Xbox Series X Display Settings: 4K, 120fps, HDR and VRR Setup Guide

Xbox Series X display settings can feel overwhelming at first. You’ve got 4K, 120fps, HDR, VRR, Auto HDR, and colour depth options all sitting in the same menu. Get it wrong and you’re leaving performance on the table. This guide walks you through every option, step by step, so your console actually looks and plays the way it should.

TL;DR

• Go to Settings > General > TV & Display Options to access all display settings
• You need HDMI 2.1 and a compatible TV or monitor for 4K at 120fps
• Enable Allow 4K, Allow 120Hz, Allow HDR10, and Allow Variable Refresh Rate in the Video Modes menu
• Run the HDR calibration tool after changing any display or TV settings
• Auto HDR upgrades older SDR games to HDR automatically — it’s worth keeping on
• Set colour depth to 10-bit for the best balance of quality and compatibility

What You Need Before Changing Xbox Series X Display Settings

Before touching any settings, your setup needs to support what you’re trying to enable. The Xbox Series X is capable of 4K at 120fps, HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Variable Refresh Rate. But none of that works without the right hardware on the other end.

Here’s what you need depending on what you want:

• 4K at 60fps: HDMI 2.0 cable and a 4K TV or monitor
• 4K at 120fps: HDMI 2.1 cable and a display with an HDMI 2.1 port that supports 4K at 120Hz
• VRR (Variable Refresh Rate): A display that supports FreeSync, VESA Adaptive Sync, or HDMI 2.1 VRR
• HDR10: Any HDR-capable display — most TVs bought in the last few years qualify
• Dolby Vision Gaming: A Dolby Vision-certified TV or monitor

If you’re running the console through a soundbar or AV receiver, that device also needs to support HDMI 2.1 passthrough. Most budget receivers don’t. If yours doesn’t, plug the Xbox directly into the TV and use HDMI eARC to pass audio back to your sound system.

Use the Ultra High Speed HDMI cable that came in the box where possible. It’s rated for the full 48Gbps bandwidth you need for 4K/120Hz. A standard HDMI cable will bottleneck you at 4K/60fps or lower colour depth.

If you’re still deciding between consoles or need help with initial setup, check out our Xbox Series X setup guide and our Xbox Series X vs Series S comparison for more context.

How to Access Xbox Series X Display Settings

Getting to the display menu is straightforward. Here’s the path:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller
2. Move to the far right and select Profile & System
3. Select Settings
4. Select General
5. Select TV & Display Options

This is the main hub for all display-related settings. From here you can adjust resolution, refresh rate, colour depth, HDR options, VRR, and more.

Xbox Series X Resolution Settings

The first thing to set is your output resolution. Under TV & Display Options, look for the Display section. You’ll see a dropdown for resolution.

Select the highest resolution your display supports:

• 4K UHD (3840×2160) — for 4K TVs and monitors
• 1440p (2560×1440) — for QHD monitors or if your 4K display has issues
• 1080p (1920×1080) — for full HD displays

The console will try to auto-detect your display’s capabilities. If it picks the wrong resolution, set it manually here.

How to Set Refresh Rate to 120Hz on Xbox Series X

Once your resolution is set, scroll down to the Refresh Rate dropdown. You’ll see options for 60Hz and 120Hz.

To enable 120Hz:

1. In TV & Display Options, select Refresh Rate
2. Choose 120Hz
3. If your screen goes black and doesn’t come back, your display doesn’t support it — the console will revert to 60Hz automatically after a few seconds

120Hz support at 4K requires HDMI 2.1. Without it, the console can still run 120Hz but only at lower resolutions like 1080p or 1440p over HDMI 2.0.

It’s worth setting to 120Hz even for games that cap at 60fps. The lower input latency is still a benefit, and you’ll be ready when games do support the higher frame rate.

Xbox Series X Video Modes Settings

This is where most of the important toggles live. From TV & Display Options, scroll to the right side and select Advanced, then Video Modes. You’ll see a checklist of features.

