How to enable HDR mode in Windows 10

Unlock Stunning Visuals: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Enable HDR Mode in Windows 10

Elevate your visual experience on Windows 10 by activating HDR mode. Learn the simple steps to enhance color, contrast, and clarity for a more immersive display. Follow our guide for a seamless HDR setup.

Windows 10 offers High Dynamic Range (HDR) support, allowing users to enjoy richer and more vibrant visuals. Enabling HDR mode can significantly enhance the display quality of compatible monitors and TVs. Let’s walk through the steps to unlock the full potential of HDR on your Windows 10 system.

Windows 10 introduces built-in HDR to brighten up your photos, movies, and games. In Windows 10, there was a built-in HDR mode, which is to brighten your photos, movies and games. Microsoft has finally tweaked the High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode for Windows 10, and now you too can experience true HDR with Windows HD color settings.

Let’s take a look at how you can enable HDR mode in Windows 10 and improve your visual experience.

Also Read: Windows 10 hotkeys

Why is HDR so important?

HDR dramatically improves the quality of images in games, videos and applications, making them more detailed and the picture more lively and vivid.

Microsoft introduced Auto HDR in Insider Preview Build 21337. Auto HDR was first available on Xbox X / S. Artificial intelligence technology provides users with real-time HDR graphics. Microsoft is expected to fully roll out Auto HDR functionality in Windows 10 to users in 2021.

Enable HDR mode in windows 10

HDR compatibility on Windows 10

Before you enable HDR in Windows 10 , you need to make sure your monitor and PC are compatible with it.

The HDR display requirements for integrated displays as listed by Microsoft are as follows:

• Minimum resolution 1080p (1920 × 1080).
• Brightness 300 nits or higher.
• Windows 10, version 1803 or higher.
• Discrete or integrated graphics with PlayReady DRM support and 10-bit video decoding.

If your built-in display does not support HDR, you can purchase an external HDR-capable display in Windows 10. The minimum requirements for viewing and playing HDR content on external displays are as follows:

• Supports Display Port 1.4 or HDMI 2.0 (or higher).
• HDR10 support. It is recommended to use an external display with Display HDR certification.
• Windows 10 PC with integrated or discrete graphics that supports PlayReady 3.0 DRM and 10-bit video decoding.
• The latest version of the video card driver – you can update it on the manufacturer’s website or through Windows Update.
• Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.4 or higher.

Once you’ve verified that your display is HDR-compatible, you need one final confirmation:

• Go to Options
• Go to System> Display> Windows HD Color.
• Make sure the Use HDR option is available under Windows HD Color.

How to enable HDR mode in Windows 10

If your computer and monitors are HDR compatible, you can enable HDR mode and enjoy the best visual experience when gaming or streaming video content.

To enable HDR mode in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Options panel.
2. Go to Go to System> Display.
3. If you have multiple displays connected to your Windows 10 computer, select an HDR-compatible display under Change screen layout.
4. Click on Windows HD color Settings.
5. Toggle the Use HDR and HDR video streaming options to enable HDR mode.
6. You can then adjust the brightness of the HDR display using the HDR / SDR brightness balance slider.

After following the steps above, HDR-enabled games and video content (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.) will play in brighter and more detailed quality.

Windows 10 HDR is getting better

Yes, HDR had its problems in Windows 10, but now it’s better than ever. Microsoft is aiming to improve the mode in HDR mode in Windows 10 and expand the range of HDR-enabled DirectX games, with Auto-HDR mode expected in 2021.

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