PS5 VRR setup at a glance

PS5 VRR works on PS5 and PS5 Pro when the console detects a compatible HDMI VRR display, the correct input is configured for VRR, and the selected game or system mode can use it. Connect the console to the display, enable the display’s VRR-capable input mode, then open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and turn on VRR.

VRR can reduce tearing and uneven frame delivery, but it does not raise a game’s average frame rate or turn a 60Hz panel into a 120Hz display. Compatibility depends on the console, cable, HDMI input, display firmware, active resolution and refresh-rate mode.

Check whether your TV or monitor supports PS5 VRR

The safest compatibility test is the console itself. PlayStation says PS5 synchronizes its graphical output with HDMI 2.1 VRR-compatible TVs and PC monitors. A specification sheet that lists only “120Hz,” “Adaptive-Sync,” “FreeSync” or “G-SYNC Compatible” is not enough on its own. The display must expose an HDMI VRR mode that PS5 detects.

Look for PS5-compatible HDMI VRR, not only 120Hz or FreeSync

A fixed 120Hz input and VRR are separate capabilities. A display may accept 1080p or 1440p at 120Hz yet fail to report PS5-compatible VRR. Conversely, a compatible VRR display can improve frame delivery in supported modes even when a game is not running at 120 frames per second.

Check the manual for the exact model number, supported HDMI ports and required input mode. Manufacturers use labels such as Enhanced Format, Enhanced Format (VRR), Game Optimizer, Input Signal Plus or a dedicated VRR switch. On supported Sony BRAVIA models, Sony documents an Enhanced Format (VRR) setting for the selected HDMI input.

Use the PS5 video output information screen

Open Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, then view Information for the Connected HDMI Device. PlayStation’s video output guide says this screen reports the display’s resolution, VRR and HDR capabilities.

If VRR is shown as unsupported, first treat it as a display-compatibility or HDMI signal-path issue rather than a game-setting problem. Verify the HDMI port, input mode, cable and firmware. If the PS5 video signal passes through a receiver, soundbar, switch, splitter or capture device, temporarily connect the console directly to the display during testing.

How to enable PS5 VRR on PS5 and PS5 Pro

  1. Update the PS5 or PS5 Pro system software and install the latest firmware for the TV or monitor.
  2. Connect the console to the display. For 4K at 120Hz, use the included cable or another certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
  3. Select an HDMI input that the display manual identifies as VRR-capable.
  4. Enable the display’s VRR or enhanced input mode and its low-latency or game mode when required.
  5. On PS5, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
  6. Leave Resolution on Automatic unless you need to test a specific output.
  7. Enable VRR. Keep 120 Hz Output on Automatic if the display supports it, but remember that it is a separate setting.
  8. Open Information for the Connected HDMI Device again and confirm that VRR is available at the intended output mode.

The setup path is the same on PS5 and PS5 Pro. Sony confirms that PS5 Pro supports VRR. Its stronger graphics hardware may help some games hold steadier frame rates, but it does not remove the need for a compatible display, correct input configuration or game support.

PS5 console connected to a VRR-capable television through HDMI in a modern living-room gaming setup
A compatible display, the correct HDMI input and the right connection are essential for PS5 VRR.

PS5 VRR at 1080p, 1440p and 4K

Console output resolution describes the signal sent through HDMI. It does not necessarily reveal the resolution at which a game renders internally. A game may render below 4K and reconstruct or upscale the image while the console still sends a 2160p signal to the display.

Console outputWhat to verifyPractical VRR guidance
1080pInformation for the Connected HDMI Device must report VRR support at the active input.A 1080p 120Hz, FreeSync or Adaptive-Sync label does not guarantee PS5 VRR. Check Information for the Connected HDMI Device and confirm that the monitor documents compatible HDMI VRR support.
1440pRun Test 1440p Output under Video Output.PlayStation’s test checks SDR/HDR, 60Hz/120Hz and VRR combinations. Sony added official 1440p VRR support through system software.
4KVerify the active HDMI input, the display’s VRR mode and the selected output combination.For 4K VRR, verify the active HDMI input and the display’s VRR mode. For 4K at 120Hz, use the included cable or another certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable and an appropriate HDMI 2.1 input.
8K on PS5 ProUse a compatible 8K display with DSC.PlayStation states that VRR is disabled during 8K output, so use a lower output resolution when VRR matters more.

For help choosing between output resolutions, see the PS5 1440p versus 4K monitor comparison. That article covers the resolution-buying decision; this guide focuses on VRR setup and compatibility.

What VRR changes—and what it does not

VRR is not fixed 120Hz or ordinary V-Sync

A fixed 120Hz output asks the display to refresh 120 times each second. It does not prove that the game renders 120 unique frames or that the display changes its refresh timing dynamically. A game can run at 60fps inside a 120Hz output, while some games use a 120Hz signal to present a 40fps mode evenly.

