How to enable Auto HDR in Windows 11

If you have an HDR display attached to your Windows 11 PC, this is one feature you need to turn on.

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While plenty haven’t yet upgraded toWindows 11, for gamers, in particular, there are plenty of reasons to. One of these is Auto HDR, which when paired with anHDR display, can make even non-HDR-enabled games look better.

It isn’texactlyproper HDR, but the feature uses the ability of a compatible display to boost colors in games with no performance hit. Auto HDR is part of the main Windows display settings, but if you were hoping you might be able to get some benefit without an HDR display, sorry, you’re out of luck.

Windows 11 will detect whether you have a compatible display attached, and if you don’t, you won’t have access to the feature. If you do, here’s how to turn it on.

How to enable Auto HDR in Windows 11

Enabling the Auto HDR takes mere seconds and a few clicks in the right place.

That’s all there is to it. It’s not the only way you can enable it, though, and if you’re already in-game and want a friendlier way to turn it on without having to tab out of what you’re playing, you can also enable Auto HDR from the Xbox Game Bar.

Additionally, when you use the Xbox Game Bar method you get access to an intensity slider, so you can adjust the strength of the Auto HDR on a game-by-game basis while you play.

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Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you’ll find him steering the site’s coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon atmstdn.social/@richdevine