Here’s what each one does and what you should set:

Allow 4K

Tick this if you have a 4K display. This lets the console output at 4K resolution. Without this checked, you’re capped at 1080p regardless of your resolution setting.

Allow HDR10

Tick this to enable HDR10 support. HDR10 is the baseline HDR standard and works on the widest range of TVs and monitors. With this enabled, HDR-compatible games will output with wide colour and high dynamic range.

If this option is greyed out, it means your display doesn’t have HDR enabled. Check your TV’s input settings and make sure the HDMI port you’re using has HDR or Enhanced Mode turned on.

Allow Dolby Vision for Gaming

Tick this if your display is Dolby Vision certified. Dolby Vision provides dynamic metadata per frame, which can look noticeably better than standard HDR10 on compatible screens. It only activates when both the TV and the game support it.

Allow 120Hz

This is separate from the refresh rate setting above. Ticking this tells the console it’s allowed to output at 120Hz. Both this and the refresh rate dropdown need to be set correctly for 120fps to work.

Allow Variable Refresh Rate

VRR prevents screen tearing. When the game’s frame rate fluctuates, VRR keeps the display in sync so you don’t see any split-screen artefacts. You can set this to Off, Always On, or Gaming Only. Gaming Only is the recommended setting for most people.

If this option is greyed out, your display doesn’t support FreeSync or HDMI VRR. Check your monitor or TV’s settings to ensure FreeSync or Adaptive Sync is enabled in its OSD menu.

Allow Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM)

ALLM automatically switches your TV into Game Mode when you launch a game. This reduces input lag without you having to manually change picture modes. Keep this on.

Xbox Series X Colour Depth and Colour Space Settings

From TV & Display Options, go to Video Fidelity & Overscan. Here you’ll find colour depth and colour space settings.

Colour Depth

• 24 Bits per Pixel (8-bit): Standard. Fine for most displays.
• 30 Bits per Pixel (10-bit): Better gradients, less banding. Use this if your display supports it.

Select 10-bit and wait. If your screen goes black and reverts, your display doesn’t support it and it will fall back to 8-bit. Note that the Xbox Series X supports a maximum of 4K at 120Hz in 10-bit colour. 12-bit colour is not available at full resolution and refresh rate.

Colour Space

• Standard (Rec. 709): Best for most TVs. Use this as default.
• PC RGB: Use this for monitors connected via HDMI where the display is set to full range RGB.

Most people should leave this on Standard unless they’re connecting to a PC monitor and experiencing washed-out colours.

How to Enable and Calibrate HDR on Xbox Series X

Enabling HDR is only half the job. If the calibration is off, colours can look washed out, too dark, or blown out. The Xbox has a built-in HDR calibration tool.

To calibrate HDR:

1. Go to Settings > General > TV & Display Options
2. Select Calibrate HDR for Games
3. Make sure your TV is in Game Mode before starting
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to adjust the brightness sliders

The calibration tool asks you to adjust until certain elements just become visible or disappear. This tells the console your TV’s black level and peak brightness, so it can send the right signal.

Run the calibration again any time you switch TVs, change your TV’s picture mode, or adjust brightness settings. A wrong calibration is just as bad as no HDR at all.

What Is Auto HDR on Xbox Series X

Auto HDR is a Microsoft feature that uses machine learning to convert older SDR games into HDR output. It makes direct light sources brighter than the surrounding image, producing more depth and vibrancy in games that were never designed for HDR.

It works on Xbox One games and many Xbox 360 titles that run in SDR. The conversion happens automatically — you don’t need to change anything in the game itself.

To enable or disable Auto HDR:

1. Go to Settings > General > TV & Display Options
2. Select Video Modes
3. Tick or untick Auto HDR

For most people, keeping Auto HDR on is the right call. The results are generally a noticeable improvement, especially in older games with flat lighting. If you see a game that looks wrong with it enabled, you can turn it off per-game in the game’s settings or globally here.

