Playing your favorite game in 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR) and 120Hz refresh rate takes your gaming experience to a new height. Xbox Series X and Series X consoles are capable enough to elevate your gaming experience; all you need is a supported TV or monitor. When you have all the right devices with you, but still you can’t play your favorite game in 4K at 120Hz, we know it is frustrating. In this guide, we’ll be listing out common reasons why your Xbox Series X or S is not displaying 4K HDR 120Hz and effective solutions to deal with them.
Xbox Series X and Series X are the latest generation gaming consoles from tech giant Microsoft. The consoles have powerful hardware capabilities, which helps in delivering impeccable graphics performance. One of the beloved features of this console is its ability to deliver stunning 4K visuals, high dynamic range, and 120Hz silky smooth refresh rate. Despite this, some users are having issues with their Xbox Series X or Series S not displaying 4K HDR at 120Hz.
Before we directly jump onto the solution, let me quickly take you through potential reasons. It will help you understand the problem better, which would result in better troubleshooting.
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Reasons Why Your Xbox Series X or Series S Not Displaying 4K HDR at 120Hz
- Your TV is not compatible: Unless you have a TV or monitor with 4K resolution, HDR, and 120Hz refresh rate support, do not expect any games to run at 4K resolution. You need a compatible TV or monitor that supports 4K resolution, HDR, and 120Hz refresh rate. Check your device specifications.
- Older HDMI cable: Not all HDMI cables can achieve 4K HDR at 120Hz refresh rate. For this, you will need an ultra high speed HDMI cable that supports HDMI 2.1 standard.
- Incorrect TV configuration: Even if you have a 4K HDR 120Hz compatible TV, there’s no guarantee that it will run games at its highest resolution with the default settings. On many TVs, these are not enabled by default. Go to your TV’s settings and make sure all the required settings are in place.
- Incorrect in-game settings: The game might not be optimized to run at 4K HDR 120Hz as some titles required in-game settings adjustments. Go to the game’s settings and adjust display resolution, HDR, and refresh rate.
- Older/outdated console’s firmware: If your Xbox Series X or Series X is not displaying 4K HDR at 120Hz, bugs or glitches could be causing the problem. You should update the console’s firmware to check if the latest firmware includes a fix.
Xbox Series X and S Not Displaying 4K HDR 120Hz, How to Fix?
If you can’t enjoy the game in 4K HDR at 120Hz, go through the solutions below. Test them one-by-one until you find the one that spells out success for you.
Not all TVs and monitors support 4K resolution, high dynamic range (HDR), and 120Hz refresh rate. Before trying any solution, you’d want to make sure that your device (TV or monitor) does not lack 4K, HDR, or 120Hz. You can find your TV specifications on the product manual or search your TV model on the official site and get the required details.
Solution 1: Check Your TV Settings
Not all TVs come with 4K HDR 120Hz as their default option. What I have seen with most TVs is that they come with 1080p resolution. This is best for the majority of people, and probably it’s done to save some bandwidth. But those who want to achieve the full potential of the device might require tweaking the settings a bit.
Access your TV or monitor’s settings, and make sure 4K, HDR, and 120Hz options are enabled. You may find these options under display settings. After making the required changes, launch your game to check if the problem is fixed.
Solution 2: Make Sure You’re Using HDMI 2.1 Cable
Running the game in 4K resolution at 120Hz refresh rate requires higher bandwidth which is not supported by older HDMI cables such as HDMI 2.0 or earlier. To achieve 4K HDR 120Hz, you need an ultra high speed HDMI cable that supports HDMI 2.1 standard.
Make sure you are using the right cable. If you aren’t already, go get a new high quality HDMI 2.1 cable and start playing your favorite game in 4K HDR at 120Hz refresh rate.
Solution 3: Try a Different HDMI Port
Many TVs and monitors now come with multiple HDMI ports, but not all of them have support for advanced features such as 4K, HDR, etc. They have a specific HDMI port labeled as HDMI 2.1. You would want to make sure that the HDMI cable is connected to this port. Try connecting your Xbox console to a different HDMI port on your TV and check if the problem has been sorted.
Solution 4: Check In-Game Settings
Not every time your console or the TV are to be blamed when not getting 4K HDR at 120Hz refresh rate, several games require specific in-game settings adjustments to get the desired result. Launch the game, go to the in-game settings, and check the resolution, HDR, and refresh rate settings.
Adjust the in-game settings (if the required settings are not in place) and relaunch the game to check if the problem is fixed. However, if the problem persists, you would want to update your Xbox console as mentioned in the next solution.
Solution 5: Update Your Xbox Console
Xbox Series X and Series S consoles get regular updates addressing issues and improving the overall performance. You should therefore check your console to check if the latest firmware contains a fix for the 4K HDR 120Hz not displaying issue.
Here’s how to update your Xbox console:
- Press the “Xbox button” on the console to turn it on.
- Press the “Xbox button” on your controller to open “Guide”.
- Go to the “Profile & system” tab and select “Settings”.
- From the Settings menu, select “System”.
- Tap on “Updates & downloads”.
- Click “Check for updates” to manually search for latest updates.
If an update is available, hit the “Update now” button and follow on-screen instructions to update your Xbox console. The device should restart after the update is installed.
Launch the game and check if the resolution has gone up.
Solution 6: Power Cycle Your Console
Your Xbox Series X or Series S console may not be displaying 4K HDR at 120Hz because of technical glitches. And, the best way to fix common technical issues is power cycling your Xbox console. Don’t worry! It won’t remove any of the installed games and their data.
Steps to power cycle Xbox console:
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your Xbox console. Release the button when the LEDs turn off.
- Remove the power cable and the HDMI cable.
- Wait for a minute and then connect all the cables to your console.
- Now, turn on your console by pressing the Xbox button on the controller.
After power cycling the Xbox console, check if the error message is gone. If the problem persists, you’d want to power cycle your TV as well.
Here’s how to do it:
- Unplug the power cable to turn off the device.
- Press and hold the power button on the TV for 10 seconds. This should remove any residual power left in the device.
- Wait for a minute.
- Plug in the power cable again and turn on your TV.
Solution 7: Reach Out to Xbox Support
If you have tried all the aforementioned solutions and still can’t play games at 4K HDR 120Hz, we recommend reaching out to Xbox support for further assistance. Mention the problem in detail along with all the troubleshooting steps you have applied before for a quick and effective resolution.
Wrapping It Up
Despite having the right set of devices, if you can’t enjoy your favorite game in high resolution and high refresh rate, it’s frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways to fix this issue, which are mentioned above. We hope one of the solutions from this article helped you fix Xbox Series X and S not displaying 4K HDR 120Hz issue.