cannot find it, the port may not be a full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 port; move the Xbox to a different labeled port and try again.
Configure the Xbox video modes
- Open Settings, then General, then TV & display options.
- Select Video modes.
- Enable Allow 4K, Allow 120Hz, Allow HDR10, and Allow Auto HDR.
- Enable Allow Variable Refresh Rate.
- Back up to TV & display options and run the 4K TV details check to confirm the link supports your selections.
If any box is greyed out, the cause is almost always the TV's HDMI port still being in standard mode, or the cable. Recheck both. The console's 4K TV details screen tells you exactly which features the current connection supports, which makes diagnosing the weak link straightforward.
Set VRR and turn on game mode
VRR can be set to Off, Always On, or Gaming Only. Gaming Only is the recommended setting for most people because it applies adaptive sync to games while leaving video apps untouched. VRR removes screen tearing and smooths uneven frame rates, which matters in any game that does not hold a perfect 120fps. If the VRR option is greyed out on the console, enable FreeSync or Adaptive Sync in the TV's own on-screen menu first, since VRR rides on top of it.
Finally, put the TV input in its game picture mode. That mode unlocks adaptive sync and low input lag while disabling heavy image processing. Many TVs switch automatically when they detect the Xbox, but set it manually if yours does not.
Auto HDR and FPS Boost
Once the system settings are correct, supported games automatically use 4K, 120fps, HDR, and VRR where available. Auto HDR is especially nice: it applies HDR to many older SDR games that never shipped with it, at no performance cost. FPS Boost does something similar for frame rate, doubling the rate of select back-compat titles. Both are handled by the console once the display chain is set up.
For the controller side of responsiveness, our guide to fixing Xbox Series X controller input lag covers the wireless and wired tradeoffs, and if you also game on PlayStation, our PS5 Pro 120Hz and VRR setup walks the same chain for Sony's console.
When it is still not working
If something in the chain is broken, this table points you straight at the cause:
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck at 4K60 | Port in standard HDMI mode | Enable the enhanced setting for that port |
| Allow 120Hz greyed out | Wrong cable or non-2.1 port | Use a 48Gbps cable, move to a 2.1 port |
| VRR greyed out | TV adaptive sync off | Enable FreeSync/Adaptive Sync in the TV menu |
| HDR looks washed out | Game mode off or wrong TV preset | Select the Game picture mode for that input |
| 4K TV details check fails a feature | That feature not negotiated | Recheck cable, port, and enhanced mode |
What to do right now
Run the chain in order and you will not have to guess where the weak link is:
- Plug the Xbox into a labeled HDMI 2.1 port with a 48Gbps Ultra High Speed cable.
- Enable the enhanced HDMI mode for that specific port (see the brand table above).
- On the console, under Video modes, enable Allow 4K, Allow 120Hz, Allow HDR10, Allow Auto HDR, and Allow Variable Refresh Rate.
- Set VRR to Gaming Only and put the TV input into its Game picture mode.
- Run the 4K TV details check and confirm each feature you enabled shows as supported.
- In a 120fps-capable game, select its performance mode and verify the TV's signal overlay reports 120Hz with VRR active.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Xbox stuck at 4K60 instead of 120fps?
The most common cause is the TV's HDMI port being in standard bandwidth mode. Enable the enhanced or deep color mode for that specific port, confirm you are using a 48Gbps Ultra High Speed cable, and make sure the console is on an HDMI 2.1 port. Then run the console's 4K TV details check to confirm.
Does every Xbox game run at 120fps?
No. The console can output 120Hz, but each game sets its own target. Many run at 60fps, some offer a 120fps performance mode you select in their settings, and others use VRR to smooth a variable rate. Check each game's video options.
What VRR setting should I use on Xbox?
Gaming Only is the best choice for most people. It applies VRR to games, where tearing and uneven frame rates are a problem, while leaving streaming apps unaffected. Always On also works but offers no real benefit for video content.
Is Auto HDR worth turning on?
Yes. Auto HDR adds HDR to many SDR games that never had it, with no performance penalty and minimal downside. You can disable it per game if a specific title looks off, but leaving it on is the right default.
The bottom line
Getting 4K120 and VRR on the Xbox Series X is a chain: the right cable, an HDMI 2.1 port set to enhanced mode, the four video-mode toggles enabled, VRR on Gaming Only, and the TV in game mode. Work through it in order, lean on the console's 4K TV details check to find any weak link, and you will unlock the smooth, high-refresh, HDR experience the hardware was built for.
