Background
HDR on a computer: formats, badges, and settings
HDR (high dynamic range) lets a display show highlights much brighter than ordinary white while keeping shadows dark, along with a wider range of colors. On a computer, three things all have to line up before you actually see it: a display that can do it, an operating system with HDR turned on, and content and an app that output HDR. This page checks what the browser reports. The sections below explain the rest.
HDR formats
On Windows PCs, games and most apps output HDR10. Streaming apps may use Dolby Vision on devices that support it.
- HDR10: the baseline format. It uses the PQ curve (SMPTE ST 2084), 10-bit color, and static metadata that describes the whole film or game at once.
- HDR10+: adds dynamic metadata, so brightness mapping can change scene by scene.
- Dolby Vision: also uses dynamic metadata and supports up to 12-bit signals. Common on streaming services, TVs, and phones.
- HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma): designed for broadcast. One signal works on both SDR and HDR screens.
What the DisplayHDR badges mean
VESA’s DisplayHDR certification sets minimum requirements for brightness, black level, color gamut, and bit depth. The number in the name is the minimum peak brightness in nits (cd/m²): DisplayHDR 400, 500, 600, 1000, and 1400 for LCDs. True Black tiers such as DisplayHDR True Black 400 cover OLED displays, which have lower peak brightness but true blacks.
DisplayHDR 400 does not require local dimming. Without it, an LCD has to light the whole screen to show a bright highlight, so the contrast barely improves. Many people find HDR on such monitors looks no better, or worse, than SDR. Meaningful HDR on an LCD usually needs a full-array local-dimming or Mini-LED backlight; OLEDs get there through per-pixel light control.
Turning HDR on
- Windows 11: Settings › System › Display › Use HDR. Select HDR on the same page to find the SDR content brightness slider, which controls how bright normal apps look while HDR is on.
- Windows HDR Calibration app (free in the Microsoft Store): sets the darkest and brightest levels Windows uses for HDR games.
- Auto HDR on Windows converts many DirectX 11 and 12 games to HDR automatically when HDR is on.
- macOS: MacBook Pro models with Liquid Retina XDR displays and Apple’s Pro Display XDR show HDR content automatically. For external HDR monitors, enable High Dynamic Range in System Settings › Displays.
- The monitor itself: some models need HDR enabled in their menu or a specific picture mode selected.
Why HDR can look washed out on a PC
With HDR on, Windows shows ordinary SDR apps inside an HDR signal. If the SDR brightness slider or the monitor’s HDR mode is off, the desktop can look gray or dim. Many people keep HDR off for desktop work and switch it on for games and films. On Windows 11, the keyboard shortcut Windows + Alt + B toggles HDR.
Common questions
- Does this page show real HDR?
- No. This page draws ordinary SDR colors and reads the browser’s HDR capability signals. To see real HDR, play HDR video in a supported browser or app with your operating system’s HDR mode turned on.
- My monitor says HDR but the browser reports no HDR support. Why?
- The operating system’s HDR mode is probably off, or the browser is on a different display. The browser can only report HDR when the system is sending an HDR signal to the screen it is on.
- Is a DisplayHDR 400 monitor worth using in HDR mode?
- Try it with content you know. Some people prefer it for brighter highlights, but without local dimming the improvement is limited and SDR often looks more accurate.