How to Connect a PS5 to Your TV: Everything You Need to Know

Setting up a PlayStation 5 is straightforward for most people — but the quality of your experience depends heavily on the cable you use, the TV you own, and the settings you configure afterward. Getting the physical connection right is just step one.

What You'll Need Before You Start

The PS5 comes with one cable in the box: an HDMI 2.1 cable. This is important. HDMI 2.1 is the standard that supports the PS5's highest output capabilities, including 4K at 120fps and 8K resolution (where supported). Don't swap it out for an older HDMI cable without understanding what you might be giving up.

You'll also need:

• A TV with at least one HDMI input port
• A power outlet for the PS5
• Your TV's remote to switch inputs

That's genuinely it for the basic connection.

The Physical Connection: Step by Step

1. Power everything off before connecting cables — TV and PS5 both.
2. Plug the HDMI 2.1 cable into the HDMI OUT port on the back of the PS5. There's only one HDMI port on the console, so there's no guesswork.
3. Plug the other end into an HDMI port on your TV. If your TV has multiple HDMI ports, note which number you're using (e.g., HDMI 2).
4. Connect the PS5 power cable and power on the TV first, then the PS5.
5. Switch your TV's input source to the HDMI port you used. Most remotes have a dedicated Input or Source button.

The PS5 will detect your TV's capabilities and attempt to configure the output automatically on first boot.

Why Your TV's HDMI Port Version Matters 🖥️

This is where setups start to diverge significantly.

If your TV only has HDMI 2.0 ports, you can still use the included HDMI 2.1 cable — but the TV itself becomes the limiting factor. You won't get 4K at 120fps regardless of the cable. The PS5 will automatically cap output to what the TV supports.

Older 1080p TVs work perfectly fine for basic gaming — you simply won't access the console's higher-resolution output.

Check your TV's manual or manufacturer spec page to confirm which HDMI version its ports support. Not all ports on the same TV are equal — some models have one HDMI 2.1 port and several HDMI 2.0 ports.

Configuring PS5 Video Output Settings

Once connected, the PS5 lets you manually fine-tune the output rather than relying entirely on automatic detection.

Navigate to: Settings → Screen and Video → Video Output

Key settings to review:

• Resolution — Options typically include 1080p, 4K, and automatic. Set this to match what your TV actually supports.
• HDR — The PS5 supports HDR10. If your TV is HDR-capable, enabling this can noticeably improve color range and contrast. If your TV doesn't support HDR, leave it off.
• 120Hz Output — Must be enabled manually here if you want high frame rate gaming. Your TV must support 120Hz at your chosen resolution for this to function.
• Deep Color Output (RGB) — Relevant if your TV supports it; affects color depth.

The console also has a built-in 4K TV Match tool under video output that runs a brief compatibility check with your specific display. It's worth running.

Common Setup Issues and What Causes Them 🔧

No signal on screen: Usually means the wrong input is selected on the TV, or the HDMI cable isn't fully seated. Try replugging both ends firmly.

Picture appears but looks washed out or overly bright: Often a mismatch between the PS5's RGB range setting and what the TV expects. Try toggling between Full and Limited RGB range in the video output settings.

4K isn't available as an option: Either the TV doesn't support 4K, the HDMI port being used is HDMI 2.0 or older, or 4K output isn't enabled in PS5 settings.

120Hz option is greyed out: The TV may not support 120Hz, or you may need to enable HDMI Enhanced Format (sometimes called Ultra HD Deep Color or similar) in the TV's own HDMI port settings — this is a common step on LG, Samsung, and Sony TVs that's easy to overlook.

Audio: Don't Overlook This Step

The PS5 sends audio through the same HDMI cable. If you're using the TV's built-in speakers, nothing extra is needed. If you're connecting a soundbar or AV receiver:

• HDMI passthrough via the TV's ARC/eARC port is the most common setup — audio travels from the PS5 → TV → soundbar over HDMI or optical.
• Direct HDMI connection to an AV receiver (with the receiver outputting video to the TV) gives the most control and is preferred for home theater setups, but requires the receiver to support HDMI 2.1 to avoid bottlenecking video.

The Variables That Shape Your Actual Experience

A PS5 connected to a 1080p TV with no HDR and a 60Hz panel gives a fundamentally different experience than one connected to a 4K 120Hz OLED with HDMI 2.1. Neither setup is "wrong" — but what you get out of the connection depends on:

• Your TV's resolution and panel type
• Which HDMI ports your TV has and what version they are
• Whether your TV's HDMI Enhanced/Ultra HD settings are enabled
• Your audio setup and how it's routed
• The specific games you're playing — not all PS5 titles support 4K or 120fps modes

The physical connection takes under two minutes. What takes longer is understanding your display's actual capabilities and aligning the PS5's output settings to match — and that depends entirely on the hardware sitting in your space.