If you've connected your player (e.g., Apple TV, Fire TV, or similar streaming player) via HDMI and switch within a streaming app, for example, from a menu (often 60 Hz) to a movie (usually 24 Hz), a brief black screen occurs. This is because the TV or output device first has to change the frame rate. During this transition, the image briefly goes black—typically for 1 to 3 seconds.
This interruption occurs because the system first has to adjust the refresh rate, resynchronize the clock signals, and readjust the timing between the source (player) and the display. Only after this is done does the video start. This is especially annoying when you're just watching a movie trailer for a short time or when technical inappropriate ads appear in an app.
You can prevent this effect by instructing the player to output a consistent signal. This shouldn't have any negative effects on a modern TV. Older displays may experience stuttering. Here's how:
On Apple TV:
Settings > > Video and Audio > Fit to content
- Adapt to Dynamic Range: Automatically switches the color space, for example, when switching from SDR to HDR or Dolby Vision. Turn these functions OFF to avoid a black screen when switching.
- Adapt to frame rate: When enabled, each movie will be shown at its original frame rate (typically 24Hz). Turn this feature OFF to avoid a black screen when switching. (Unless your devices support QMS)
- Fast Media Switching (QMS): This can only be used with an HDMI 2.1 connection. This requires an Apple TV 4K 3rd generation, and the TV must support QMS (available from 2024). This allows the frame rate to be adjusted without causing a black screen. If the color format or video resolution changes, a black screen will still appear.
On Fire TV:
Settings > Sounds and Screen
- Video resolution: Automatic
- Match original frame rate OFF
(Please note that not all Fire TV apps support this feature anyway) - Dynamic range settings: We recommend the "adaptive" setting here, because otherwise color distortions may occur
It's best to check right away whether the adjustment causes stuttering in movies or whether your TV displays everything smoothly. If it's too stuttering, you should undo the settings and get used to the black screen during the negotiation.
What is QMS and how does it work?
Quick Media Switching (QMS) is an extension of the HDMI specification starting with HDMI 2.1a. Its goal is to prevent the aforementioned blackout when switching between different frame rates. The feature is based on VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), originally known from gaming. VRR allows the display to dynamically adjust its refresh rate to the input signal. QMS uses this capability to implement frame rate changes almost instantly – without signal renegotiation.
QMS enables the source device to indicate the upcoming frame rate via VTEM metadata (Video Timing Extended Metadata), so that the TV can prepare for it in advance and switch seamlessly – without the classic picture dropout problem.
What requirements must be met?
1. Compatible hardware
Both the playback device and the television must support HDMI 2.1a and QMS; otherwise, the normal switching behavior with a black screen will remain. If you use another HDMI component, it must also support QMS. This can be done, for example, by our current HDMI 2.1 switches and HDMI 2.1 audio extractors , such as the SW212, SW411, AX210, AX211, AX310, and AX340.
2. No change in resolution or HDR mode
QMS only works when the frame rate changes, but not the resolution (e.g., 1080p / 4K) or dynamic range (e.g., SDR / HDR10 / Dolby Vision). During such a change, a black image will still appear because resynchronization occurs again.
Which devices support QMS?
- Streaming player: The Apple TV 4K from model year 2022 (3rd generation) was the first player with QMS support.
- Televisions (Smart TVs): LG TVs from model year 2023 onwards (OLED C3, G4, C4, etc.) support QMS. Samsung recently upgraded its QD OLED models S95C and S95D, where QMS works with the appropriate firmware.
- QMS is still not widely used by most other manufacturers (Sony, Panasonic, TCL, etc.).
Anyone with compatible devices that meet the above requirements can benefit from QMS—for example, by smoothly browsing menus and trailers or playing YouTube videos with ads. In reality, however, QMS often remains limited because movies often differ in video resolution or HDR color space.
