PS5 120Hz Not Working? Settings, HDMI and Display Checks

PS5 120Hz not working? Start with these checks

If PS5 120Hz not working is the problem even though your TV or monitor advertises 120Hz or more, troubleshoot the chain in order: confirm the game actually supports a 120Hz mode, check the PS5 video-output settings, verify the exact HDMI input and resolution the display accepts, then remove receivers, soundbars, switches or capture devices from the video path for a direct test.

A 120Hz-capable display does not guarantee that every HDMI input accepts every PS5 120Hz signal. Likewise, turning on 120 Hz Output does not make an unsupported game run at 120fps. VRR is also a separate feature. The goal is to identify which part of the chain is blocking the mode before replacing hardware.

Available 120Hz combinations can vary with the game, display, active HDMI input, system software, display firmware and devices in the signal path.

First: verify that the game has a 120Hz or high-frame-rate mode.
Second: set 120 Hz Output to Automatic and check what the PS5 detects.
Third: confirm the display supports your chosen resolution at 120Hz over HDMI.
Fourth: use the correct display input and required enhanced/game input mode.
Fifth: test the PS5 directly to the display with a known-good cable.

Article Contents

Confirm the game supports it

Start with the game, because the console cannot create a 120fps mode that the developer did not provide. PlayStation describes 120 Hz Output as enabling 120Hz video output for TVs and games that support a 120Hz frame rate. A game may instead offer only 30fps or 60fps modes, or it may reserve higher frame rates for a specific performance option.

Check the game’s own display or graphics menu, official support information or patch notes. Some titles call the option 120Hz Mode, High Frame Rate, Performance, Performance RT or something game-specific. Do not use a list of every 120fps game as your diagnostic source because game modes can change with updates.

PS5 also has Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets > Performance Mode or Resolution Mode. PlayStation says Performance Mode favors smoother motion, but the preset applies only to games that offer the relevant modes. It is a preference, not a switch that forces every game to 120fps. For a deeper explanation of game-level choices, see our PS5 graphics modes guide.

Check the console video settings

Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. PlayStation’s current video-output guide lists the controls that matter most for this problem.

Check 120 Hz Output and HDMI information

Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic. Next, open Information for the Connected HDMI Device. This screen reports information about the connected display’s detected resolution, VRR and HDR capabilities. Use it as a compatibility check for the active connection rather than assuming the television or monitor’s marketing specification applies to the current input.

Leave Resolution on Automatic for the first test. If you are troubleshooting 4K120, also keep Video Transfer Rate on Automatic. PlayStation notes that selecting -1 or -2 limits 4K 120Hz output, so those values are not the right starting point when your goal is to restore 4K120.

The same basic Video Output checks apply on PS5 and PS5 Pro. A PS5 Pro does not bypass a game’s frame-rate mode, the display’s accepted timing or the HDMI path.

Original launch-model PS5 in a gaming setup with a television and monitor showing subtle high-refresh display cues. — Successful 120Hz output depends on the PS5 configuration and the capabilities of the active television or monitor setup.

Verify the TV or monitor input

A display can advertise 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz or more while only some inputs accept the refresh rate and resolution you want from PS5. Check the manufacturer’s manual or timing table for the exact HDMI input. Do not assume every socket on the display has identical capability.

120Hz checks on a TV

Many TVs require a specific high-bandwidth input or an enhanced/game signal mode before high-refresh formats become available. Confirm that the PS5 is on the correct HDMI input and that any required enhanced-format option is enabled. Also install the latest TV firmware before treating the problem as a console fault.

120Hz checks on a gaming monitor

For a monitor, verify that its 120Hz support is listed for HDMI at the intended resolution. A high maximum refresh rate advertised for PC use may rely on DisplayPort or a different input mode; PS5 connects over HDMI. Keep buying decisions separate from troubleshooting: first confirm what the monitor already on your desk accepts through its HDMI input.

Check 4K, 1440p and 1080p at 120Hz separately

Do not treat “120Hz” as one universal signal. The resolution changes what the display input, cable and intermediary devices must carry.

4K at 120Hz

For 4K 120Hz, PlayStation tells users to confirm that the TV supports 4K120, install current display firmware, use the cable included with PS5 or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K120, connect to an appropriate HDMI 2.1 input, and keep Resolution on Automatic or 2160p with Video Transfer Rate on Automatic.

This is the case where HDMI 2.1-class high-bandwidth support is directly relevant. If the PS5 falls back to 1080p120 instead of 4K120, troubleshoot the input, cable and signal path rather than assuming 120Hz itself is unavailable.

1440p at 120Hz

For 1440p, use Test 1440p Output under Video Output. PlayStation says this test checks SDR and HDR at 60Hz and 120Hz, plus VRR. If the 120Hz part of that test fails, inspect the monitor’s HDMI timing support and active input mode before changing unrelated console settings.

