HDR is now present on every service or device that provides high-quality images or videos. This mode enhances the dynamic range of colors, resulting in better looking, more detailed images or videos especially brighter.
If we want to exploit this mode on Windows we can set the HDR modealso taking into account the requirements necessary to be able to start an HDR video, in particular if we have to connect an external monitor to the PC (since on laptops the function is either present or not present, without many alternatives).
READ ALSO -> How to watch 4K HDR on TV
1) Requirements to use HDR on Windows
To be able to use HDR on Windows, the computer must have some important requirements, which vary based on the use of an integrated monitor (on notebooks) or an external monitor (for desktop PCs).
On notebooks you need to have a display with a resolution equal to or greater than 1080p and a recommended brightness of 300 nits (or higher values). Often this data can be obtained from the laptop’s data sheet or from the manufacturer’s official website.
If, however, we use a desktop computer we will have to connect the monitor via a specific cable and check that the chosen monitor supports HDR, also analyzing the acronyms present in the technical data sheet or on the packaging. Here is a summary of the required specifications for external monitors:
- Support for the HDR10 standard
- Ingresso video DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, USB-C o ThunderBolt
One of the following abbreviations must be present on the packaging or on the technical data sheet:
- AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
- Dolby Vision
- NVIDIA G-SYNC ULTIMATE
- VESA DisplayHDR
On desktop computers the video card is also very important for correct reproduction of the HDR stream; in this regard we invite you to read the guide above how to choose the video card for your PC graphics.
2) How to check HDR support on Windows
To check for yourself the support for HDR technology on Windows, press WIN+I on the keyboard and go to the menu Systemwe press on the item Screenwe select the item Advanced screen settings and check the information on the display or external monitor connected (Screen information).
Let’s check the voice now Color space: if we find the indication SDR your monitor and/or PC do not support HDR; if instead we find HDR we are already using HDR at that precise moment. On HDR monitors we will also find the voice HDR certifiedwhich provides a further indication of the HDR capabilities of the external monitor, useful for understanding whether we can activate HDR.
Another check can be carried out by taking us along the route Settings -> System -> Display -> Use HDR and checking the items under the section Screen features.
On some monitors we can also play HDR video streams without necessarily having to support the entire technology in the system; in this case it will be enough to take us in Settings -> System -> Display and verify that the entry is present HDR Video Stream -> Supported.
3) How to activate HDR on Windows
Activating HDR on Windows is really very simple, whatever the type of display or monitor connected. To proceed, press WIN+I on the keyboard and open the menu Systemlet’s get on the path Screen and activate the switch next to the item USA HDR.
The screen should flash or turn off for a few seconds, and then start up with the new dynamic range active for the entire operating system and for every program we start. To turn it off, simply repeat the steps above and deactivate the switch next to the item USA HDR.
Opening the menu USA HDR we can also activate the voice HDR video stream (to play only videos and streaming sites in HDR) and adjust the brightness added by HDR by turning the item off Automatic HDR and moving the slide immediately below the item.
4) Alternative HDR modes on Windows
If our PC or notebook does not support HDR, we can still benefit from the extended dynamic range by purchasing external monitors that support HDR.Virtual HDRin which the monitor itself expands the dynamic range of the original SDR video stream with satisfactory results.
The best monitors that support virtual HDR are:
- MSI G321CUV 31.5″
- LG 27GP850P UltraGear
- ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQA1A Monitor Gaming 27”
- BenQ PD2700U 27” 4K
- Samsung Monitor Gaming Odyssey G7
To learn more we can read our guides on how to choose the monitor based on use come on how to connect a monitor to a laptop.
Conclusions
HDR mode gives a brighter and more detailed screen while we use games, programs and view photos, but the colors can be a little too rich and bright; the advice is to use it with games and streaming services that support it, leaving it deactivated if we need to edit the photos or images (given that the colors will be altered if the photo is not HDR).
On HDR we can read the guides on how to use HDR technology and differences between HDR10 and Dolby Vision come on how to correct photos that are too light or too dark (HDR images).