Should HDR be on or off on TV?
Jessica Wood
Updated on January 17, 2026
HDR can deliver brighter highlights, as seen on the TV on the right. Keep in mind that with the non-HDR screen you're reading this on, the brighter highlights won't appear as bright to you. HDR, or high-dynamic range, can elevate the image of your TV to an entirely new level.
What is HDR on a TV?
HDR (High Dynamic Range) improves the contrast between very dark and very light colours on a TV screen. HDR technology means you can see everything happening on screen the way it was intended, with true-to-life colours, shadows and detail – giving the ultimate TV viewing experience.Do I need HDR on?
Almost all new TVs support HDR, so if you're buying a TV, you should definitely get one with HDR support. However, just how good HDR image quality will be on your TV will depend on its peak brightness, contrast ratio, and color gamut.Is HDR better than normal?
High Dynamic Range (HDR) is the next generation of color clarity and realism in images and videos. Ideal for media that require high contrast or mix light and shadows, HDR preserves the clarity better than Standard Dynamic Range (SDR).Can you turn HDR on and off?
On the HDR settings screen, Display capabilities says Supported next to Use HDR, but the Use HDR toggle can't be turned on or off. On HDR-capable laptops, the default power settings will turn off HDR when running on battery power.Here's Why You Should Turn Off HDR On Your TV
Can I leave HDR on all the time?
Now that you've confirmed HDR is working in Windows, you have two choices: you can either leave HDR on all the time, or you can manually turn it on before you hop into an HDR-capable game or movie.Is HDR darker?
HDR video always looks dark compared to non-HDR. I'm watching on a TCL Roku TV that has HDR. I know the HDR on the TV is active because it has a little pop-up in the corner that says HDR when playback in plex starts.Why do my HDR images look bad?
Common HDR IssuesFlattening the image by reducing the contrast between the original bright and dark areas is often bad practice. It makes the image look less natural, difficult to understand and not really appealing. A flat HDR shows very little contrast across the scene and looks fake.