HDR (high dynamic range) improves the picture quality in videos you watch online. HDR video shows a greater range of colors, so dark parts of a scene are truly dark, and the bright parts of a scene are nice and bright. This means more detailed images, better color and highlights, and an overall better experience when watching movies and shows on your Windows 10 PC.
The difference between traditional SDR (standard dynamic range) content and HDR content is remarkable. Traditional SDR displays can only reproduce a small fraction of the colors that the human eye can perceive. HDR dramatically increases that range of color because it uses a wider color gamut, which results in more vivid colors compared to traditional SDR content. The color in HDR video is more precise because it shows more shades of a color that can’t be shown on traditional SDR displays.
How to tell if your display supports HDR
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Select the Start button, then select Settings > System > Display > Windows HD Color settings.
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Under Choose display, select the display you want to check.
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Under Display capabilities, confirm it says Yes next to Use HDR.
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If it does, turn on Use HDR.
For more info about HDR settings, see HDR and WCG color settings in Windows 10 on the Microsoft Support site.
Find HDR videos and games
HDR video
Various online streaming websites and services offer HDR video. Here are just a few. The services and content that’s offered vary by service and country/region.
YouTube
There is a lot of free HDR content available on YouTube today. You can find some good examples if you open Microsoft Edge on your Windows 10 PC, go to YouTube, and then search for “HDR.” You can find curated HDR videos from various YouTube users and companies on “The 4K HDR Channel”.
To confirm the video you’re watching is an HDR video, look for the HDR label in the bottom-right corner of the video player.
Tip: For the best experience, play HDR video full screen.
Online streaming providers, such as Netflix, HBO Max, and many others
Many streaming video services now have HDR shows and movies. Some even have entire HDR or 4K channels. Many times, HDR and 4K (which defines the resolution or clarity of a picture) go together. To find HDR movie titles, search for “HDR,” or look for the HDR or Dolby Vision label next to the movie or series title.
Some streaming providers, such as Netflix, might require a premium subscription to watch 4K and HDR videos. To watch HDR movies on your Windows 10 device, download the video service’s app from the Microsoft Store, or visit their website in Microsoft Edge.
HDR games
You can find many HDR-capable games for Windows 10 (several of them are included with Xbox Game Pass for PC). Here are some examples of PC games* that support HDR on a Windows PC:
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Crackdown 3
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Forza Horizon 4
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Forza Motorsport 7
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Gears 5
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Gears Tactics
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Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
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Ori and the Will of the Wisps
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Sea of Thieves
* Availability may vary based on location
Enjoy HDR now
Here’s a quick checklist to help make sure you have what you need to use HDR on your Windows 10 device:
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Make sure HDR is turned on.
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Check to make sure you have the cables, drivers, and codecs you need for HDR. For more info, see Display requirements for HDR video in Windows 10.
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Verify the content you’re trying to play is available in HDR.
If you’re having problems with HDR on your PC, check out HDR and WCG color settings in Windows 10 on the Microsoft Support site. It helps guide you through troubleshooting and fixing some of the most common HDR problems. If it doesn’t help solve your problem with HDR, please send us feedback in the Feedback Hub. We’re always looking for ways to improve your HDR experience on Windows 10, so we appreciate your feedback and comments.
