How to Change Video Playback HDR Settings in Windows 11
- 31 steps
- Needs administrator rights
HDR (High Dynamic Range) video playback in Windows 11 gives you brighter highlights, deeper shadows, and a wider range of colors than a standard display. Windows 11 turns off video enhancements by default, so your screen might show basic video even when your monitor supports HDR.
You can turn on HDR video playback in a few clicks from the display settings. It works with built-in laptop screens and external monitors that support HDR10, a common HDR standard. If you are not sure your screen qualifies, check that first. The next section shows how.
Open Settings, go to System Display, click HDR, and check that Display capabilities shows HDR as Supported. Then open Apps Video playback and switch on Stream HDR video. If that switch is greyed out, your display or cable does not support HDR. You may need administrator permission.
Checking If Your Display Is Optimized for HDR Video
Before you change any option, find out whether Windows sees your display as HDR-capable. The HDR page tells you what your screen and graphics hardware support, and which switches are available to you.
- Open Settings. Click the Start button and select Settings, or press the Win+I.
- Click System. It is in the list on the left side of the Settings window.
- Click Display. The display options appear on the right.
- Pick the monitor you want to check. If you use more than one, choose it from the display selector at the top of the page, because HDR is set for each display separately.
- Click HDR. It sits in the Brightness & color area, so scroll down if you do not see it. You should now see the HDR page for that display.
- Look at the section labeled Display capabilities. Windows lists whether your display supports HDR and whether it supports streaming HDR video, with Supported or Not supported next to each item.
That’s it. You now know what Windows thinks your display can do, which tells you whether the settings below will have any effect.
If the page says HDR is not supported, check these things:
- Make sure the monitor itself advertises HDR10 support. Many cheaper monitors do not, even if they are labeled “HDR ready”.
- Check the cable and the port. An older HDMI or DisplayPort cable may not carry HDR. Try a high-speed HDMI cable or a DisplayPort cable, and use the port the monitor says supports HDR.
- Turn on HDR in the monitor’s own on-screen menu if it has an option for it.
- Update your graphics driver, then reopen the page.
If none of that helps, you will need a monitor that supports HDR.
How to Turn On HDR Video Streaming in 🪟 Windows 11
Turning on HDR video streaming makes Windows use the extra color and contrast range in supported movies and shows. This setting is separate from the main HDR switch, so check both. If Stream HDR video is greyed out, the display or its connection does not support HDR. Go back to the previous section and check Display capabilities.
These steps optimize video playback settings in Windows 11 by turning on HDR streaming:
- Open Settings. Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Click Apps. It is on the left side of the window.
- Click Video playback. It is in the list on the right. You should now see the video playback options.
- Turn the Stream HDR video switch to On. Look for the setting by that name on the page.
- Turn on Automatically process video to enhance it if you see it. This is optional. It lets Windows apply video enhancements, which are off by default.
That’s it. Windows will now use HDR for supported video. The screen may flicker briefly while Windows switches modes, which is normal, and you do not need to restart. To undo the change, turn the switch back to Off.
Managing Power Options for HDR Laptops
Laptops often cut back or turn off HDR on battery power to save energy. If your video looks flat when unplugged, check the power options. Plugging in the charger is the quickest test. If HDR comes back, a battery setting is the cause.
To keep video quality up on battery power, change these defaults:
- Open the Settings app. Use the Start menu or press the Win+I.
- Go to System Display. The display options for your screen appear.
- Click HDR. The HDR page opens.
- Scroll down to the battery or power options section. It only appears on devices with a battery, so you will not see it on a desktop PC.
- Uncheck the box that stops HDR playback on battery power. You can also adjust the setting to suit you. The exact label can differ between Windows 11 builds, so look for the option about video on battery.
That’s it. Your laptop should now keep HDR video quality when it runs on battery.
Expect the battery to drain faster with HDR on, because the screen runs brighter. If battery life matters more than picture quality, leave the default as it is. To reverse the change, tick the box again.
Dealing with Dolby Vision HDR Mode
Dolby Vision is an advanced HDR format. On some systems it conflicts with desktop apps or games, which then look too dark or washed out. If that happens, turn it off so the screen falls back to standard HDR.
To turn off Dolby Vision HDR mode and use standard HDR instead:
- Open Settings. Use the Start menu or press the Win+I.
- Go to System Display. The display options appear.
- Click HDR to open the HDR settings page.
- Find the Dolby Vision setting. The manufacturer’s settings or a Dolby app installed on your computer control it, so the location varies by device.
- Switch the mode to off. Apps and games should return to standard HDR.
That’s it. Your screen should now use standard HDR instead of Dolby Vision.
Dolby Vision options only show up on hardware that supports it, so you may not see this setting at all. If so, skip this section. To undo the change, turn the mode back on in the same place.
Calibrate Your HDR Display for Maximum Accuracy
Factory HDR settings are generic. Calibrating gives you more accurate colors and brightness for your particular screen. Microsoft offers a free app for this called Windows HDR Calibration. Turn HDR on for the display first (Settings System Display HDR), because the app needs it.
To calibrate your screen:
- Open the Microsoft Store app. Start it on your Windows 11 computer.
- Search for Windows HDR Calibration. Choose the free app published by Microsoft.
- Install the app. Wait for the download to finish.
- Open the app. Launch it from the Store page or the Start menu.
- Follow the on-screen instructions. The app shows a series of test patterns and asks you to adjust sliders until the patterns blend into the background.
- Save your color profile. Do this when you finish the last test pattern.
That’s it. Videos and games should now look more detailed and more accurate in color on your HDR display.
If you use several monitors, run the calibration for the HDR display only. If the result looks worse than before, you can run the app again or remove the saved profile.
Fixing Night Light and HDR Color Clashes
Night light and HDR do not always work well together. With both on, the screen can look strangely red, oversaturated, or unnatural. The quickest fix is to turn Night light off for a moment and see whether the colors return to normal.
If your colors look unnatural at night:
- Open Settings. Use the Start menu or press the Win+I.
- Go to System Display. The display options appear.
- Click Night light. Its switch and options open.
- Turn the switch to Off. Your normal HDR video colors should return within a moment.
That’s it. Night light is now off, so HDR video should show its natural colors.
If that fixes it, you can leave Night light off while watching HDR video and turn it on again afterward. If you still need blue light reduction, use the monitor’s own hardware settings instead of the Windows software filter while you watch HDR video.
Summary
In short: check that your monitor reports HDR support, turn on Stream HDR video, and set the battery options if you use a laptop. If colors look off, try turning off Dolby Vision or Night light, and run the calibration app for the most accurate picture. Together these settings get the best picture your screen can show.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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