Are you constantly interrupted with a blurry screen when playing games on your Xbox Series S? It could be that your display settings aren’t correct, the HDMI cables are damaged, or the HDR settings need tweaking.
To fix blurry Xbox Series S, you’ll need to adjust either the TV’s display settings and, the game’s in-graphics settings, or both. A restart of the console may fix things. Games using HDR may require HDR calibration, which will be in the video settings. The issue may be a damaged HDMI cable.
There are multiple fixes for blurry displays on Xbox Series S, but your TV screen and your Xbox should ideally sort all this out automatically. Especially with older model TV screens, you may need to go make some changes manually to fix things up.
How To Fix Xbox Series S Blurry Graphics
Blurry Xbox Series S graphics are usually caused by faulty cables or TV display settings. However, there may also be something wrong with your console’s hardware, faulty software, incompatible in-game resolution settings, or even a TV set that isn’t compatible with HDR display.
Below we’ll look at some of the most common causes for this, so you’re armed with all the info you need to diagnose and fix your specific issue. After that, we’ll turn our attention to step-by-step instructions for some of the most common fixes.
- If there’s nothing wrong with the HDMI cable, faulty TV display settings may be the issue. Check that the TV supports 4K resolution and that Dynamic Tone Mapping is disabled. Also, enable HGiG for better gaming resolution.
- If the HDR settings are not calibrated on your Xbox, you can fix it through the Xbox settings. First, under “TV and Display Options,” select the HDR game calibration. Then, adjust the minimum and maximum luminance to set the display settings in-game mode. This should fix most display problems.
- If the automatic game display settings don’t work, you’ll have to manually set the screen resolution, color depth, and color space settings. First, make sure the screen resolution is compatible with your monitor or TV, and adjust the color depth and space for stable display output.
- If you’ve fixed the display settings and the blurry graphics remain, you’ll need to check the software and hardware of your Xbox. Software issues such as outdated firmware may cause display problems. You’ll need to update the system software to fix this.
If the problem is with the console’s hardware, you’ll have to take it in for repairs.
- The most common hardware cause of Xbox display problems is a faulty HDMI cable. Damaged HDMI cables may cause the display to stutter or even blackout completely. If there’s something wrong with the cable, you’ll have to replace it. If the problem is with the cable port, you’ll have to get that repaired by somebody who knows what they’re doing.
All that said, a failed HDMI cable typically leads to dramatic and obvious video issues, not a mild case of blurry video. Luckily replacement cables are exceedingly cheap, with replacements like this one available for <$10 (on Amazon).
- Lastly, many people overlook that their TV might not be compatible with the latest Xbox Series S. Older TVs that don’t support the higher resolution output of the Xbox Series S can appear blurry or, worse, not show up on the screen at all.
That said, if your TV is modern enough to have an HDMI port, you really should be fine. If you do end up needing to upgrade the TV, the good news is there are plenty of cost-effective options like the 50″ Amazon Fire TV (on Amazon) that are great for gaming!
TV/Monitor Display Options
While a screen blackout or other display problems are usually caused by Xbox software or cable problems, a blurry display usually means your TV display settings aren’t configured correctly.
To fix TV/monitor display options, follow these steps:
- First, check that the TV or monitor’s display is compatible with the Xbox or game display. For example, if your Xbox supports 4K resolution but your monitor doesn’t, you could experience poor graphics.
- Under the general display settings on the Xbox, select the screen resolution that’s compatible with the monitor or TV. For example, if you have an Xbox Series S, you’ll only have a choice between 4K UHD or 1440p.
- Under the display settings on your Xbox, select video fidelity and overscan to adjust the color depth settings. HDR games usually work best with a 10-bit color depth. However, if this causes blurry graphics, you can adjust the color depth settings to improve the resolution.
- Select the optimal color space option under the video fidelity and overscan settings. The standard settings work best in most cases, but you can select PC RGB for PC monitors.
If this doesn’t work, the next step is to look at the HDR settings.
HDR Settings
In some cases, the HDR display settings may cause you to experience blurry graphics. To fix this, you may have to adjust the HDR game calibration settings under the TV & Display options. Go onto the display settings on your Xbox and select HDR Game Calibration.
Follow the instructions to set the Xbox into gaming mode and adjust the minimum and maximum luminance. The luminance settings are often modified with a checkered board.
The ideal minimum luminance is where you can hardly see the checkered board, and the maximum luminance is where all the squares are the same.
An expert tip to get the right HDR settings is to set the room lighting to your “gaming mode” before adjusting the luminance.
In-Game Settings
Sometimes, the best way to fix your screen resolution settings is to adjust the in-game display settings. Not all games have the same resolution requirements, and some may have the option to play in both 4K, 1080p, or even 720p.
To adjust the in-game settings on Xbox, you’ll have to go into the game’s settings and change the display resolution from there. However, this feature isn’t available for all games, so if your TV or monitor isn’t compatible with the game, you’ll have to look for an alternate display system.
A Little More Blurry Screen Troubleshooting
Are you struggling with blurry game visions on your Xbox Series S? If you’ve already tried fixing the display settings, HDR settings, and in-game settings with no success, try the following troubleshooting tips:
- Do a soft restart of the Xbox by powering it off, leaving it for 10-30 seconds, and switching it back on. This should fix most software problems.
- If the Xbox system update is corrupted, do an OS repair. Then, you’ll need to reset this with an OS update from the Xbox website.
- Send the Xbox in for repair if nothing else works. Only use this option when you are 100% sure that there’s nothing wrong with the software or display settings. The last thing you want is to send the Xbox in for repairs only to find out your TV isn’t compatible with the Xbox!