How to turn off motion smoothing on your TV and why you should

In the ever-evolving world of television technology, one aspect that can often leave you scratching your head is motion smoothing. You may have heard of it, but what you really want to know is how to turn off motion smoothing to enhance your viewing experience. Fear not, for we're here to guide you through the process of disabling this feature and reclaiming the authentic cinematic feel.

Motion smoothing, also known as the "Soap Opera Effect," is a default setting found in many of the best TVs that essentially aims to enhance motion clarity. However, this usually results in frames artificially being added into content in order for it to keep up with the incredible FPS modern TVs can now achieve. The good news is that disabling this feature is possible in most cases, allowing you to watch TV shows and films how they're intended to be viewed.

To help you out here, we've identified where the motion smoothing feature is located in a number of top TV brands and models, and have provided step-by-step instructions on how to turn it off along the way.

So, whether you're a casual viewer or a passionate cinephile, mastering the art of turning off motion smoothing is essential for enjoying your favourite content authentically. So, sit back, relax, and let us guide you toward reclaiming the true magic of the silver screen in the comfort of your own home.

LG

To turn off motion smoothing on an LG TV, you'll need to switch off what LG calls TruMotion. To do this:

• Press the settings button (the gear icon) on your remote.
• From the drop-down menu in all settings, select the Picture icon.
• Navigate to Picture Mode then Picture Options.
• Scroll down to TruMotion and choose "Off" from the pop-up menu.

Google TV

Motion smoothing on a Google TV varies depending on the model, with Sony, Hisense, and TCL all naming the setting differently.

Sony

Credit: Sony

• For most Sony TVs, you can switch off motion smoothing from the Picture settings menu. First, go into the full list of settings and locate Picture.
• Under Picture, find Motionflow and select "Off" if you want to disable it entirely. If you can't find Motionflow, you may need to navigate to Advanced Settings first.

Hisense

• Again, this process may vary depending on your Hisense model. However, you can usually switch off motion smoothing by going into your TV's settings first.
• From the drop-down list, select Picture.
• Head to Advanced Settings from the next drop-down list.
• Select Motion Enhancement and switch it to "Off".

TCL

• Begin by going into the settings from your remote.
• Navigate to Picture Options and select Advanced Options.
• Under Advanced Picture settings, select the Action Smoothing option from the menu.
• They'll be four options here, but to switch it off completely, select "Off".

Samsung

Credit: Samsung

To turn off motion smoothing on a Samsung TV, you'll need to find Auto Motion Plus and switch it off. To do this:

• Navigate your way into your TV's settings and find Picture.
• Scroll down and select the Expert Settings.
• Find Auto Motion Plus Settings (Picture Clarity Settings) and switch it from "Auto" to "Off".

Roku TV

Action Smoothing is what Roku calls motion smoothing, although not every Roku TV has this feature. If yours does, however, then here's how to turn it off:

• Press the * button on your remote to access the settings. You may need to stream a video in order for the * button to work.
• Once in the settings, select Picture and look for Action Smoothing. You might have to delve into the Advanced Picture settings to find it.

• There are four Action Smoothing settings. In this instance, however, you'll want to switch it to "Off".

Amazon Fire TV

The exact term used for motion smoothing on an Amazon Fire TV varies between models. Anything titled Motion Smoothing, Action Smoothing, or something similar is what you need to look out for:

• Open up the settings by pressing the gear icon on your remote.
• Find the Display & Sound section, then navigate to Advanced Settings.
• As touched on above, you'll want to find the setting that mentions smoothing. Once there, make sure it's turned "Off".

Vizio

Motion smoothing is a little different on a Vizio TV as this time you'll be looking for something called Clear Action. To find it:

• Upon up your Vizio TV settings via the gear button on your remote.
• Select Picture then Advanced Picture settings.
• Find Clear Action and switch it "Off".