If you’ve got a new smart TV, it might not always look or behave the way you’d expect straight out of the box. Your TV might look unnaturally bright, movies could have an odd smoothness, or the home screen shows promotions you never asked for. These issues don’t mean something is wrong with your TV’s hardware. Rather, some default settings could be responsible for affecting your overall viewing experience.
So, before you start tweaking advanced controls or assume something is wrong with your TV, I would recommend checking these settings.
Turn off motion smoothing
How to get rid of the soap-opera effect
Have you watched a movie that looked more like a daytime soap opera rather than a film? Motion smoothing could be the reason. Most films are shot at 24 fps (frames per second), but modern TVs often have higher refresh rates like 60Hz or 120Hz. Motion smoothing tries to make everything look smoother by inserting artificial frames between the original ones, making films look unnaturally fluid and killing the cinematic feel. That said, motion smoothing helps with fast-paced sports and gaming because it significantly reduces blur.
I mostly watch movies and shows on my TV, so I don’t find this setting really useful. If you feel the same, you can disable this feature. Keep in mind you might not see the exact “motion smoothing” option. Depending on the TV brand, this option might be called TruMotion, MotionFlow, Action Smoothing, or Auto Motion Plus.
On my LG OLED, I went to Settings -> Picture -> Advanced Settings -> Clarity -> TruMotion and set it to Off; it’s similar on most other brands.
Switch to an accurate picture mode
Your TV’s default picture mode might look unnatural
I also recommend checking your smart TV picture mode. Most manufacturers ship their TVs in a Standard mode, somewhat understandably. However, it’s a bright, punchy mode that makes the screen pop in store lighting, but it can crush detail when you watch movies at home. For instance, it can make colors look oversaturated, or skin tones appear unnatural.
You can switch to Filmmaker, Cinema, Vivid, or Movie mode instead. You can find picture presets under Settings -> Picture -> Select mode. I prefer Filmmaker or Cinema mode because they offer much more accurate visuals.
The Filmmaker mode also disables certain processing features like motion smoothing and AI enhancements. This produces perfect blacks, shadow details, and colors, allowing me to watch movies as intended by creators. That’s why I prefer this mode for watching movies at night. During the day, my living room is pretty bright, so, I switch to Vivid or Dynamic mode as it makes the screen easier to see.
Disable energy saving and ambient light sensing
Stop your TV from automatically dimming the screen
If your TV looks noticeably dimmer at certain times of day or it shifts the brightness mid-scene, don’t blame the panel yet. Many smart TVs ship with energy-saving options. Sure, this helps limit power consumption, but it can also reduce screen brightness automatically, which is one reason you get dim or flat visuals. This isn’t ideal when you’re watching HDR content or when your TV is in a bright room.
To turn this off, go to Settings -> General -> Energy Saving (or a similar power-saving menu, depending on your TV brand). You may also find options such as Auto Power Saving, Energy Saving Step, or a screen brightness adjustment.
If you watch the same scene again, you’ll notice the brightness is more consistent.
Enable Game Mode and unlock the full HDMI signal
Get the most out of your console
If you connect a PlayStation or Xbox to your TV, I recommend checking two settings: Game Mode and the HDMI input format. Modern TVs have a dedicated Game Mode that reduces input lag. In simpler terms, it is the delay between pressing a button on your controller and seeing action on screen. It also speeds up response time and enables game-centric features like ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate).
To do this, your TV limits some of the picture processing. This mode makes a lot of difference in fast-paced games. After all, even a small delay can make controls feel less responsive. Many TVs automatically switch to Game Mode when they detect a console, but not all do, so it’s best to confirm it. You can find this option under the Picture, General, or Gaming menu.
Some TVs require you to enable an enhanced HDMI format to use features such as 4K at 120Hz, VRR, or HDR at supported resolutions and refresh rates. This is named differently. Sony calls it HDMI signal format, Samsung calls it Input Signal Plus, and LG labels it HDMI Ultra HD Deep Color. If you’re using a compatible console and a suitable HDMI cable, enabling the enhanced format for that specific HDMI port can unlock the full capabilities of the connection. If your console says HDR is unavailable or the picture flickers, check this setting.
Take control of your TV’s tracking and recommendations
Automatic content recognition (ACR) is one of those smart features that I always turn off on my TV. That’s because if I keep it on, my TV can keep an eye on what I’m watching. Once my TV learns my viewing habits and interests, it uses that information to show relevant ads and recommendations. The manufacturer can even share this information with third parties. The exact name varies between brands. You might see something like ACR, Live Plus (LG TVs), Interactive TV, Smart TV Experience, Viewing Information, or similar.
I also don’t like my TV to eat up my precious home screen space with personalized recommendations, ads, or promotional offers. So, I’ve disabled Content Recommendation and Home Promotion options as well. If you’re an LG user, you can find it under Settings -> General -> System -> Additional Settings -> Home Settings.
Fifteen minutes and you’re sorted
If you’re setting up a smart TV, it’s a nice idea to check these settings right away. These small checks can upgrade your TV experience without requiring new hardware or complicated calibration. Apart from the above settings, I also recommend checking for software updates and reviewing your TV’s sound settings to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.