Turn off this TV setting ASAP

April 14, 2022

With most tech gadgets, you get what you pay for. That means cool features and high-quality visuals are often limited to expensive devices. However, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get a five-star experience when it comes to TVs.

Fiddling with your TV’s settings can do a world of good. Tap or click here for quick steps for better images no matter the price of your TV. Just make sure you know what you’re doing; otherwise, you could cause more harm than good.

One setting you should tweak was designed to make up for your television’s shortcomings. Manufacturers created the motion smoothing setting since many modern TVs lack clear motion. Here’s how it works — and why you want to turn it off.

It sounds great in theory. In practice, not so much

You’ll find the motion smoothing option hidden deep in your TV’s settings menu. It artificially adds frames to whatever you’re watching. This is sometimes called the soap opera effect.

Motion smoothing works great when you’re watching sports or playing video games. It makes fast-moving content look a lot clearer. This way, you can enjoy HD content in all its vivid glory.

However, it’s not the only way to get a better viewing experience. Tap or click here for four settings you need to change for better picture quality.

Sometimes, though, motion smoothing can be a pain. Say a football player throws the ball and it zooms across the screen.

If it’s moving at a breakneck pace, the algorithm might not be able to keep up. This creates an unnatural image as your TV scrambles to make up for the speed by adding extra frames.

Oh, and if you’re playing video games, get ready for lag. The minute you immerse, the screen starts to get all funky.

How to turn if off

Here’s a fun fact. Most movies are broadcast in 24 or 30 frames per second. Add motion smoothing and the film looks a little too real.

Overall, we recommend turning off motion smoothing for most types of content. Follow these steps:

Samsung

Select Settings.
Head to Picture.
Select Expert Settings.
Hit Auto Motion Plus Settings (Picture Clarity Settings).
Now, select Auto Motion Plus (Picture Clarity).
Hit Off.

Roku TVs made by Element, Hisense, Insignia, RCA, Sharp and TCL

Bring up the menu screen by hitting Option.
Head to Advanced Picture Settings.
Now, disable Action Smoothing.

LG

Open Settings.
Head to Select System Settings.
Hit Picture.
Scroll down to see either Motionflow or Motionflow Smoothing. Turn it off.

Panasonic

Head to Picture Settings.
Scroll down to MotionSmoother and select Off.

Android TVs made by Hisense and Sony

Head to Settings.
Select System Settings.
Hit Picture.
Scroll down to see either Motionflow or Motionflow Smoothing. Turn it off.

Vizio

Head to Settings.
Hit Picture.
Select Advanced Video.
Hit Smooth Motion Effect.
Select Off.

While we’re at it, you’ll probably like cinema or movie mode best for whatever you’re watching. If you want more tips for streaming, setting up your TV, finding free movies and more, we’ve got you covered.

Hear your TV at whatever volume you want

Streaming comparison: Roku vs. Apple TV vs. Fire TV vs. Chromecast

Tags: Android, Apple, broadcast, devices, features, Insignia, lag, motion smoothing, movies, picture quality, Roku, Samsung, settings, Sharp, Sony, tech gadgets, television, video games, visuals, vizio