How to Get the Most Out of HDR on Windows 11

HDR displays work well with Windows 11 for gaming and streaming video. But to be honest, they don’t look great at first. However, you can tweak some settings to get the best HDR experience possible.

Table of Contents

• What do I need to start using HDR on Windows?
  • Why is Windows 11 displaying HDR not supported?
• How to Enable HDR and AutoHDR in Windows 11
• Calibrate HDR display with Windows HDR Calibration software
• Adjust HDR tone mapping and game HDR settings on TV

What do I need to start using HDR on Windows?

To enable HDR, you need an HDR-capable display. You also need a compatible source device; in this case, a Windows 11 PC with an integrated or dedicated GPU that supports HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C, or Thunderbolt. Make sure your GPU drivers are up to date, too.

To see if your display supports HDR, press Win + I to open Settings and go to System > Display . Select Use HDR under Brightness and Color . If you have a multi-display setup, select the HDR-capable display from the Select a display to view or change its settings drop-down list .

If your display supports HDR, you'll see Supported next to both Use HDR and HDR video streaming with a Use HDR toggle to turn HDR on.

Why is Windows 11 displaying HDR not supported?

The most common reason is that you have a non-HDR monitor. Check your monitor's specifications on the official website to see if it supports HDR. Other causes include outdated graphics drivers or HDR being disabled in the external display settings.

For external monitors, like the Asus ROG Swift, you can enable HDR through the monitor's OSD menu. You can access this menu by pressing a physical button, usually located below or on the back of the monitor.

Once in the OSD menu, go to Image > HDR and make sure the HDR option is enabled. Some monitors may have multiple HDR options, such as AMD FreeSync2 HDR, Gaming HDR, or Cinema HDR.

On your TV, you may need to enable Game Mode to enable HDR on Windows 11. The steps to enable HDR and Game Mode may vary depending on the manufacturer. For example, to enable HDR on a Samsung UHD TV:

• Press the Home button on your TV remote control, then select Settings .
• In the Settings menu , open the General tab and select External Device Manager .

• Set Game Mode to On . Then, turn on the Game HDR option.

Additionally, you may also need specific codecs to play HDR videos on streaming platforms. Netflix requires the HEVC extension, but it costs $0.99 in the Microsoft Store. Two other extensions are VP9 for playing YouTube videos in HDR and AVI, both of which are usually pre-installed on PCs.

How to Enable HDR and AutoHDR in Windows 11

You can turn on HDR from the Settings app. Go to Settings > System > Display , then tap Use HDR . If you have multiple displays connected, select the HDR-enabled display from the Select a display to view or change its settings drop-down list .

Turn on the Use HDR switch . The screen may dim or flicker for a moment when HDR is on. You can also turn on HDR video streaming to watch HDR content on streaming platforms like YouTube .

Windows 11 also offers Auto HDR, which automatically turns on HDR for compatible SDR games. While not all games support Auto HDR, many popular titles do, including Minecraft, HALO: Master Chief Collection, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Assassin's Creed Mirage.

You can also enable HDR using the Game Bar. To do this:

1. Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar . Then, click Settings (the gear icon) on the toolbar at the top.
2. Select Gaming features from the left pane of the window that opens.
3. Under HDR, check the box next to Use HDR (Windows + Alt + B) . Then, select HDR on all displays or Use HDR on the main display only .

With Game Bar settings configured, you can quickly turn HDR on or off with the Win + Alt + B shortcut .

Calibrate HDR display with Windows HDR Calibration software

Windows HDR Calibration is the official display calibration tool that helps you create optimized color profiles to improve color accuracy for your HDR display. To get started:

1. Download and install the Windows HDR Calibration app from the Microsoft Store. Once launched, navigate to the HDR display you want to calibrate and click Get Started .
2. The tool will guide you through the calibration process to adjust Minimal Luminance , Maximum Luminance , Max Full-Frame Luminance and Color Saturation . Just adjust the sliders until the box disappears.
3. Once complete, review your new color settings, enter a name for the color profile, and click Finish .

To apply a new color profile, go to Settings > System > Display . Then, under Brightness & Color , click the Color profile drop-down menu and select your newly created color profile. If you need further adjustments, explore additional calibration methods to calibrate your display for accurate color.

Adjust HDR tone mapping and game HDR settings on TV

If HDR content still isn't looking right, check your TV's tone mapping settings. Whether or not to use tone mapping is a matter of personal preference, but switching between dynamic/active and static tone mapping can help you preserve detail without making the screen too bright or too dark.

Since different TV manufacturers use different tone mapping, you'll need to experiment to find what works best for you. Here's how to adjust it on a Samsung TV:

1. Go to Settings > Picture > Expert Settings .
2. Select HDR Tone Mapping , then choose from the Static and Active options .

Some TVs, like the LG C2, support an HGiG mode that automatically adjusts the color of in-game content to match the creator's intent. Likewise, Samsung TVs use HDR based on the HGiG standard, so you may not need to mess with tone mapping settings unless necessary.

Once you've enabled HDR in Windows 11 and calibrated your display, check and enable HDR in the game settings if available. For example, to enable HDR10 in Cyberpunk 2077, go to Settings > Video > HDR Mode and set it to HDR10 PQ or HDR10 scRGB .

Optimizing HDR on Windows 11 lets you experience games and movies the way the creators intended. With these tips, you can get the most out of your expensive HDR display in Windows 11.