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. HDR can show a wider range of colors and light and more details in between the extremes. Unlike SDR, HDR shows details so that bright parts of a scene are brighter while dark parts can be darker, so you get to see all the details. To play HDR video in Windows 11, your display, PC, and graphics card must meet certain requirements. Here are the requirements: Your display can be a built-in display, like the kind on a laptop, tablet, or 2-in-1 PC, or it might be an external display that’s connected to your PC.
Built-in displays. The built-in display needs to have a resolution of 1080p or more, and a recommended max brightness of 300 nits or more. External display. The HDR display or TV must support HDR10, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0 or higher, USB-C, or Thunderbolt.
How to check display capabilities for HDR in Windows 11
As mentioned above, HDR content on Windows offers better brightness and color capabilities compared to traditional content (sometimes called standard dynamic range [SDR] content). It also shows details so that bright parts of a scene are brighter while dark parts can be darker, so you get to see all the details. Below is how to check if your display supports HDR in Windows 11 Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane. To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below: Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it. Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click the Display tile on the right pane as highlighted in the image below. On the System,> Display settings pane, under Brightness & color, select the HDR or Use HDR tile to expand. On the System > Display > HDR settings pane, choose or select the display you want to check for HDR support. Under Display capabilities, you should see HDR details for your display. If your display supports HDR, then the lines below will show Supported.
HDR video streaming: Supported Use HDR: Supported
If not supported, the lines will show Not supported. That should do it! Conclusion: This post showed you how to check HDR support for your display in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
