When a PS5 won't put out 4K HDR — stuck at 1080p, "Signal Not Supported," or a black screen — it's an HDMI handshake failing, not a broken console. The PS5 negotiates resolution, HDR, and HDCP with your TV at power-on, and if the port, cable, or the TV's input mode can't carry the full signal, it silently drops to something safe. Fix those three and 4K HDR comes back.
Quick answer
- Use the TV's HDMI 2.1 port and set that input to Enhanced / Full mode — the #1 fix.
- Use a certified Ultra High Speed (48 Gbps) cable — the PS5 needs it for 4K120 and stable HDR.
- Power-cycle the handshake: fully power off, unplug TV and PS5 for at least 30 seconds, TV on first, then the PS5.
Fix it
- Set the TV input to its full HDMI mode. This is what fixes most cases. Samsung Input Signal Plus, LG HDMI Deep Color / Ultra HD, Sony Enhanced format, TCL/Hisense HDMI Mode → Enhanced/2.1. Ports default to a limited mode that blocks 4K HDR.
- Use a HDMI 2.1 / 4K120 port. Many TVs have only one or two; the rest cap you at 4K60 and may refuse HDR handshakes.
- Swap in a certified Ultra High Speed cable. A cable that's fine at 1080p fails at 4K HDR and triggers "Signal Not Supported" or a black screen. If the screen stays fully black with no signal at all, work the PS5 HDMI not working fix first.
- Power-cycle in order. Hold the PS5 power button until it beeps twice and fully shuts down, unplug both devices 30+ seconds, TV on first, then PS5.
- Confirm the PS5's own video settings. Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output — set Resolution to Automatic (or 2160p) and turn HDR to On/Automatic and Deep Color Output to Automatic.
If it still won't go 4K HDR
- Boot into Safe Mode (hold power 7+ seconds for the second beep) and choose "Change Video Output → Change Resolution" — this resets a stuck handshake from a blind screen.
- Test a different TV or the other input to isolate whether it's the port or the console.
- Check the TV supports 4K HDR on that input — some TVs only do HDR on specific ports.
4K HDR vs 4K/120Hz
4K HDR at 60Hz works on a good HDMI 2.0 link — HDMI 2.0 cannot carry 4K@120Hz. 4K at 120Hz needs HDMI 2.1, a 48 Gbps certified cable, and the port in its Enhanced/2.1 mode — and 120Hz is per-game. If you have 4K HDR but no 120Hz, that's the cable/port/mode trio, not the console. If your TV simply lacks an HDMI 2.1 port, the best gaming TVs for PS5 and Xbox round-up covers which sets do 4K120 properly.
FAQ
My PS5 dropped to 1080p on its own. The handshake failed at power-on. Set the TV input to Enhanced mode, use a certified cable, and power-cycle TV-first for 30+ seconds.
"Signal Not Supported" when I enable 4K. The cable or port can't carry it. Swap to a certified Ultra High Speed cable and move to a HDMI 2.1 port; reset video output from Safe Mode if the screen is black.
Where do I turn HDR on? Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > HDR (Automatic/On) and Deep Color Output (Automatic).
Do I need a 48 Gbps cable just for 4K HDR? For 4K60 HDR a good High Speed cable can work, but a certified Ultra High Speed cable is what guarantees 4K HDR and is mandatory for 4K/120Hz.