Table of Contents
- The 5 Settings That Matter Most
- Which HDMI Port Should You Plug Into?
- Enable Enhanced HDMI Format (The Setting Everyone Misses)
- Turn On Game Mode
- Enable VRR and ALLM
- PS5 Video Output Settings, Step by Step
- Xbox Series X Video Settings, Step by Step
- Calibrate HDR: HGiG vs Dynamic Tone Mapping
- Common Problems and Fixes
- Frequently Asked Questions
This guide walks through every setting on both the TV and the console, in order, so you get the full next-gen experience your hardware is capable of.
The 5 Settings That Matter Most
- Right HDMI port — must be a full-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 port.
- Enhanced HDMI format — unlocks 4K 120Hz and HDR on that port.
- Game Mode — cuts input lag to under 15ms.
- VRR + ALLM — tear-free frames and automatic low-latency switching.
- Console video output + HDR calibration — 4K, 120Hz, and correct HDR brightness.
Get these five right and you have done most of the job. Everything below is the how.
Which HDMI Port Should You Plug Into?
Not all HDMI ports on a TV are equal. On many TVs only two of the four ports are full HDMI 2.1 — and on some models (notably certain Sony TVs) one of those is shared with eARC for the soundbar.
- Check your TV manual or the port labels: look for ports marked HDMI 2.1, 4K 120Hz, or eARC/ARC.
- On LG OLEDs (C5, G5) and Samsung QD-OLEDs (S95F), all four ports are full-bandwidth — any port works.
- If you use a soundbar, it usually must go on the eARC port — plan your console ports around that.
- Use the HDMI cable that came with your console. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X ship with an Ultra High Speed (48Gbps) cable. An old HDMI 2.0 cable silently caps you at 4K 60Hz with no error message.
Enable Enhanced HDMI Format (The Setting Everyone Misses)
This is the single most commonly overlooked setting in console gaming. Even on an HDMI 2.1 port, most TVs ship with the port in a limited-bandwidth "Standard" mode. Until you switch it to Enhanced, the port cannot carry 4K at 120Hz, full VRR range, or proper HDR gaming signals.
The name varies by brand:
- Sony: Settings → Channels & Inputs → HDMI signal format → Enhanced format (or Enhanced format VRR)
- LG: Settings → General → Devices → HDMI Settings → HDMI Deep Color → On for your port
- Samsung: Settings → General → External Device Manager → Input Signal Plus → On for your port
- TCL / Hisense / Google TV: Settings → Channels & Inputs → HDMI → Enhanced Format
After changing it, restart both the TV and the console. If 120Hz still does not appear as an option on the console, this setting is the first thing to re-check — our guide to how to enable 4K 120Hz on TV for PS5 and Xbox walks through the port-by-port checks.
Turn On Game Mode
Game Mode is non-negotiable. It tells the TV to bypass heavy image processing — motion smoothing, noise reduction, and extra buffering — dropping input lag from 60–100ms down to under 15ms (often under 10ms on good gaming TVs). Our TV game mode and input lag explainer shows why each millisecond matters.
- On most TVs: press Settings on the remote → Picture → Picture Mode → Game.
- On LG: the Game Optimizer dashboard gives you VRR, ALLM, and genre presets in one overlay.
- On Samsung: Game Mode appears automatically, with a Game Bar for quick tweaks.
Do not use Vivid, Dynamic, or Standard mode for gaming — they add 50ms or more of lag. Also turn off motion smoothing ("TruMotion," "Motionflow," "Action Smoothing") if it is still active inside Game Mode.
Enable VRR and ALLM
- VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) matches the TV's refresh rate to the game's frame rate in real time. Result: no screen tearing, no stutter when frame rates dip. Essential for games with unlocked frame rates.
- ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) automatically switches the TV into Game Mode whenever the console sends a signal — so you never have to toggle it manually.
On the TV side, both are usually inside the Game Mode or HDMI settings menu — set them to On or Auto. Then enable the matching toggles on the console (below).
One caveat: a few users notice subtle brightness flicker with VRR in games whose frame rate swings wildly. If you see flickering, try the game's Performance mode to stabilize frame rates, or disable VRR for that specific game.
