Microsoft is bringing the Xbox Series X|S’s Auto HDR feature to games running on Windows 10 PCs, starting with a preview that’s currently available for Windows Insiders.
Auto HDR is an impressive AI feature Microsoft implemented into the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and although it’s not quite the same as native HDR support, it still offers much richer and more immersive visuals for games running in SDR. Auto HDR is also used in some older titles, which were developed before HDR was even a thing, to elevate the game’s overall visual quality.
Now, Auto HDR is coming to Windows PCs and, when enabled and paired with an HDR monitor, this feature will be applied to over 1,000 DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 titles.
The feature is currently only available to Windows Insiders who are running build 21337 or above. To get access to Auto HDR, you can sign up for the Window Insider Program over on the Microsoft website.
Once you’re in the Insider Program and your PC monitor is configured to use HDR, Auto HDR will automatically be applied to games compatible with the feature. Here are Microsoft’s instructions for enabling and disabling Auto HDR:
Enabling
- Open Settings, then go to System->Display
- Click the Windows HD Color Settings link
- Scroll down and make sure that the Use HDR toggle is On
- Keep scrolling, and you will find the Auto HDR toggle. Flip this to On as well, and that’s it. It’s that simple.
Disabling
- Open Settings, then go to System->Display
- Click the Windows HD Color Settings link
- Scroll down, and you will find the Auto HDR toggle. Flip this to Off.