Enable 120Hz and VRR on PS5 Pro: 2026 TV Setup
A step-by-step 2026 guide to unlocking 4K 120Hz, VRR, and HDR on your PS5 Pro so games look sharper and feel smoother.
Your PS5 Pro can output crisp 4K at 120Hz with variable refresh rate, but none of that happens automatically. Most TVs ship with their high-bandwidth HDMI features switched off, and the console only enables VRR once it detects a compatible signal. If your games still look like locked 60fps with occasional tearing, the hardware is almost certainly fine and the settings just need attention. Here is the exact sequence to get every smoothness feature working.
Quick answer
To get 4K 120Hz and VRR on a PS5 Pro, plug the console directly into a labeled HDMI 2.1 port using the in-box Ultra High Speed cable, update your TV firmware, and switch that port to its enhanced HDMI mode (called Deep Color, Input Signal Plus, or Enhanced depending on brand). Then on the console set Resolution, Video Transfer Rate, and HDR to Automatic, turn VRR On, run the 4K transfer-rate test, and set the TV input to Game mode. Greyed-out options almost always mean the port is still in standard HDMI mode.
Key takeaways
- 4K 120Hz needs an HDMI 2.1 port, an Ultra High Speed cable, and "Enhanced" mode enabled on that specific TV port.
- VRR removes screen tearing and smooths uneven frame rates, but only activates when the TV is in game mode.
- Update your TV firmware first; some sets refuse a 4K120 signal until the latest update is installed.
- On the PS5 Pro, set Resolution and Video Transfer Rate to Auto, then toggle VRR on under Video Output.
- If options are greyed out, the cable, port, or TV's enhanced HDMI setting is usually the culprit.
Before you touch any setting
Three physical things must be right or nothing else matters. First, the PS5 Pro must be plugged into an HDMI 2.1 port. Many TVs have four HDMI ports but only one or two that support full 48Gbps bandwidth, so check the port labels in your manual. Second, use the Ultra High Speed HDMI cable that came in the box, or a certified equivalent. A standard 4K cable from a few years ago will not carry 4K120. Third, update your TV's firmware. Some displays will not even accept a 4K120 signal over HDMI 2.1 until the latest update is applied.
Tip
If you run your PS5 Pro through a soundbar or AV receiver, that device also needs HDMI 2.1 passthrough. An older receiver in the chain will silently cap you at 4K60.
Here is the per-brand name for the enhanced HDMI mode, because it is the single most common thing people miss:
| 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 the toggle, the port may simply not be a full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 port. Move the PS5 Pro to a different labeled port and try again.
Enable the enhanced HDMI mode on your TV
This is the step most people miss. By default, TV makers leave HDMI ports in a restricted "standard" bandwidth mode for compatibility with older devices. The high-bandwidth mode goes by different names depending on the brand: Enhanced, HDMI Deep Color, HDMI UHD Color, or Input Signal Plus. Open your TV's input or external device settings, find the port your PS5 Pro uses, and switch it to the enhanced setting. Without this, 120Hz and VRR options on the console stay greyed out.
Configure the PS5 Pro output settings
- Open Settings, then Screen and Video, then Video Output.
- Set Resolution to Automatic (or 2160p) so the console negotiates the best mode.
- Set Video Transfer Rate to Automatic so it can use the full HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.
- Scroll to VRR and turn it On. Enable "Apply to Unsupported Games" if you want VRR smoothing in titles without native support.
- Confirm HDR is set to Automatic so HDR10 kicks in where games support it.
After enabling these, go to Settings, Screen and Video, Video Output, then 4K Video Transfer Rate and run the on-screen test to verify the link is stable. The console will report whether 4K120 is passing cleanly.
Put the TV in game mode
VRR only activates when the display is in its low-latency game mode, because that mode unlocks adaptive sync and disables heavy image processing. Many modern TVs switch to game mode automatically when they detect the PS5, but if yours does not, select the Game picture preset manually for that input. While you are there, make sure FreeSync or Adaptive Sync is enabled in the TV's own menu, since VRR rides on top of that.
If you want the deeper picture-quality side of the Pro, our breakdown of whether the PS5 Pro is worth the upgrade explains where the extra horsepower actually shows up, and the PSSR 2.0 game boost update covers how upscaling pairs with these display modes.
Verify it is actually working
Launch a game that supports 120Hz performance mode and open its in-game graphics settings to select the high frame rate or performance option. Then check your TV's signal information overlay, usually under an Info or signal menu, which should report 3840x2160, 120Hz, and VRR active. If the TV reports 60Hz, recheck the enhanced HDMI port setting and the cable. For tearing-related smoothness issues on the PC side instead, our guide to fixing game stutter and frame time spikes covers the same principles applied to a desktop.
When something is still not right, this table maps the symptom to the fix so you are not changing settings at random:
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 120Hz and VRR greyed out | Port still in standard HDMI mode | Enable the enhanced setting for that port |
| TV reports 60Hz only | Wrong cable or non-2.1 port | Use the in-box Ultra High Speed cable, move ports |
| Capped at 4K60 through audio gear | Receiver lacks 2.1 passthrough | Connect PS5 direct, or upgrade the receiver |
| VRR never activates | TV not in game mode | Select the Game preset for that input |
| Console transfer-rate test fails | Cable or firmware | Reseat cable, update TV firmware, retest |
What to do right now
Run this exact sequence and you will not have to guess:
- Plug the PS5 Pro directly into a labeled HDMI 2.1 port using the in-box Ultra High Speed cable.
- Update your TV firmware before touching anything else.
- Enable the enhanced HDMI mode for that specific port (see the brand table above).
- On the console, set Resolution, Video Transfer Rate, and HDR to Automatic, then turn VRR On.
- Run the 4K Video Transfer Rate test under Screen and Video to confirm a clean 4K120 link.
- Set the TV input to its Game preset and check the signal overlay reads 3840x2160, 120Hz, VRR active.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my 120Hz and VRR options greyed out on the PS5 Pro?
Almost always because the TV port is still in standard HDMI mode. Enable the Enhanced or Deep Color setting for that specific port, confirm you are using an Ultra High Speed cable, and make sure the console is plugged directly into an HDMI 2.1 port rather than through an older receiver.
Does every game run at 120Hz on the PS5 Pro?
No. The console can output a 120Hz signal, but each game decides its own frame rate. Look for a performance or high frame rate mode in the game's settings. Many titles cap at 60fps or use VRR to smooth a variable rate between 60 and 120.
Will VRR help if my game runs below 120fps?
Yes. VRR matches the display refresh to the game's actual frame rate moment to moment, which eliminates tearing and reduces stutter even when a game runs at, say, 45 to 70fps. Enabling "Apply to Unsupported Games" extends this smoothing to titles without built-in VRR.
Do I need an OLED TV for any of this?
No. Any TV with an HDMI 2.1 port that supports 4K120 and VRR will work, whether it is OLED, QLED, or Mini-LED. OLED panels tend to have faster response times and lower input lag, but the features themselves are not exclusive to them.
The bottom line
The PS5 Pro's smoothest modes are gated behind three easy-to-miss settings: an enhanced HDMI port, the right cable, and VRR plus high frame rate enabled on both the console and the display. Work through the chain in order, run the console's transfer rate test to confirm the link, and you will get the sharp, tear-free, high-refresh experience the hardware was built to deliver.
