The recent influx of OLED and mini - LED display on external monitor and laptops has finally madeHDR(High Dynamic Range ) more viable on PCs . Indeed , Windows 11 date a big HDR push when it launched , and Microsoft has been improving it with updates and new background to flirt with ever since .
Learning how to use HDR inWindows 11is more than just turning it on — though that ’s authoritative too . There are a bunch of intriguing HDR configurations to get your head around if you want to make the most of it .
Update Windows 11
Before you endeavor to line up any HDR configurations in Windows 11 , you should ensure you ’re bunk the latest version of Windows 11 . New HDR feature have been add together over the years — most recently , Microsoft added an SDR brightness slider to its HDR setting options .
You ’ll only get access to that if you ’re running the latest major Windows 11 update , so hit Windows update and verify you have all the previous HDR features .
How to turn HDR on in Windows 11
OK , I know we say the configurations were more authoritative , but you may still need to enable HDR in Windows 11 , too , especially if you ’ve only late upgrade to an HDR display .
sail toSettings > Display > HDR(or just seek for “ HDR configurations ” in the Windows search bar and select the appropriate resultant . pick out the display that you desire to enable HDR on from the drop - down menu , and toggleUse HDRto on . This is where you’re able to go to turn it off again in the futurity if you do n’t need to use it any longer .
Do you desire to watch HDR content over streaming services ? Make certain to toggle onHDR telecasting streaming , too .
Do you desire to roleplay game using Auto - HDR ? If so , toggleAuto HDRtoOn . Thelist of games that abide HDRisn’t exhaustive , but there are several hundred , and many of them are mainstream , big titles that come highly advocate by millions of gamers . There ’s no guaranty the auto - HDR effectuation is everlasting , but the results we ’ve find out in some have been impressive .
How to use the HDR calibration app
The officialWindows HDR Calibration toolis spare through the Microsoft Store — with a connection in the HDR options .
snap through to the calibration tool , or install it manually from the store yourself and play it . Once it ’s open , selectGet Startedand stick with the on - CRT screen prompting to adjust your HDR place setting . It will walk you through your HDR contour , adjusting minimum luminance , maximum brightness level , max full - frame luminance , and color saturation . When you ’re done , survey your configurations and give the HDR profile a name so you could toggle it on and off as needed .
When you back out to the HDR setting page , verify that next toColor profile , your new calibrate HDR context profile is selected from the drop - down . If it is n’t , do so . Use this menu in the hereafter to make different HDR calibration profiles for unlike kinds of subject or game .
calibrate your HDR configurations to their best can take a few effort , and it helps to know the specifications and capableness of your exhibit before starting , so be patient if it takes a couple of tries to get it just right . The results are deserving it .
How to adjust SDR content brightness
One of the a la mode additions to Windows 11 ’s HDR capability was in reality to do with SDR . It is n’t something that ’s applicable to HDR content , but it lets you premise some HDR - like brightness level “ popping ” in your SDR cognitive content , where SDR brightness level maximums would otherwise limit it .
You ’ll have to make for this feature with yourself , but establish some SDR content you desire to watch and move the slider around until you find a point that feels correct for you and what you ’re watching . A recommend spot to get at is 60 , a commonly enjoyed SDR brightness scope , but you may have dissimilar preferences .
Calibrate your display
The last footprint in tweaking how HDR run in Windows 11 is to adjust the setting on your show . Whether it ’s a video or monitor , adjust its line , brightness , colors , HDR preferences , and more can make a big conflict to how your plot and cyclosis content look and experience .
There are ahandful of monitor settingsyou should always have set to your preferences ; you may just adjust those by eye . However , if you require to really make your monitor or TV lookperfect(or as near to it as possible ) , you ’ll need to calibrate it . luckily , Windows has several built - in tools to assist you there , and we have a scout onhow to graduate your monitorto make the most of its capabilities .