PS5 Video Output Settings, Step by Step
On your PS5, go to Settings → Screen and Video → Video Output:
- Resolution: 2160p (Automatic also works)
- HDR: On When Supported
- VRR: Automatic
- 120 Hz Output: Automatic
- ALLM: Automatic
- 4K Transfer Rate: Automatic
- Deep Color Output and RGB Range: Automatic
Then select Adjust HDR and follow the on-screen instructions: you will match symbols against bright backgrounds three times. Do this in your normal gaming lighting — it sets the console's HDR brightness ceiling to match your TV. Repeat it if you move the TV to a much brighter or darker room.
To verify everything worked, open Video Output Information at the bottom of the same menu — it should report 4K resolution, 120Hz, HDR, and VRR as supported/enabled.
Xbox Series X Video Settings, Step by Step
On your Xbox, go to Profile & System → Settings → General → TV & display options:
- Resolution: 4K UHD
- Refresh rate: 120Hz (this only appears if the TV reports 120Hz support — if it is missing, recheck your HDMI cable and Enhanced format)
- Open Video modes and enable: Allow 4K, Allow HDR10, Allow 120Hz, Allow Variable Refresh Rate, Allow Auto Low-Latency Mode
- If your TV supports it: Allow Dolby Vision and Allow Dolby Vision for Gaming
Then run Calibrate HDR for Gaming from the same menu and follow the steps — the Xbox equivalent of the PS5's HDR adjustment. You can also run Calibrate TV for a guided check of sharpness, brightness, and contrast.
Calibrate HDR: HGiG vs Dynamic Tone Mapping
For HDR games, your TV offers two tone-mapping approaches:
- HGiG (recommended for gaming): Lets the console control HDR brightness directly, using the calibration you just performed. The image is accurate to what the game developers intended — no artificial brightening.
- Dynamic Tone Mapping (DTM): The TV brightens the image scene by scene. It can look punchier, but it crushes detail and deviates from the intended look.
For the most accurate HDR gaming, set the TV's tone mapping to HGiG (often under Picture → Advanced → Dynamic Tone Mapping → HGiG, or inside Game Optimizer on LG). If you prefer a brighter, punchier image for casual play, DTM is a valid preference — just know it is less accurate.
Common Problems and Fixes
120Hz option does not appear on the console
Check three things in order: (1) you are using the cable that came with the console, (2) Enhanced HDMI format is enabled on that exact port, (3) the port is a true HDMI 2.1 port. The Xbox silently falls back to 60Hz without an error when any of these fail.
Screen goes black for a few seconds when launching games
Normal — the TV is re-syncing when the signal switches between 60Hz menus and 120Hz gameplay, or when HDR kicks in. If it happens constantly mid-game, suspect the cable.
Picture looks washed out or too dark in HDR
Re-run the console's HDR calibration (Adjust HDR / Calibrate HDR for Gaming). Also confirm the TV is in Game Mode with HGiG — Standard mode with wrong tone mapping is the usual culprit.
Input lag still feels high
Confirm Game Mode is actually active on the console's input (some TVs set picture mode per input). Disable any remaining motion processing, and make sure ALLM is on so the TV does not drop out of Game Mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use Game Mode for watching movies too?
No. Game Mode sacrifices some image processing for speed. For movies, switch to Filmmaker Mode or Cinema mode, which preserve the director's intent.
Does 120Hz make a difference if my game runs at 60fps?
Yes, modestly — 120Hz output still reduces display-side latency and makes VRR smoother. But the dramatic difference comes in games with 120fps performance modes — our 60Hz vs 120Hz TV comparison covers when the upgrade is worth paying for.
Is HGiG better than Dynamic Tone Mapping?
HGiG is more accurate because the console — which knows the game's true brightness data — controls tone mapping. DTM looks brighter but less faithful. For the most accurate result, choose HGiG.
Do I need a new HDMI cable for PS5/Xbox Series X?
Only if you lost the one in the box. Both consoles ship with a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Any certified 48Gbps cable works; expensive "premium" cables add nothing.
Why does my TV say "no signal" when I enable 120Hz?
Almost always the cable or the port: an HDMI 2.0 cable, or a port not set to Enhanced format, cannot carry the signal. Fix those two and the signal returns.
That is the full setup: the right HDMI 2.1 port with Enhanced format on, Game Mode, VRR and ALLM enabled, and HDR calibrated on the console itself. Run through it once per console and the TV will switch into the right mode by itself from then on. If you are still choosing the TV itself, start with our best TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X buying guide.
About the Author — IW Official
A hands-on TV repair technician with years of experience fixing LED, LCD and Smart TVs. Runs a YouTube channel sharing practical, step-by-step TV repair videos, and writes in-depth troubleshooting guides so you can fix it yourself.
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