Xbox Series X Display Settings for 4K TV

If you have a 4K TV, here’s the recommended setup:

• Resolution: 4K UHD
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz (if your TV supports it via HDMI 2.1), otherwise 60Hz
• Allow 4K: On
• Allow HDR10: On
• Allow Dolby Vision for Gaming: On (if your TV supports Dolby Vision)
• Allow 120Hz: On
• Allow Variable Refresh Rate: Gaming Only
• Allow Auto Low Latency Mode: On
• Colour Depth: 30 Bits (10-bit)
• Colour Space: Standard

After applying these settings, run the HDR calibration. Also check your TV’s input settings to make sure the HDMI port you’re using has Enhanced Mode, HDMI Ultra HD Deep Colour, or the equivalent enabled. The name varies by TV brand but the function is the same — it unlocks the full bandwidth and feature set of the HDMI connection.

Xbox Series X Display Settings for Monitor

Connecting to a gaming monitor works similarly, but there are a few differences to watch for.

• Set Colour Space to PC RGB if colours look washed out on your monitor
• Enable FreeSync or Adaptive Sync in your monitor’s OSD settings before enabling VRR on the console
• If your monitor doesn’t have native 4K but claims support, check whether HDR only activates when Allow 4K is enabled — this is a known quirk on some panels
• Avoid monitors labelled as “HDMI 2.1 TMDS” — these often revert to HDMI 2.0 speeds and cap at 4K/60fps. Look for “Fixed Rate Link” (FRL) support for full bandwidth

Common Xbox Series X Display Settings Problems

4K or HDR Option Is Greyed Out

This means the console can’t detect support for that feature on your display. Check the HDMI cable — it may not be rated for the bandwidth required. Also check your TV’s HDMI settings and enable Enhanced Mode or Ultra HD on the port you’re using. Confirm that the TV is actually capable of that feature.

Screen Goes Black After Changing Settings

This is normal. When you change refresh rate or colour depth, the console tests the new setting. If your display can’t handle it, you’ll get a black screen and the console reverts automatically after a few seconds. No action needed — just try the next option down.

VRR Causes Black Screen or Disconnects

Some TVs have compatibility issues with VRR, particularly older Samsung models. If enabling VRR causes signal loss or flickering, turn it off under Settings > General > TV & Display Options > Advanced > Video Modes. Alternatively, set refresh rate to 60Hz if you prefer VRR over 120Hz.

HDR Looks Washed Out or Too Dark

Run the HDR calibration tool again. Make sure your TV is in Game Mode before calibrating, not Cinema or Standard mode. If you calibrated in the wrong picture mode, the console will be sending the wrong signal for your TV’s actual output.

Can’t Get 1440p With HDR at the Same Time

This is a known limitation on the Xbox Series X. HDR currently only activates when Allow 4K is enabled, meaning your display needs to accept a 4K signal even if it renders at 1440p. On a 1440p native display, enable Allow 4K in Video Modes even though your panel isn’t 4K — this allows HDR to function.

Check Your Current Display Output

To verify what your Xbox Series X is actually outputting, go to Settings > General > TV & Display Options > 4K TV Details. This screen shows whether 4K, HDR, VRR, and 120Hz are all working correctly with green ticks or warnings.

If you see question marks or missing ticks for features your TV should support, the first thing to check is the HDMI cable. Swap it for the one that came with the console. If that doesn’t fix it, check the TV’s HDMI port settings and firmware version.

Xbox Series X Display Settings and Game Pass

These display settings apply to every game you play, including titles from Game Pass. Higher-quality visuals don’t require any extra configuration per game — once the system settings are correct, supported games will automatically use 4K, 120fps, HDR, or VRR where available.

Not all games support all modes. A game may offer a Performance Mode (targeting 120fps at lower resolution) or a Quality Mode (targeting 4K at 60fps). Those in-game options work alongside your display settings, not instead of them.

If you want to see which games are available with 120fps or 4K support, the best games on Xbox Game Pass list is a good starting point. You can also check the Xbox Game Pass games list for the full library and current Game Pass pricing if you’re not yet subscribed.

For a broader look at what the console is capable of, the Xbox Series X review and best Xbox Series X games guide are worth reading alongside this one. And if you’re comparing it to Sony’s console, our Xbox Series X vs PS5 breakdown covers display feature parity between both platforms.