Gaming input lag makes button presses feel late even when the console or PC is running normally. Game Mode helps, but the lowest latency usually requires ALLM, the right HDMI port, full-bandwidth settings, and picture processing turned off.
These steps apply to Samsung, LG, Vizio, Sony, and TCL smart TVs connected to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, or a gaming PC over HDMI.
Does this affect you?
Use this if games feel sluggish, aiming feels delayed, ALLM fails to switch on automatically, or the TV still feels slow after enabling Game Mode.
Check and enable ALLM
ALLM stands for Auto Low Latency Mode. It lets the console tell the TV to enter its lowest-lag mode automatically when a game starts.
- Open your TV’s game or HDMI settings.
- On Samsung, go to Settings > General > External Device Manager > Game Mode Settings.
- On Samsung, also enable Input Signal Plus for the HDMI port under Connection or External Device Manager so the port supports full-bandwidth gaming features.
- On LG, open All Settings > General > Game Optimizer.
- On Vizio, TCL, and Sony, look in Gaming, HDMI, or input settings.
- Turn on Auto Low Latency Mode, ALLM, Auto Game Mode, or the brand’s equivalent for the exact HDMI port in use.
- On PS5, check Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > ALLM.
- On Xbox, check Settings > General > TV & display options > Video modes.
After both sides are enabled, the TV should switch into low-lag mode when a game launches and return to normal picture processing for movies or TV.
Turn off hidden picture processing
- Start a game while Game Mode or ALLM is active.
- Open Settings > Picture.
- Turn off Motion Smoothing, TruMotion, Auto Motion Plus, MotionFlow, or similar features.
- Disable Noise Reduction.
- Set extra local dimming or enhancement processing to Low or Off if it adds delay.
- Use the TV’s Game Bar or Game Optimizer overlay to confirm low latency if your model shows it.
A properly configured modern gaming TV often reports latency under about 10 to 15 milliseconds. Older TVs may be much higher even in Game Mode.
Use the right HDMI port and console settings
4K at 120Hz, VRR, and ALLM usually require specific HDMI 2.1 or full-bandwidth HDMI ports. Many TVs have only one or two of these, even if every port looks similar.
Check the labels near the ports and the TV manual. Ports marked 4K 120Hz, HDMI 2.1, eARC, or game may support the best features, but the exact labeling varies by brand.
Inside individual games, choose Performance Mode when available if you want lower input lag. Higher frame rate modes usually feel more responsive than resolution-focused modes.
Check audio gear and older-TV limits
If the console passes through a receiver or soundbar before reaching the TV, connect the console directly to the TV for testing. Some audio gear adds delay or limits refresh-rate features.
Soundbars and receivers may have Game Mode or Low Latency audio settings. Enable those if the TV’s game overlay looks fast but the experience still feels off.
If the TV is more than five or six years old, high lag may be a hardware limitation of the panel and processor. Game Mode can help, but it cannot make an older display behave like a modern gaming-focused TV.
Sources
- HDMI.org – Auto Low Latency Mode ALLM over HDMI (2025)
- Samsung Support – Reduce input lag for gaming on your TV (2025)
- LG Support – Set up Game Optimizer and Auto Low Latency Mode (2025)