System Turn On or Off HDR for Display in Windows 11


HDR_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off use HDR for a display in Windows 11.

HDR content on Windows offers better brightness and color capabilities compared to traditional content (sometimes called standard dynamic range [SDR] content). Traditional content typically shows details in a bright part of a scene or a darker part of a scene, but not in both parts at the same time. For example, if the shot focuses on a bright window in the scene, details in the shadow are lost.

HDR can show a wider range of colors and light and more details in between the extremes. Colors are more vivid and unique in HDR content. Additionally, bright parts of a scene are brighter while dark parts can be darker, so you get to see all the details.

As hardware improves, more and more devices can display HDR content. If you’ve been looking at the latest TVs and monitors, you’ve probably seen the term HDR more frequently. With HDR in Windows, you’ll start to see HDR content when you use your Windows 11 devices as well.

To get the best HDR experience, use a device with a true HDR10 display. You’ll need this kind of display for HDR apps and games. For video, the best experience will be on a true HDR display. However, you can still play HDR content on many newer, non-HDR laptops as well.

If your connected TV, external display, or built-in display(s) meets the requirements for HDR10, you will be able to turn on and off HDR for the HDR-capable display in Windows 11.

References:


Contents

  • Option One: Turn On or Off HDR for All HDR-capable Displays using Keyboard Shortcut
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off HDR for All HDR-capable Displays on Xbox Game Bar
  • Option Three: Turn On or Off HDR for Specific HDR-capable Display in Display Settings
  • Option Four: Turn On or Off HDR for Specific HDR-capable Display in HDR Settings




Option One

Turn On or Off HDR for All HDR-capable Displays using Keyboard Shortcut


1 Press the Win + Alt + B keys to toggle HDR on or off for all HDR-capable displays.





Option Two

Turn On or Off HDR for All HDR-capable Displays on Xbox Game Bar


1 Press the Win + G keys to open the Xbox Game Bar.

2 Click/tap on the Settings (gear) icon on the game bar. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on Gaming features in Settings.

4 Check (on - default) or uncheck (off) Use HDR with compatible display for what you want.

HDR_Xbox_Game_Bar.png





Option Three

Turn On or Off HDR for Specific HDR-capable Display in Display Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Display on the right side. (see screenshot below)


HDR_Settings-1.png

3 If you have multiple displays connected to your PC, choose the HDR-capable display you want at the top. (see screenshot below)

4 Turn On (default) or Off Use HDR for what you want.

5 You can now close Settings if you like.

HDR_Settings-2.png





Option Four

Turn On or Off HDR for Specific HDR-capable Display in HDR Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Display on the right side. (see screenshot below)


HDR_Settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on Use HDR on the right side. (see screenshot below)

HDR_Settings-3.png

4 If you have multiple displays connected to your PC, choose the HDR-capable display you want in the Select a display to view or change its settings drop menu. (see screenshots below)

5 Turn On (default) or Off Use HDR for what you want.

If you turn on HDR, you will have other HDR settings available to change if wanted.


6 You can now close Settings if you like.

HDR_Settings-4.jpg
HDR_Settings-5.jpg



That's it,
Shawn Brink


 
Last edited:
Hey there, I've been using Win+Alt+B via Autohotkey for ages as my short skip back command in YouTube TV, and I just upgraded to Windows 11 and discovered that Windows has taken it over. I see that the shortcut's documented in Xbox Game Bar's "Settings -> Gaming features", and while it's possible to assign another shortcut under Settings -> Shortcuts, Win+Alt+B continues to toggle HDR. Is there any way to make Windows relinquish the key? If not, is it possible to uninstall Xbox Game Bar, assuming that's the thing responsible for this? I really want my Win+Alt+B back, as I use it literally a dozen or more times per day, every day, and I've been doing this since 2018.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Hey there, I've been using Win+Alt+B via Autohotkey for ages as my short skip back command in YouTube TV, and I just upgraded to Windows 11 and discovered that Windows has taken it over. I see that the shortcut's documented in Xbox Game Bar's "Settings -> Gaming features", and while it's possible to assign another shortcut under Settings -> Shortcuts, Win+Alt+B continues to toggle HDR. Is there any way to make Windows relinquish the key? If not, is it possible to uninstall Xbox Game Bar, assuming that's the thing responsible for this? I really want my Win+Alt+B back, as I use it literally a dozen or more times per day, every day, and I've been doing this since 2018.

I got my Win+Alt+B back by uninstalling Game Bar per the instructions in this message, which gives a shout-out to tenforums BTW:


In particular, I did the following, and it was all I had to do:

Code:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers -PackageTypeFilter Bundle *xboxgaming* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

That kills Win+Alt+B, Win+G, and the other Xbox shortcuts. Among other things, removing *xbox* as described elsewhere in that post also got rid of "Xbox Accessories", the configuration package for my Xbox controller, and I had to reinstall it and an Xbox Identity Provider from the Windows store. Note that if you just want to list what this command will affect, remove the pipe from the end of the command, and it will print out the matching packages.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
In addition to further help with uninstalled built-in provisioned apps: :-)

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
The option 1 hotkey combination only works if Xbox Game Bar is installed.

Is there any way to create a shortcut once Xbox Game Bar is uninstalled? I still want to activate HDR easily.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
The option 1 hotkey combination only works if Xbox Game Bar is installed.

Is there any way to create a shortcut once Xbox Game Bar is uninstalled? I still want to activate HDR easily.
Hello, :alien:

You could create a shortcut using the command below to at least make it faster and easier to open the HDR page in Settings to toggle it on/off from.

explorer ms-settings:display-hdr
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Hello, :alien:

You could create a shortcut using the command below to at least make it faster and easier to open the HDR page in Settings to toggle it on/off from.

explorer ms-settings:display-hdr
Hmm it's taking me to home page of settings rather than the HDR page. I tried both creating a shortcut as well as putting it into Run.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
Hmm it's taking me to home page of settings rather than the HDR page. I tried both creating a shortcut as well as putting it into Run.
Odd, it should open this page:

How does using this work: explorer ms-settings:display

HDR.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
There exists a PowerShell module that can be used for this type of stuff.
Looked promising too bad it has a bug with enabling HDR...
Odd, it should open this page:

How does using this work: explorer ms-settings:display
That works in taking me to the Display settings page. explorer ms-settings:display-hdr still only takes me the home page.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus TUF Gaming F16 (2024)
    CPU
    i7 13650HX
    Memory
    16GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Cooling
    2× Arc Flow Fans, 4× exhaust vents, 5× heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF
  • Operating System
    11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Medion S15450
    CPU
    i5 1135G7
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC Supreme; Emotiva UMC-200; Astell & Kern AK240
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia XR-55X90J
    Screen Resolution
    3840×2160
    Hard Drives
    2TB SSD internal
    37TB external
    PSU
    Li-ion
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Internet Speed
    20Mbit/s up, 250Mbit/s down
    Browser
    FF

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