What are the best settings on my Roku TV™ for gaming?
When you connect a game console to your Roku TV, you can adjust several settings to improve performance, usability, and picture quality for optimal gameplay. With select game consoles, your Roku TV will automatically configure specific settings for you, letting you jump right into the fun without needing to do much to get your favorite games looking their best.
In this article, you will learn more about Automatic Game Console Configuration and features that affect gameplay and see how to adjust settings on your own.
What does Automatic Game Console Configuration do?
When a supported game console is connected to an HDMI® port on your Roku TV, the appearance of the generic input tile you see on your Home screen is modified with a custom name and image that matches your game console, making it obvious where to go when you want to play video games.
Additionally, your Roku TV detects the capabilities of your game console and configures supported features automatically. As you continue reading about various features, look for notes that list specific game consoles that support each feature.
How to reduce input lag on your Roku TV
When playing video games, the primary issue you may encounter is something called input lag, or display lag, which refers to the delay between an input (like when you press a button on your video game controller) to when an action for that input is seen on your TV screen (like when a game character reacts). This delay is not typically an issue when watching a movie or TV show, but with video games, especially those with fast-moving action like a first-person shooter, it is particularly important to have lower input lag for a more responsive and enjoyable gaming experience.
To help reduce input lag, all Roku TV models support a low-latency setting called Game mode. When Game mode is turned on, video processing elements such as noise reduction, de-interlacing, and motion smoothing are turned off to optimize TV performance for video game play. Game mode can be enabled or disabled individually for each HDMI or A/V port.
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When a game console that supports Game mode (e.g., Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360) is detected on an HDMI port, Game mode is enabled automatically. You will see an on-screen message the first time the feature is enabled allowing you to decline the automatic change and keep Game mode disabled. Game mode is not enabled automatically for game consoles that support ALLM, such as the Xbox One and Xbox Series X. |
- Switch to the port on your Roku TV where your game console is connected (e.g., HDMI 1, HDMI 2, AV)
- Press Star
on your Roku TV remote - Use the directional pad to scroll up or down and select Picture settings. The directional pad is plus-shaped and is in the center of your Roku remote
- Scroll and highlight Game mode
- Press left or right to turn Game mode On (or Off)
Advanced features (available on select Roku TV models)
In addition to Game mode, select Roku TV models support advanced features that enhance usability and picture quality for game consoles connected via HDMI. These include HDR gaming, Auto Low-Latency Mode, Variable Refresh Rate and FreeSync™, High Frame Rate, and THX Certified Game Mode.
HDR gaming
With a wide range of virtual environments, dynamic animations, and dramatic shifts in perspective, video games are great for showing off the sharper picture clarity of 4K Ultra HD (4K) and the expanded contrast and color range of High Dynamic Range (HDR). If your Roku TV supports 4K (with the exception of model numbers starting with '6'), you can enjoy enhanced picture quality with built-in HDR picture modes compatible with HDR game consoles.
- Note: To find the model of your Roku TV, go to the Home screen and select Settings > System > About.
To take advantage of HDR Gaming, both your game console and Roku TV must support HDMI 2.0 or higher. Beyond that, there is no specific setting for you to configure to use HDR picture modes. Simply make sure your game console is connected using HDMI and properly set up for HDR. In this configuration, when HDR content is detected, your Roku TV automatically switches to an HDR picture mode, momentarily displaying an on-screen HDR notification.
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When a game console that supports HDMI 2.0 or higher is detected (e.g., PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X), the individual HDMI port (where your game console is connected) on your compatible Roku TV is automatically configured to HDMI 2.0. |
Auto Low-Latency Mode
Some game consoles support an advanced feature called Auto Low-Latency Mode (or ALLM), that when enabled, allows your Roku TV to automatically switch to Game mode as soon as a game is launched. When you exit the game, your Roku TV automatically switches back to its previous Game mode setting. A momentary notification, "Switching to Game mode", appears on the TV screen for each ALLM transition.- Note: When ALLM is active, the manual Game mode setting in the Options menu is not available.
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When a game console that supports ALLM is detected (e.g., Xbox One, Xbox Series X), the individual HDMI port (where your game console is connected) on your compatible Roku TV is automatically configured to Standard and ALLM is enabled. |
Variable Refresh Rate and FreeSync
Another advanced feature supported on certain game consoles and titles is called variable refresh rate, or VRR. When enabled, VRR helps eliminate input latency, screen tearing, and stuttering that sometimes appears in highly complex, fast-moving games. Some Roku TV models support FreeSync which is a technology certified by AMD. Roku TV models that support 8K Ultra HD are FreeSync Premium certified for serious gamers.To take advantage of VRR or FreeSync, you must enable the feature on both your game console and your compatible Roku TV.|
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When a game console that supports VRR is detected (e.g., Xbox One, Xbox Series X), the individual HDMI port (where your game console is connected) on your compatible Roku TV is automatically configured to Standard and VRR is enabled. When FreeSync is detected, the HDMI port is configured for Standard and FreeSync is enabled. |
- Press Home
on your Roku TV remote - Scroll and select Settings
- Select TV inputs
- Choose the specific HDMI port where your game console is connected
- Select Variable refresh rate or FreeSync variable refresh rate to turn the feature on (or off)
- Note: If you do not see a "Variable refresh rate" or "FreeSync variable refresh rate" option, your Roku TV does not support this advanced feature.
With FreeSync, your compatible Roku TV can display 4K at variable frame rates between 48 and 120fps. FreeSync is only supported on an 8K Roku TV on HDMI ports 1 and 2 which support HDMI 2.1. HDMI ports 3 and 4 support HDMI 2.0 and traditional VRR.
High Frame Rate
High Frame Rate (or HFR) is an advanced feature that provides a smoother image with reduced lag and greater detail. It is beneficial if you participate in competitive multiplayer tournaments or prefer extra responsiveness in your single-player games. Select Roku TV models support high frame rates up to 120fps at Full HD (1080p), Quad HD (1440p), and 4K on select HDMI ports. To check the HFR support on your model, refer to the in-box manual, or contact the manufacturer of your Roku TV.
To play games with HFR, both your game console and Roku TV must support HDMI 2.0 or higher. Your compatible Roku TV communicates automatically over HDMI with your game console to display the available frame rates. If your game console uses HFR, your compatible Roku TV will detect this and display higher frame rates automatically. There is no need to configure a manual setting on your Roku TV to use HFR.
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When a game console that supports HFR is detected (e.g., PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X), the individual HDMI port (where your game console is connected) on your compatible Roku TV is automatically configured to Standard. |
THX Certified Game Mode
When enabled, THX Certified Game Mode assures you that game play appears as the game creator intended providing vivid colors, crisp details, and better contrast, all while maintaining fast response times. THX Game Mode is available on select Roku TV models as a dedicated "Gaming" picture mode available in the Picture settings menu. To determine if your Roku TV supports THX Game Mode, look for the "Gaming" setting under Picture mode for any HDMI port. Be careful as this is not to be confused with "Game Mode" which is available in older Roku TV models.When the "Gaming" picture mode is enabled, your Roku TV automatically enables the standard Game mode setting. As a result, the manual Game mode setting in the Options menu is not available when THX Game Mode is turned on.|
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When a game console that supports THX Game Mode is detected (e.g., Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X), your Roku TV automatically enables the "Gaming" picture mode on the individual HDMI port (where your game console is connected). |