The Xbox Series X/S consoles are a technological marvel. It’s quite impressive what Microsoft has done with these devices. The company even managed to add a 120Hz refresh rate feature than can be used for some games. Bear in mind that you’ll need a monitor that supports 120Hz before making any attempts to take advantage of this feature. From what we’ve learned, several developers are using the newfound power of the Xbox Series X/S to include 120Hz support in their games, and to make matters even more interesting, some are doing it at 4K resolution.
How to enable 120Hz on Xbox Series X/S
Enabling 120Hz on your Xbox Series X/S is a simple task, one that can be done in just a few seconds. When you’re done, you should be able to play any supported game at 120Hz, provided the correct monitor or TV is at your disposal.
With that said, let us get down to the meat of the reason why you’re here in the first place, and then some.
- Boot the Xbox Series X/S
- Open the Guide
- Navigate to Settings
- Go to TV & Display Options
- Enable 120Hz Refresh Rate
1] Boot the Xbox Series X/S
- Press the power button on the device.
- Alternatively, press the Xbox button at the center of the controller.
- Give it a few seconds and the console should now be up and running.
2] Open the Guide
- Press the Xbox button on the controller to launch the Guide.
3] Navigate to Settings
- Select the Profile & System tab.
- From there, click on Settings.
4] Go to TV & Display Options
- From the Settings area, choose General.
- After that, select TV & Display Options.
5] Enable 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Click on the Refresh Rate option.
- Finally, change from default to 120Hz.
Here’s the thing. Depending on your monitor or TV, if 4K is running beforehand, the Xbox Series X/S could change your resolution to the highest one possible after 120Hz is turned on. We understand the Xbox does this in order to accommodate the best Settings your display can handle.
Read: Xbox Series X vs Gaming PC: Which is better?
How to tell if your monitor or TV supports 120Hz?
If you’re not sure if your monitor or TV supports 120Hz mode, then there is a way to figure things out via the Xbox Series X/S. The easiest way is to check the manufacturer’s website, but maybe you’re more interested in doing things the hard way.
- Go to the Guide
- Open the Settings area
- View what your monitor or TV supports
1] Go to the Guide
- Press the Xbox button on your controller to fire up the Guide section.
2] Open the Settings area
- Go to Profile & System.
- Select Settings.
3] View what your monitor or TV supports
- Click on the General tab the moment you see it.
- From there, you must select TV & Display Options.
You should now see information about your TV or monitor, including whether 120Hz is supported.
Read: How to connect Xbox Series X/S to Bluetooth Headphones
What is the 120Hz mode on your display?
Chances are you’ve heard of the term, Refresh Rate. This is basically the number of times your display refreshes per every second, and this is measured in Hertz, or Hz for short. So, for example, a 60Hz display can refresh 60 times every second, while a 120Hz display can refresh at 120 times per second.
The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the experience becomes, which is why most high-octane first-person shooters run at 60FPS, especially the ones with competitive multiplayer.
Do all games on the Xbox Series X/S support 120Hz?
No, not all games support this mode, and this will likely be the case up until the end of the console’s lifecycle. Still, more developers are adding support to their games, so the numbers will increase substantially in the coming years.
How to choose between 4K and 120Hz with games?
Situations may force you to make sacrifices, and it all depends on the display or the game itself. You may be forced to choose between 120Hz and 4K resolution, but making that choice can be difficult. So, what to do? Well, make decisions based on the game you’re playing.
For example, a fast-paced multiplayer first-person shooter wouldn’t benefit much from 4K resolution, but it would with 120Hz mode. The same goes for racing games because higher frame rates lead to smoother performance all around.
Now, if you are playing a Role-Playing Game (RPG), in most cases, such games are graphically intensive and beautifully designed. To get the most out of them, we recommend playing in 4K resolution.
