HDR Not Working or Washed Out in Windows 11? Try These Fixes

Common causes

• HDR turned off on battery power by default on laptops
• A desktop duplicated to an external display, where HDR isn’t supported
• A display that interprets HDR and SDR signals differently, so SDR content looks too bright or too dark
• Apps that don’t work with the SDR or HDR content brightness setting and look too dark
• Night light causing a red tint or over-saturated colors
• Dolby Vision mode limiting peak brightness on some monitors
• An HDR display that doesn’t reproduce sRGB desktop colors correctly

Step-by-Step Solutions

Start with the first step and check the picture after each one; skip any step that doesn’t match your setup, such as the laptop steps on a desktop PC.

1. 1

   Step 1: Turn on HDR in Windows and on your display

   HDR has to be on in Windows and on the display or TV itself.

   Open Settings, select System, then Display, and make sure HDR is turned on. If you have multiple displays connected to your PC, choose the HDR-capable display at the top first.

   Make sure your display or TV has HDR turned on too. How you get to its on-screen menu varies by make and model, so check the documentation for your display or TV on the manufacturer’s website.

2. 2

   Step 2: Plug in your laptop or keep HDR on battery

   On HDR-capable laptops, the default power settings turn HDR off when running on battery power.

   Playing HDR content on battery can reduce battery life, so your PC manufacturer might have turned HDR off by default on battery. If HDR is on while your laptop is plugged in, it turns off when you unplug it and turns on again automatically when you plug it back in.

   This is also why the HDR or HDR video streaming toggle might not turn on or off even though Display capabilities shows Supported. Plugging in your laptop is the recommended fix. The default setting can also cause under-saturated colors after you restart your PC, so plug in your laptop before restarting it.

   To keep HDR on when running on battery, open Settings, select System, then Display. Select an HDR-capable display at the top of the screen, then select HDR. Expand the HDR or HDR video streaming toggle section, then deselect the Turn off HDR when my PC is running on battery checkbox or the Turn off HDR video streaming when my PC is running on battery checkbox.

   Good to know

   The display may appear black for a moment when HDR turns on or off as you plug in or unplug your laptop. Allowing HDR on battery power reduces battery life.

3. 3

   Step 3: Extend your desktop instead of duplicating it

   HDR isn’t supported when your desktop is duplicated on two displays.

   When you first connect an external display to a laptop, Windows duplicates your desktop on both displays by default. HDR isn’t supported in this configuration, so the HDR settings screen can show Not supported next to HDR under Display capabilities, with no HDR toggle.

   To view HDR content on the external HDR monitor or TV, open Settings, select System, then Display. Near the top of the screen, select Extend these displays.

4. 4

   Step 4: Check that your PC and display support HDR10

   The DirectX Diagnostic Tool shows whether your display driver and display support HDR10 and whether HDR is on.

   Press the Windows logo key + R, type dxdiag, and then select OK. Select Yes at the prompt. In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, on the System tab, look in the System Information area.

   To save the information to a file, select Save All Information, then name and save the text file. Open the file and look at the value for Advanced Color, and at the value for Monitor Capabilities.

   • AdvancedColorSupported means your installed display driver and display support HDR10.
   • AdvancedColorEnabled means HDR is currently turned on for your display.
   • HDR Supported means your display supports HDR10.
   • HDR Not Supported means the display is missing one or more requirements for HDR10.
5. 5

   Step 5: Balance SDR and HDR content brightness

   If all SDR content and apps look too bright or too dark with HDR on, adjust the relative brightness of SDR and HDR content.

   A display interprets an HDR and SDR signal differently, and the results vary by make and model, so you might need to adjust the balance yourself.

   Open Settings, select System, then Display. If you have multiple displays, select the HDR-capable display near the top of the screen and move the Settings app window to that display. Select HDR, then under SDR content brightness or HDR content brightness, drag the slider to get the right balance for brightness between HDR and SDR content.

   On an external HDR display, this changes the brightness of SDR content relative to HDR content. On a built-in HDR display, SDR brightness is controlled by a separate brightness setting, or it might be controlled automatically, and HDR content brightness changes HDR content relative to SDR content.

   Good to know

   For most times, the default SDR or HDR content brightness setting or one close to it should work well.

6. 6

   Step 6: Fix apps that look too dark

   Some SDR apps look darker than others because they don’t work with the SDR content brightness or HDR content brightness setting.

   Try the option that matches your setup, then check the app again.

   • If you have both SDR and HDR displays set up, move the app to the SDR display.
   • On an external HDR display, move the SDR content brightness slider to a lower setting, then use the on-screen menu on your HDR TV or display to increase the brightness to the level you want.
   • On a laptop with an HDR-capable built-in display, move the HDR content brightness slider to a lower setting so all SDR apps have a similar brightness level.

   Good to know

   If the brightness of some apps doesn’t change after you adjust the slider, or SDR content looks too bright and desaturated, try restarting the app.

7. 7

   Step 7: Turn down or turn off night light

   On HDR-capable devices, night light can give the display a red tint and make colors look over-saturated.

   How strong the tint is depends on the strength set for night light, and content might not be readable.

   Open Settings, select System, then Display, then Night light. If night light is on, drag the Strength slider to the left to reduce the red-tinted coloring, or select Turn off now to turn off night light.

8. 8

   Step 8: Turn off Dolby Vision mode for more brightness

   Some monitors limit peak brightness in Dolby Vision mode, which Windows chooses automatically when it’s available.

   For Dolby Vision certified monitors, Windows automatically chooses Dolby Vision when it is available. Turning it off enables a non-certified HDR10 mode that may have higher brightness in some circumstances.

   Open Settings, select System, then Display. Select an HDR-capable display at the top of the screen, then select HDR. Expand the HDR toggle section and deselect the Use Dolby Vision mode check box. This option is only available on Dolby Vision certified monitors.

   Good to know

   The non-certified mode trades off color accuracy for additional brightness.

Frequently Asked Questions