Alex Ruben
How To Achieve 120 FPS on Nintendo Switch 2: Complete Guide
Alright, so getting 120 FPS on a Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t exactly straightforward, but it’s totally doable if your gear plays ball. Basically, if everything lines up—your cable, game, and TV—you can bump up the smoothness of your gameplay like crazy. But trust me, it’s a bit of a puzzle, and not every game or setup will support it right out of the box. The main idea is to make sure all the hardware talks the same language, and then tweak some settings. Once it clicks, you’ll notice a big difference in responsiveness and fluidity, especially in fast-paced titles.
Here’s the deal: verify your HDMI cable supports 120 Hz, confirm your game is compatible, and ensure your TV can handle the higher refresh rate. After that, it’s pretty much about diving into the settings and flipping some switches. Yes, it involves a few steps, but on the bright side, it’s often worth it for the extra smoothness. Just a heads up, some setups on one machine might be a bit flaky at first—rebooting or reconnecting sometimes helps. But once it’s set up, you’ll wonder how you played without it.
How to Fix 120 FPS Enablement on Nintendo Switch 2
Verify HDMI Cable Compatibility
First off, the HDMI cable needs to support 120 Hz. The stock cable that comes with the Switch should be fine, but if you’re using a third-party or older one, double-check it. For actual specs, look for cables labeled as HDMI 2.1—because of course, Nintendo has to make it harder than necessary. If you’re not sure, grab a reputable HDMI 2.1 cable, like those from Belkin or Anker. This helps prevent flickering, artifacts, or total failure to get 120 FPS.
On some setups, using a cheaper HDMI can cause flicker or erratic frame rates, so testing with a known good cable is a good move.
Check Game Compatibility & Settings
Not every game is gonna support that shiny 120 FPS. A lot of popular titles still max out at 60 or 30. So, verify the official specs or community forums. Sometimes you might find a game-specific toggle in its menu or a performance setting you need to enable. If the game supports it, there’s usually an in-game option or a patch. Keep that in mind because enabling 120 FPS isn’t just about the console—it depends on the game’s code too.
On some titles, enabling performance modes or toggling frame rate options in the menu makes all the difference. Just don’t expect every game to wake up and support this feature.
Make Sure Your TV Supports 120 Hz Output
This is a common gotcha—if your TV can’t handle 120 Hz, all the effort is kinda wasted. Check your TV’s manual or specifications online. You’ll want to look for a refresh rate of 120 Hz or higher, and ideally, HDMI input that supports this. Games and consoles might default to 60 Hz or get capped if the TV isn’t compatible. On some models, you might need to enable the higher refresh rate manually via the TV settings menu—usually under Picture Settings > Refresh Rate or similar. Sometimes, enabling these features requires a firmware update on the TV, so don’t forget to check for those.
Note: on some cheaper or older TVs, 120 Hz might be simulated or not fully supported, so consider testing with another monitor or TV if possible.
Adjust Nintendo Switch Settings
Now, the part where you finally turn on the magic. Head into your Nintendo Switch’s System Settings and dig into the Display section. Here’s what to do:
- Go to the Home menu, then choose System Settings.
- Scroll down and select Display.
- Make sure TV Resolution is set to Automatic.
- Look for 120 Hz Output—this might be under a sub-menu called Performance Settings or slightly hidden. Turn it On if you see it.
Note: On some firmware versions or regional builds, the option may not be visible or might require enabling a developer mode or specialist hacking route. If you don’t see it, your firmware might be outdated or your console doesn’t officially support this. Still, some users have reported toggling it via a hidden menu or using third-party tools like Winhance.
On one setup it worked after a quick reboot, on another, it needed a full power cycle. Sometimes, just toggling the setting and relaunching the game helps.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
Double-check all your connections—sometimes a loose HDMI causes issues. Restart your Switch after toggling settings—Windows folks do it all the time, and it’s no different here. If it still weirds out, peek at your TV manual or settings menu; some TVs have strict rules about enabling high refresh modes or require game mode activation. Also, keep your firmware up to date on both the Switch and the TV, because sometimes support is added via firmware updates.
And yeah, on some setups, enabling 120 FPS can be flaky or require extra fiddling, so don’t get discouraged. It’s a bit of a process, and compatibility isn’t perfect yet across every title and TV combo.
Wrap-up
Getting 120 FPS on the Switch 2 is all about making sure your hardware plays nice together. It’s not the easiest feature to unlock, but with patience and a bit of trial-and-error, you can noticeably smooth out your gaming. Think of it as pushing your setup just a little bit beyond its default comfort zone. Sometimes, it’s a matter of rebooting or updating drivers—kind of annoying, but worth the effort for that extra buttery experience.
Summary
- Check your HDMI cable supports 120 Hz—use HDMI 2.1 if possible.
- Verify game support for 120 FPS. Not all games support it yet.
- Make sure your TV can handle 120 Hz output, and adjust settings accordingly.
- Configure Nintendo Switch via System Settings > Display > enable 120 Hz Output.
- Restart and double-check all connections if things go sideways.