2 simple HDMI tweaks that can instantly improve your TV

• Make sure you’re using the right HDMI port
• Enable HDMI Deep Color on your TV

The best part of getting a new smart TV is finally turning it on and seeing that big, bright, beautiful screen light up. I recently experienced this myself with my LG C5 TV, and the upgrade has made a world of difference for gaming and movie-watching. But if you recently unboxed a new TV over the holidays too, and noticed the picture quality looks a bit washed out — or HDR (High Dynamic Range) content doesn’t pop like it should — don’t worry. It’s an easy fix, and you don’t need to dig up the receipt for your TV.

Most modern smart TVs have 4K panels and support HDR, but depending on how your HDMI settings are configured, even a streaming player like a Fire Stick, Roku, or Apple TV — or a game console like the Switch 2 or PS5 — can look dull or washed out. The good news? Fixing these HDMI settings only takes a couple of minutes. By the end, your TV will look drastically better, feel more responsive in gaming, and deliver the performance you paid for.

Make sure you’re using the right HDMI port

All it sometimes takes is switching the HDMI port to improve performance

One of the biggest culprits behind poor picture and HDR quality on your TV is the HDMI port you’re using. Even if all the HDMI ports on your TV look identical, they’re not necessarily created equal. Different ports can support different HDMI specifications, and the main differences center on bandwidth, maximum resolution, and refresh rates.

For example, the latest HDMI specification, HDMI 2.2, supports up to 96 Gbps of bandwidth, which can handle 4K at 480Hz, 8K at 240Hz, or even 16K at 120Hz. That said, HDMI 2.2 is extremely new. Most smart TVs on the market today still use HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1, with HDMI 2.1 being the most common on newer models. HDMI 2.1 supports up to 48 Gbps of bandwidth, enabling 4K at 120Hz, Dynamic HDR (like Dolby Vision or HDR10+), VRR (variable refresh rate), and eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) for high-bitrate audio devices, such as soundbars.

Since TVs often have multiple HDMI ports, some models may feature one HDMI 2.1 port and multiple HDMI 2.0 ports. If you plug a device like a PS5 or Fire TV Stick into the HDMI 2.0 port instead of HDMI 2.1, you won’t get the best possible picture quality.

So how do you know which HDMI port to use? The simplest way is to check your TV’s manual or look up its specs online to see which HDMI port number supports what, since most manufacturers don’t label ports as HDMI 2.1 or 2.0 directly on the TV. However, most brands do label the eARC port, which is often a reliable way to identify HDMI 2.1. For example, on my LG C5, all four ports are HDMI 2.1, and HDMI port #2 supports eARC, as clearly labeled above the port.

HDMI cables also matter, since not every cable supports HDMI 2.1. Make sure, if you’re connecting a device like a PS5, that you’re using the HDMI cable that came with it or a cable you purchased that you know supports HDMI 2.1. You can read more about the complexities of HDMI cables here.

Enable HDMI Deep Color on your TV

Get those colors popping

Once you’ve confirmed your device is connected to the proper HDMI port, the next step is to ensure HDMI Deep Color is enabled for that port in your TV’s settings menu. HDMI Deep Color was first introduced back in 2006 with the HDMI 1.3 standard, so it’s not exclusive to HDMI 2.0 or 2.1. That means no matter which HDMI port your device is using, it’s worth checking that this setting is turned on.

HDMI Deep Color allows devices — like your Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV Stick, PS5, or Switch — to send more color information to your TV, typically at 10-bit or 12-bit color depth depending on the TV. This enables smoother color gradients and more detailed color reproduction, which manufacturers like Sony describe as “a stunning, more realistic and smooth rendering of the image.”

Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) uses 8-bit color, which can display about 16.7 million colors. HDR, on the other hand, uses 10-bit color — or 12-bit in the case of Dolby Vision — which supports over a billion colors, making what you’re watching or playing much more color-accurate. Another big advantage is that the higher color depth dramatically reduces color banding, so gradients in skies, shadows, and other subtle areas of the image look smooth and natural. Put simply: for HDR to look its best, HDMI Deep Color needs to be enabled to achieve those higher color depths.

To check whether it’s enabled on your TV, you can usually find it in your TV’s settings menu under HDMI settings. For example, on my LG C5 TV, I found it under Settings > General > External Devices > HDMI settings > HDMI Deep Color.

So with that in mind, how do you make sure HDMI Deep Color is enabled on your TV? Most TVs automatically activate it when you connect a supported device via HDMI, but if you’re seeing washed-out colors or HDR isn’t working, it may be disabled. To check whether it’s enabled on your TV, you can usually find it in your TV’s settings menu under HDMI settings. For example, on my LG C5 TV, I found it under Settings > General > External Devices > HDMI settings > HDMI Deep Color.

If you’re struggling to locate the setting on your TV, try searching online for instructions specific to your model. Additionally, depending on your TV’s brand, HDMI Deep Color might be called something else, like Enhanced, HDMI UHD Color, or Ultra HD Deep Color.

All in all, once your device is plugged into the HDMI port that matches its capabilities and HDMI Deep Color is enabled, your TV’s picture quality will truly come to life, especially while watching HDR content and playing games with VRR.