How to Fix Input Lag on PlayStation 5

PS5 input lag is the delay between using the DualSense and seeing the game respond. The controller is easy to blame, but the television, the game’s frame-rate mode, or an HDMI device can add the delay later.

The point at which the delay appears matters. Slow PS5 menus and offline games usually indicate display processing or the controller connection. If only one game feels heavy, its graphics mode is more likely. Rubber-banding and actions that register late only online are network latency, which needs a different fix.

1. Put the TV Input in Game Mode and Confirm ALLM

Modern TVs improve films with motion interpolation, noise reduction, sharpening, and frame buffering. That processing takes time, so the picture can arrive after the PS5 has already received your input. Game Mode reduces it and is the best first change when menus and offline games are both delayed.

1. While the PS5 input is selected, open the TV’s picture settings and choose Game, Game Optimizer, or Low Latency mode. Many TVs save the picture mode separately for each HDMI port.
   
2. Inside that mode, turn off motion smoothing, frame interpolation, noise reduction, and other optional picture-processing controls. If the TV has A/V Sync or lip-sync processing, test with it off as well.
3. On the PS5 home screen, open Settings.
   
4. Go to Screen and Video.
   
5. Open Video Output and set ALLM to Automatic if the option is available.
   

PlayStation’s PS5 video-output guide confirms that ALLM switches a compatible TV to low-latency mode during games. Not every TV supports it, so select Game Mode manually when ALLM is absent or does not switch the TV correctly.

2. Use the Game’s Performance Mode When the Delay Begins After Loading

A 30 fps game updates the image less often than a 60 or 120 fps mode, so aiming can feel less immediate even when the controller is working normally. This is likely when the PS5 interface is responsive and the delay begins only after one game opens.

1. Open Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets.
2. Select Performance Mode or Resolution Mode > Performance Mode.
3. Open the affected game’s display settings and choose its Performance, 60 fps, or 120 Hz mode if one is offered. An in-game selection may take priority over the console preset.
4. For a compatible display, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output and leave 120 Hz Output and VRR on Automatic.

PlayStation notes that its Performance Mode preset applies only to games with performance and resolution choices. The 120 Hz setting cannot force an unsupported game to run at 120 fps. If one game still feels different, check its deadzone, aim smoothing, and current patch notes.

3. Remove HDMI Passthrough Devices and Test the Original Cable

A soundbar, AV receiver, HDMI splitter, switch, or capture card may stop the TV from applying its gaming mode. A direct connection identifies that problem without requiring a new controller or console reset.

1. Turn off the PS5 and TV. Disconnect any receiver, soundbar passthrough, splitter, switch, or capture device from the video path.
2. Connect the PS5 directly to the TV with the HDMI cable supplied with the console. Use the TV’s gaming-capable HDMI port if its manual reserves 4K/120 Hz or VRR for particular inputs.
3. Turn both devices on, reselect Game Mode for that HDMI input, and repeat the same offline test.
4. If the direct connection fixes the delay, reconnect the other devices one at a time. Check their enhanced-HDMI, passthrough, Game Mode, and firmware settings before leaving them in the chain.

These checks match PlayStation’s official HDMI troubleshooting, which recommends the included cable, another HDMI port, and a direct display connection when an intermediary may be affecting the signal.

Test HDCP Only When the HDMI Chain Is Suspect

Some players report that HDMI passthrough or capture setups behave normally after HDCP is disabled. HDCP protects copyrighted HDMI content; it is not a PS5 performance feature and normally should not add delay on a direct TV connection.

1. Open Settings > System.
   
2. Select HDMI and turn off Enable HDCP for one test.
   
3. Launch the same game and compare the response. If nothing changes, turn HDCP back on.

4. Test the DualSense Through USB, Then Update or Reset It

Wireless interference is more likely when inputs pause, arrive in bursts, or affect one controller while another works normally. Plugging in the cable is not enough by itself because the PS5 can continue using Bluetooth until the communication method is changed.

1. Connect the DualSense directly to the PS5 with the supplied cable or another USB data cable. A charge-only cable cannot carry controller input.
2. Open Settings > Accessories > Controller (General) > Communication Method and select Use USB Cable.
3. Test the PS5 menus and the same offline game. If the bursts stop, move USB wireless dongles away from the console and temporarily disconnect nearby wireless headsets before testing Bluetooth again.
4. Go to Settings > Accessories > Controller (General) > DualSense Wireless Controller Device Software and install any available update.
5. If only this controller remains delayed, turn off the PS5. Hold the reset button in the small hole beside the Sony logo on the back of the controller for at least five seconds, reconnect it by USB, and press the PS button.

PlayStation’s controller settings guide confirms that Use Bluetooth remains wireless even with a cable attached, while Use USB Cable is intended for a weak wireless signal. If the controller also disconnects or keeps flashing blue, our DualSense resync guide covers that separate pairing problem.

USB mode is a diagnostic comparison, not a promise that every DualSense is faster when wired. If both modes feel the same and another controller is also delayed, return to the display and game instead of replacing the controller.

5. Treat Online-Only Delay as a Network Problem

Internet latency does not normally make the PS5 home screen or an offline game respond slowly. It shows up as rubber-banding, delayed hit registration, frozen players, or actions that reach the game server late. In that case, changing Game Mode may improve display response, but it cannot repair the connection.

1. Open Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection. Also check the game’s own server-status page if only one title is affected.
   
2. Where possible, test with an Ethernet cable. On Wi-Fi, try the 5 GHz band when the console is reasonably close to the router and pause large downloads on the PS5 and other devices.
3. If the active Wi-Fi profile will not connect correctly, open Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection.
   
4. Select only the network you currently use, press the Options button, choose Forget or Delete, and reconnect with the correct password. There is no reason to erase every saved network.
   

If the connection test fails or Wi-Fi remains unstable, continue with our focused PS5 Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide. If offline play is also delayed, however, the saved network is not the main cause.

If PS5 Input Lag Is Still Present

Install the latest PS5 system software under Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Then fully shut down the console and TV, wait until the PS5 lights are off, disconnect both from power for one minute, and test again after reconnecting them.

Before replacing anything, repeat the same offline test with another controller and another display:

• If every controller is delayed on one TV but responsive on another display, the TV or HDMI chain is responsible.
• If one controller is delayed on both displays while another controller is responsive, the first controller needs service.
• If only one game remains delayed, report it to that game’s support team with the selected graphics mode and display details.
• If every controller and display combination is delayed even in PS5 menus, use PlayStation Hardware & Repairs and provide the tests you have already completed.