How to turn on VRR on your PS5

💡 Need to know

• Head straight for the PS5 VRR settings. To toggle on VRR on your PS5®, go to Settings > Screen and Video.
• Make sure you have the right setup. Both your console and your display must support VRR.
• Time to plug in. You'll need an HDMI 2.1 cable to handle higher refresh rates and keep everything looking sharp.
• Don't forget to check Apply to Unsupported Games. Not every game supports VRR, but that doesn't mean it can't make them look smoother.

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You're puzzling your way through a tricky level in a new PS5 game, but it keeps stuttering and lagging. Or worse, your screen tears right when you're about to defeat a bad guy. Suddenly, you're looking at a giant blotch of color instead of the victory screen. With variable refresh rate (VRR), your game's frame rate and your screen's refresh rate stay in sync for smoother gaming.

At Asurion, we know how much you care about your gaming sessions, and we know how to help you get more out of your console. Here's how to check if your setup supports VRR for PS5 and, if so, how to turn it on.

What VRR is and why it matters

The PS5 date of release was in 2020, but VRR didn't roll out until 2022. This feature uses adaptive sync to match your display's refresh rate to your game's frame rate. For example, if a title supports 120Hz gaming, your PS5 can tell the TV to adjust its refresh rate to match the game's rate of up to 120 frames per second.

VRR makes the biggest difference for fast-paced and competitive games. Even a small stutter or delay can make it challenging to push the right buttons at the right time. If your screen lags during a race, for instance, you might miss a turn or not dodge an opponent in time.

This setting also helps prevent screen tearing. This glitch happens when your display refreshes at a different rate than your game generates frames, which causes multiple frames to appear on the screen at the same time. VRR smooths out screen tearing by improving frame pacing and making sure the display refreshes as fast as the game produces new frames.

Understanding how QLED and OLED displays compare can help you decide if VRR is right for your setup.

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What your setup needs to support VRR

You can only enable VRR on PS5 if your setup includes:

• An HDMI 2.1 cable and port
• A TV or monitor with VRR support

If you play with a TV, display compatibility varies by device. Many 4K and 8K TVs support this feature, but it's not universal. Check your manual or reach out to the manufacturer to find out if your TV works with VRR.

Some TVs also support Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), which automatically switches them to game mode when they detect that you're playing a game. This feature works hand-in-hand with VRR to help reduce input lag.

Gaming monitor compatibility also depends on the model. You may need to spend time dialing in your monitor settings to get lightning-fast performance.

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Turn on VRR on your PS5

Here's how to turn on VRR on your PS5:

1. Connect your console to the display device with an HDMI 2.1 cable.
2. Open the Settings menu.
3. Click on Screen and Video.
4. Find the VRR toggle and switch it to Automatic.

While you're looking at the screen and video settings, go ahead and toggle on Apply to Unsupported Games. This lets VRR work to some degree for all PS5 games, even if they don't officially support it.

Make sure you're keeping your PS5 system software up to date, or the VRR toggle might not show up.

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Fix common PS5 VRR issues

These snags might prevent VRR from working on your PS5:

• The VRR toggle doesn't appear. Make sure your system is updated, and you're using an HDMI 2.1 cable.
• Your device isn't compatible. VRR doesn't work for certain devices, including the PS VR 2®and PS5 Portable®.
• Nothing looks different. VRR doesn't always make a noticeable difference for slower games, but it's still worth turning on for less screen tearing.
• The TV is supported, but it still doesn't activate VRR. If the menu includes gaming settings, see if there's an option to turn on VRR. You should also make sure you connect the HDMI cable to a port that supports this feature.

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FAQ

What does VRR do on PS5?

VRR makes sure that your TV or monitor refreshes at the same rate that your PS5 produces frames. That makes gameplay less laggy and helps prevent screen tearing.

Do I need VRR for PS5 gaming?

You don't necessarily need VRR, especially if you usually play slower games.

Which TVs and monitors support VRR on PS5?

TVs and monitors with an HDMI 2.1 port often support VRR, but check your manual to make sure.