HDR (high dynamic range) lets a game show brighter highlights, deeper shadows and richer colour than standard dynamic range (SDR). When it’s set up well, sunlight, explosions and neon signs really stand out. When it isn’t, the whole picture looks grey, washed out or too dark. Most of the difference comes down to three settings in Windows.
This is one step in our process for tuning a gaming PC.
Before you start: does your monitor really do HDR?
HDR needs a display that can get much brighter than normal in small areas, and show dark areas properly at the same time. Many monitors accept an HDR signal but can’t do either well, so turning on HDR makes them look worse.
- OLED and mini-LED monitors tend to give the biggest HDR improvement. See IPS vs VA vs OLED for why.
- Entry-level “HDR400” style monitors often look better in SDR. Try both and keep whichever you prefer.
To check whether Windows sees your display as HDR10-capable, Microsoft suggests running dxdiag and checking the Advanced Color and Monitor Capabilities values on the Display tab.
Step 1: Connect with the right cable
Microsoft recommends using DisplayPort if your display supports HDR over it. Over HDMI, the port and cable need enough bandwidth for HDR at your resolution and refresh rate; if you see colour fringing, Microsoft suggests lowering the refresh rate or resolution. Our guide to setting your monitor’s refresh rate covers which ports to use.
Also turn on HDR in the monitor’s own menu if it has a setting for it, and update your graphics driver.
Step 2: Turn on HDR in Windows
- Open Start > Settings > System > Display.
- If you have more than one display, select the HDR monitor at the top.
- Turn on Use HDR (shown as HDR on some versions).
On a laptop, Windows may turn HDR off on battery. To keep it on, expand the HDR section and clear Turn off HDR when my PC is running on battery.
Step 3: Run the Windows HDR Calibration app
Games need to know how bright your display can actually go. Without that, highlights can clip to flat white and dark scenes lose detail.
Microsoft’s free Windows HDR Calibration app, from the Microsoft Store, fixes this. It walks you through three test patterns recommended by the HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG): adjust each slider until the pattern just disappears, then save the profile. It needs Windows 11, HDR turned on and the app running full screen. Run it again whenever you change your display setup.
Many games also have their own HDR brightness settings. Set them after calibrating Windows, following the game’s on-screen guide.
Step 4: Set SDR content brightness
With HDR on, the desktop, browsers and most apps are still SDR, and Windows maps them into the HDR signal. In Settings > System > Display > HDR, drag the SDR content brightness slider until the desktop looks as bright as you like. On a laptop’s built-in screen the slider is called HDR content brightness and works the other way round, adjusting HDR relative to your normal brightness.
Step 5: Turn on Auto HDR for older games
Auto HDR expands the brightness and colour of games made in SDR. Microsoft describes it as being for older SDR-only games that use DirectX 11 or DirectX 12.
- Open Settings > System > Display, with HDR turned on.
- Expand the HDR section and turn on Auto HDR.
If one game looks wrong with it, open Settings > System > Display > Graphics, select the game, and tick Don’t use Auto HDR for that game alone.
Fixing common HDR problems
- Everything looks grey or washed out: lower the SDR content brightness slider, check the monitor’s own HDR mode is on, and consider whether the monitor is bright enough to benefit. Some monitors simply look better in SDR.
- Game looks too dark: run the HDR Calibration app, then raise the game’s own HDR brightness or paper-white setting.
- HDR keeps turning off on a laptop: clear the battery option in Step 2.
- HDR won’t turn on with two screens on a laptop: Microsoft notes HDR doesn’t work in Duplicate mode. Choose Extend these displays instead.