Ordinary V-Sync coordinates frame presentation with a fixed refresh cadence to prevent tearing, although missed deadlines can create repeated frames or uneven pacing. By contrast, PlayStation’s video output guidance explains that VRR synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the console’s graphical output on compatible displays. A game may still apply its own frame-rate cap or presentation rules.

Close-up of an HDMI cable connecting a PS5 console to a gaming monitor for VRR output
The HDMI cable, input and display settings all affect whether PS5 VRR works correctly.

Output resolution is not internal rendering resolution

The PS5 Video Output screen reports the HDMI signal, not the game’s internal render target. A PS5 Pro game might render at 1440p, reconstruct toward 4K and output 2160p. Dynamic resolution can also change internally while the HDMI output remains fixed.

Display refresh rate and game frame rate are different measurements. A 120Hz display can show a 60fps game, and VRR can make variable delivery feel more consistent without increasing average performance. The PS5 graphics modes guide explains how fidelity, performance, 40fps and 120Hz modes interact at game level.

Official support and Apply to Unsupported Games

An officially supported PS5 game includes VRR-aware behavior through its original release or a game update. PlayStation’s 2022 rollout named titles such as Astro’s Playroom, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Resident Evil Village and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege. That original official list was illustrative rather than a permanent catalog.

For a current game, check its display menu, official patch notes or developer support page. Some titles expose an unlocked frame-rate option, a 40fps mode or different VRR behavior in specific graphics modes.

Apply to Unsupported Games asks the system to use VRR with PS5 games that do not declare official support. PlayStation says results vary by TV, game and visual mode. Treat it as an optional test, not a guaranteed improvement. If it causes flicker, brightness variation, judder or black screens, turn it off and retest an officially supported game.

PS5 VRR troubleshooting checklist

  1. Confirm what the console detects. Check whether Information for the Connected HDMI Device lists VRR as supported.
  2. Use the correct HDMI input. Choose a port the display manual identifies for VRR or 4K at 120Hz.
  3. Enable the input’s advanced mode. Turn on the manufacturer’s VRR, Enhanced or equivalent setting.
  4. Test a direct video connection. If another device sits in the PS5 video path, connect the console directly to the display temporarily.
  5. Check the cable for the selected mode. The included or another certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is especially relevant for 4K at 120Hz.
  6. Update both devices. Install current PS5 system software and display firmware, then restart both.
  7. Keep Video Transfer Rate on Automatic. If 4K flicker persists, PlayStation allows -1 or -2 as troubleshooting options, although they limit some high-bandwidth combinations.
  8. Run the 1440p test when relevant. A monitor may accept 1440p while failing an HDR, 120Hz or VRR combination.
  9. Test documented game support first. This separates display compatibility from Apply to Unsupported Games behavior.
  10. Disable Apply to Unsupported Games during diagnosis. Retest an officially supported title before enabling it again.

PlayStation’s picture and sound troubleshooting guide also recommends checking the HDMI connection, trying another port or cable, connecting directly to the display and updating display firmware.

When the option appears available but the effect is small

VRR can be working even when the difference is subtle. A game that already holds a stable frame rate may show little change, while a title that falls outside the display’s useful VRR range or encounters brief frame-time spikes may still stutter.

A TV or monitor signal overlay can help confirm the active mode, but it should not be treated as a precise game-performance meter.

Common PS5 VRR limitations

  • Results vary by game, visual mode and display. VRR does not raise the game’s frame-rate cap or improve graphics quality.
  • Not every high-refresh monitor is compatible. PC-focused Adaptive-Sync support does not automatically confirm PS5-compatible HDMI VRR.
  • Some display models can show brightness variation or flicker during VRR operation, particularly when frame delivery changes sharply. Check the display manufacturer’s support guidance if this occurs.
  • ALLM behavior is linked. PlayStation notes that a compatible TV switches to low-latency mode while VRR output is active, even if the console’s ALLM setting is Off.
  • 8K and VRR do not operate together on PS5 Pro. PlayStation disables VRR during 8K output.
  • Unsupported-game results are not guaranteed. Turn the option off if it creates unexpected visual behavior.
Player using a wireless controller while smooth gameplay appears on a monitor connected to a PS5 console
VRR is designed to reduce visible tearing and uneven motion within supported display and game conditions.

Final setup advice

For a reliable PS5 VRR setup, confirm support on the console, use the display’s documented VRR input and mode, verify the intended resolution and refresh-rate combination, and test a game with documented support before enabling Apply to Unsupported Games. For broader hardware planning, see the PS5 Hardware and Accessories guide and the separate TV for PS5 Pro buying guide.

Sources used in this article