Can A PS5 Play 4K Ultra HD? | Clear, Quick Answer

Yes, a PlayStation 5 can output 4K Ultra HD for games and play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movies on a PS5 with a disc drive.

The point of this guide is simple: confirm what 4K the PS5 can do, show the settings that unlock it, and help you get smooth, sharp results on a modern TV. You’ll see what works for the disc model, what changes on the Digital Edition, how 120Hz fits in, and the limits around HDR formats and audio.

What 4K Ultra HD Means On PS5

On PS5, “4K Ultra HD” covers two things: game output at 3840×2160 and movie playback from 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a console with a disc drive. The console supports HDMI 2.1 and can output 4K at up to 120Hz on compatible displays. That higher refresh rate pares motion blur and input lag, so fast action looks crisp and feels responsive.

Check the TV port — Use the TV’s HDMI input that supports 4K/120 (often labeled HDMI 3/4 on recent sets).
Use the right cable — The PS5-in-box HDMI cable supports 4K; if you swap it, pick an Ultra High Speed HDMI lead.
Enable game features — Turn on 4K output, 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM when your display supports them.

PS5 outputs HDR10 for games and movies. That gives a wider brightness range and richer color when your TV supports HDR. More on HDR formats in a moment.

Playing 4K Ultra HD On PS5 — Movies And Discs

Only a PS5 with a disc drive can spin 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray movie discs. The standard disc model includes the drive. The PS5 Digital Edition doesn’t; the slim-era Digital Edition can add Sony’s detachable drive, which also plays 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and DVD once paired.

PS5 Model	4K UHD Blu-ray Movies	Notes
PS5 Disc Edition (launch or slim)	Yes	Plays 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD.
PS5 Digital Edition (launch)	No	No optical drive; streaming and downloads only.
PS5 Digital Edition (slim) + Sony Disc Drive	Yes	Attach the official drive; after pairing, it plays 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD.
PS5 Pro + Sony Disc Drive	Yes	Pro requires the detachable drive for discs; works with 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.

Quick check: insert a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, open the Disc Player tile, and confirm your TV shows an HDR10 signal. If the movie loads in SDR or 1080p, see the fixes below.

Can A PS5 Play 4K Ultra HD? Settings That Matter

Two menus control the whole 4K story: Video Output and Screen and Video. A few toggles there decide whether you see 4K/60, 4K/120, HDR10, and VRR. Follow these steps to get a clean baseline.

Set Resolution To Automatic — Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and choose Automatic for Resolution. This lets PS5 pick 4K when the TV supports it.
Enable 120Hz Output — In Video Output, set Enable 120Hz Output to Automatic. Some games add a 120Hz mode inside their own settings too.
Turn On VRR — Toggle Variable Refresh Rate to reduce screen tearing on TVs or monitors that support it.
Use 4:2:2 Or Automatic — For 4K/120 on some TVs, letting the console negotiate chroma (Automatic) avoids handshake issues.
Keep HDR On — Set HDR to On When Supported. Run the PS5 three-step HDR calibration for better tone mapping.
Pick The Right HDMI Port — Many TVs only offer two HDMI 2.1 ports. Shift your soundbar or set-top box if one is occupying the 4K/120 input.

HDR And Audio: What You Get, What You Don’t

PS5 games and the Disc Player app output HDR10. Dolby Vision is not supported on PS5 for Ultra HD Blu-ray or for games, even on TVs that offer Dolby Vision Gaming. If you see a Dolby Vision badge on your TV while using another device, that’s the display handling a different source, not the PS5.

On the audio side, PS5 now supports Dolby Atmos output to HDMI devices for games and media apps. Choose the Dolby Atmos option under Audio settings when using a soundbar, AVR, or a TV that can pass Atmos to a receiver. For discs, set the Disc Player to bitstream so your receiver can decode Dolby TrueHD/Atmos or DTS-HD when available on the movie.

Enable Dolby Atmos — Go to Settings > Sound > Audio Format (Priority) and pick Dolby Atmos when sending audio over HDMI.
Use Bitstream For Discs — In the Disc Player options, select bitstream so your AVR handles the lossless track.
Keep TV eARC On — If the console is cabled to the TV, turn on the TV’s eARC so Atmos passes cleanly to the receiver or soundbar.

Troubleshooting 4K And HDR On PS5

If the picture drops to 1080p or HDR turns gray, don’t panic. Most hiccups come down to cabling or TV settings. Work through these short fixes in order.

Swap The HDMI Input — Move the cable to the TV input rated for 4K/120. Many sets label two ports for 4K/120 and two for 4K/60.
Toggle Enhanced Format — On Sony, LG, TCL, Vizio and others, enable the TV’s “Enhanced,” “Game,” or “4K120” mode for that HDMI port.
Try A Different Cable — Use the supplied PS5 cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Long, cheap leads can fail at 4K/120.
Set Resolution To 4K — If Auto misreads a monitor, set Resolution to 2160p and restart the console.
Retune HDR — Rerun the three-screen HDR calibration after any TV picture-mode change.
Game-Specific 120Hz — Many titles require toggling a performance or 120Hz mode in the game menu. Check the in-game Video settings.
Disc HDR Still Off? — In the Disc Player settings, set Deep Color On and output to YUV 4:2:2 if your AVR or capture device struggles with full bandwidth.

Deeper fix: if you route the console through a receiver, try a direct run to the TV first. Some older AVRs only pass 4K/60. Use the TV’s eARC to return audio to the AVR for Atmos while the PS5 runs straight into the TV’s 4K/120 port.

Do You Need A Dedicated 4K Player?

A PS5 with a disc drive handles 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray cleanly and doubles as a capable game console. A dedicated player still makes sense if you want features like frame-by-frame tone-mapping controls, broader disc profile support, and universal HDR format support across more titles. If your living room centers on disc collecting and AV fine-tuning, a standalone machine can squeeze extra polish out of tricky masters. If your priority is gaming and a neat setup, PS5 playback is a strong one-box option.

Quick Answers To Popular 4K Questions

Can I get 4K/120 on PS5? — Yes, on displays that support 4K/120 over HDMI 2.1, once 120Hz is enabled in the console settings.
Does PS5 support Dolby Vision? — No. PS5 uses HDR10 for games and movies.
Does PS5 output Dolby Atmos? — Yes. Pick Dolby Atmos in Audio settings for games and compatible media apps; use bitstream for discs.
Can the Digital Edition play 4K Ultra HD discs? — The launch Digital Edition can’t. The slim-era Digital Edition can, once you attach Sony’s official disc drive.
Are 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs region-locked? — The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format is not region-coded in the usual way; most discs are region-free. Regular Blu-ray and DVD may still use regions.

Setup Checklist For A Crisp 4K Picture

Cable — Use the included HDMI or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable.
Port — Plug into a 4K/120-capable HDMI input on the TV.
Console — Resolution Automatic, 120Hz Automatic, HDR On When Supported, VRR On.
TV Mode — Game mode On; for movies, pick a calibrated Film/Cinema preset.
Audio — Dolby Atmos selected; eARC enabled if the console goes into the TV first.
Discs — Use the Disc Player’s bitstream audio and keep Deep Color On.

Two final notes for clarity. First, the exact wording “can a ps5 play 4k ultra hd?” does apply to both gaming and movie playback; the answer is yes for both when you have the right model, settings, and display. Second, the keyword phrase “can a ps5 play 4k ultra hd?” also includes the detachable-drive path for slim-era Digital Edition owners, which gives full 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray support once installed.