1080p at 120Hz

At 1080p, the key question is still whether the exact HDMI input accepts 1080p at 120Hz from the console. Do not present HDMI 2.1 as universally required for every possible PS5 120Hz mode. The separate HDMI 2.0 vs HDMI 2.1 for PS5 guide explains bandwidth and feature differences in detail.

Layered display imagery combining fine visual detail and smooth motion to represent resolution and refresh rate as separate factors. — Resolution and refresh rate are separate parts of the video signal, so 4K, 1440p and 1080p should be checked independently when troubleshooting 120Hz.

Test the complete HDMI signal path

Once the game, console settings and display input look correct, simplify the connection. PlayStation’s picture and sound troubleshooting guidance recommends connecting the PS5 directly to the display and temporarily removing other audio or video devices.

An AV receiver, pass-through soundbar, HDMI switch, splitter, capture device or adapter can become the limiting link even when the console and display both support the target mode. Every device in the forward video path must pass the selected resolution and refresh rate.

Use this test sequence:

Connect PS5 directly to the intended TV or monitor input.
Use the cable supplied with PS5 for the first 4K120 test, or another suitable known-good cable.
Restart the console and display after changing the route.
Recheck Video Output and the display’s active signal information.
Only after direct 120Hz works should you add a receiver, soundbar, switch or capture device back into the path.

If the direct connection works and the original route does not, the intermediary device, its configuration or the cable segment around it is the likely compatibility boundary. Do not replace the TV or monitor before isolating that difference.

VRR and fixed 120Hz are related but separate

VRR changes the display refresh rate dynamically to follow the console’s graphical output on a compatible display. 120 Hz Output enables a fixed high-refresh output for supported games and displays. A screen can support one capability without the other working in the current setup.

Therefore, do not use the VRR switch as a substitute for fixing missing 120Hz output. Likewise, a game can use a 120Hz output mode without rendering 120 unique frames every second. Some game modes use a 120Hz signal for other frame-rate targets.

If the problem is specifically VRR detection, flicker or Apply to Unsupported Games, use our PS5 VRR setup guide. This article stays focused on why the expected 120Hz signal is missing.

Original launch-model PS5 and television shown centrally in a simplified gaming setup with optional home-theater equipment positioned in the background. — Testing the PS5 with a simplified display setup can help identify whether another device is preventing the expected high-refresh mode.

TV versus gaming-monitor troubleshooting

On a TV, the most common compatibility questions are the exact HDMI socket, enhanced input mode, firmware and whether another home-theater device sits in the video path. A TV may reserve its highest-bandwidth modes for selected inputs.

On a gaming monitor, pay special attention to the HDMI timing table. The panel may be capable of a much higher PC refresh rate while the HDMI input has a different limit. Also confirm whether the monitor’s on-screen input setting must be changed for console high-refresh operation.

In both cases, use the PS5’s own detected-output information together with the manufacturer’s manual. Marketing terms such as “120Hz panel,” “gaming monitor” or “HDMI 2.1” are not a replacement for checking the specific input and mode.

Use this final troubleshooting order

Verify the game. Confirm it offers a 120Hz or high-frame-rate mode on PS5 or PS5 Pro.
Check game settings. Enable the required performance/high-frame-rate option if the game provides one.
Check the console. Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic and Resolution to Automatic for the baseline test.
Check what PS5 detects. Review Information for the Connected HDMI Device; use Test 1440p Output when relevant.
Check the exact display input. Verify the supported resolution and 120Hz timing in the manufacturer’s documentation.
Check display configuration. Enable the required enhanced/game input mode and update display firmware.
For 4K120, check the high-bandwidth path. Use the included or appropriate Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, the correct HDMI 2.1 input and Automatic Video Transfer Rate.
Remove intermediary devices. Test PS5 directly to the TV or monitor.
Separate VRR from the problem. Diagnose VRR independently rather than assuming it is required for fixed 120Hz.
Replace hardware last. Only consider a new cable, switch, receiver or display after the direct test identifies the failing part of the chain.

For broader console defaults beyond this single problem, see the Best PS5 Settings and Setup Guide.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my 120Hz TV only showing 60Hz on PS5?

The game may not support a 120Hz mode, the required in-game mode may be disabled, the PS5 may be using an input that does not accept the target signal, or another device in the HDMI path may be limiting it. Check those items in that order.

Does PS5 need HDMI 2.1 for 120Hz?

Do not treat HDMI 2.1 as a universal requirement for every possible 120Hz resolution. For 4K at 120Hz, PlayStation specifically directs users to an appropriate HDMI 2.1 input and a suitable high-bandwidth cable. For lower resolutions, verify the exact HDMI timing supported by the display.

Does Performance Mode enable 120fps?

Not by itself. The Game Preset favors performance only in games that support the relevant modes. The game must still provide its own 120Hz or high-frame-rate option.

Is VRR required for 120Hz on PS5?

No. VRR and 120 Hz Output are separate PS5 video features. VRR dynamically changes refresh timing; a fixed 120Hz mode can be used independently when the game and display support it.