Tech Reference

'Does the PS4 Pro play 4K games?': Yes, and it can also play some 4K movies — here's how to set it up

Written by Dave Johnson
4K TV
You can play 4K games and movies on your PS4 Pro. Michael Sohn/AP Photo
Updated
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One of the most important differences between the original PS4 and the PS4 Pro is that the Pro version supports 4K video. When connected to a 4K display, a PS4 Pro can play games and stream movies at 4K UHD resolution, which is 3840 by 2160 pixels — much higher than standard HD. 

Even so, the PS4 Pro isn't a full-featured 4K player, as it can't play 4K Blu-ray discs.

If you're looking for a console that can play games and stream movies in 4K, as well as play 4K UHD Blu-ray discs, you should check out the newer PlayStation 5. As long as the rest of your setup is 4K-compatible (which we'll discuss below), the PlayStation 5 runs 4K natively, without needing any upgrade. 

How to play 4K content on the PS4 Pro

As long as your setup is fully 4K compatible, your PS4 Pro should automatically play games and movies in 4K by default. Here's what that involves:

  • The PS4 Pro needs to be connected to a 4K television or monitor.
  • The connection between the PS4 Pro and TV needs to be using a High Speed or Premium High Speed HDMI cable. A standard HDMI cable might not be able to carry the 4K signal. 
  • Make sure that the HDMI input on your TV or monitor supports 4K. If your display has multiple HDMI inputs, it's possible that not all of them can handle 4K video. You may need to check your display's user guide if the ports themselves aren't clearly marked.

On your PS4 Pro, make sure it's configured for 4K:

1. Using the controller, select "Settings."

2. Select "Sound and Screen."

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The 4K settings are usually set automatically, but you can double-check them in the Sound and Screen settings.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

3. Select "Video Output Settings."

4. Select "Resolution."

5. Make sure that "Automatic" is selected. If your display or cable isn't fully 4K compatible, you'll see that the 2160p options (this is 4K video) will be marked as "unsupported." On a PS4 Pro, this feature will be enabled, and you should select it. 

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If you leave the display set to automatic, it will choose the best resolution available.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

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dave june
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.