When a Nintendo Switch 2 is connected through an Elgato 4K S, 4K X or 4K Pro, the console can freeze as soon as a game uses Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) in TV mode. You are most likely to see this in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 (released November 5, 2026), one of the first games to support VRR in TV mode, and in the VRR Slider demo in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.
Affected products
- Elgato 4K S
- Elgato 4K X
- Elgato 4K Pro
Cause
The issue is caused by how the capture card's EDID (the information the capture card sends to the console about which video formats it supports) handles VRR from the Switch 2. Updated EDIDs that resolve the freeze are now available in Elgato Studio.
Steps to resolve
1. Update Elgato Studio (and the 4K S firmware)
- Open Elgato Studio and install any available app update.
- 4K S only: connect your 4K S and install the firmware update Elgato Studio offers (Base 26.08.25, MCU 26.09.07). With this update, the 4K S makes the Switch 2 switch to a supported resolution as soon as a VRR game starts, so your captured video stays clean. The 4K X and 4K Pro do not need a firmware update for this fix.
2. Select the Switch 2 VRR EDID
- In Elgato Studio, select your capture card and open the Device tab in the upper right.
- Under Video, turn on Custom EDID.
- Open the dropdown and select the Switch 2 VRR EDID for your device (for example, 4K S Switch 2 VRR). Your TV or monitor and the preview in Elgato Studio may go black for a moment while the Switch 2 reconnects to the new setting.
- Restart the game on your Switch 2.
What's supported with Switch 2
The Switch 2 cannot send 4K with HDR and VRR to these capture cards at the same time. When a VRR game starts with HDR Output on, the Switch 2 automatically switches to 1440p (or 1080p, depending on your pass-through display). Your game keeps running smoothly, and your TV or monitor on pass-through is not affected.
| Switch 2 output |
4K S |
4K X |
4K Pro |
| 4K60 with HDR, no VRR |
✅ Supported |
✅ Supported |
✅ Supported |
| 4K60 with VRR, HDR off |
✅ Supported |
✅ Supported |
✅ Supported |
| 4K60 with HDR and VRR |
❌ Switches to 1440p or 1080p |
❌ Switches to 1440p or 1080p |
❌ Switches to 1440p or 1080p |
| 1440p120 / 1080p120 with VRR (120Hz Output on, HDR off) |
✅ Supported |
✅ Supported |
✅ Supported |
The Switch 2 cannot output 4K at 120Hz, so with 120Hz Output on, VRR games always run at 1440p or 1080p.
- For 4K with VRR: turn off HDR Output in the Switch 2 settings.
- For 4K HDR in games without VRR: turn off Custom EDID in Elgato Studio. The Switch 2 VRR EDIDs do not offer 4K HDR.
- 4K S: to get 4K HDR back after playing a VRR game, unplug the HDMI cable from the capture card's HDMI In port and plug it back in.
We are working on a further improvement and will update this article when it is available.
Playing Ocarina of Time?
Good news: the new Ocarina of Time runs at a remarkably steady 60 fps on Switch 2. In their tech review, Digital Foundry found the frame rate so consistent that VRR makes very little difference in this game. So whichever option above you choose, you can expect the same smooth gameplay.
So if 4K60 with HDR matters most to you, turn off VRR Output in the Switch 2 settings and leave Custom EDID off in Elgato Studio. You keep 4K HDR, and the game plays just as smoothly.
If any assistance is needed, feel free to contact us through the widget at the right.