Best TV settings for HDR gaming on Xbox

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It is a technology developed to improve image and video quality. Some of you might be familiar with the term HDR. Today, this technology is widely used in cameras, smartphones, and TVs. The aim of HDR technology is to create an image closer to what the human eye sees. Photos taken with HDR mode enabled are clearer than those taken with HDR mode disabled. This is because the HDR technology produces the photograph by balancing its darkest and brightest parts. HDR technology also has applications in the gaming sector. Playing a game on an HDR-capable TV definitely boosts the gaming experience. This article talks about how to configure the best HDR settings for gaming Xbox on TV.

How to configure best HDR settings for gaming on Xbox on TV

If you configure the correct HDR settings for gaming on your Xbox One TV, you will not have to adjust the brightness and contrast levels repeatedly for darker and brighter environments in a game. Here are some suggestions that you can follow to configure the best HDR settings for gaming Xbox on TV.

We will discuss the following:

1. How to set up HDR TV for gaming Xbox
2. How to set up Auto HDR for gaming Xbox
3. Different HDR settings in an HDR TV for gaming Xbox

Let’s start.

1] How to set up HDR TV for gaming Xbox

To set up your HDR TV for gaming with Xbox, try different picture settings with HDR mode enabled on your TV.  The menu settings vary by TV model. To calibrate the correct HDR settings on your TV for gaming Xbox, you can use the Xbox HDR Game Calibration app. The steps to use the Xbox game Calibration app are as follows:

1. Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
2. Now, go to “Profile & system > Settings > General.”
3. Now, select TV & display options.
4. There, you will see the Calibrate HDR for games option.

Now, you can adjust the HDR picture settings to set up your HDR TV for Xbox gaming. Do note that when setting up your TV for HDR gaming, it should be in HDR mode.

2] How to set up Auto HDR for gaming Xbox

Auto HDR is a feature that provides more defined, higher-resolution images in games than they were originally designed for. Only the Xbox Series X|S supports the Auto HDR feature. Also, your TV should support HDR10 to use the Auto HDR feature on Xbox Series X|S. To use the Auto HDR feature on your TV, follow the instructions provided below:

1. Enable the HDR10 feature on your TV.
2. Press the Xbox button on your Console to open the guide.
3. Go to “Profile & system > Settings > General > TV & display options.”
4. Now, select the Video modes option and then turn on the Auto HDR. Also, enable the Allow 4K, Allow HDR10, and/or Allow Dolby Vision options.

Do note that not all games support the Auto HDR feature. To see whether your game supports Auto HDR, first enable Auto HDR on your gaming console, then launch the game. Now, press the Xbox button. If the game supports this feature, you will see an Auto HDR badge in the top-right corner of the interface.

Read: How to enable HDR Playback for Video Streaming apps

3] Different HDR settings in an HDR TV for gaming Xbox

If you want to have the best HDR gaming experience on your TV, tweak the following settings on your HDR TV:

• Brightness: In order to get the best HDR gaming experience on your TV, set the HDR brightness level of your TV to the maximum. Some TVs come with a built-in light sensor that adjusts the screen brightness according to the light intensity in your environment. If your TV has a light sensor, disable the automatic brightness settings.
• Local dimming setting: The local dimming settings in HDR TVs improves the contrast ratio by making the dark colors appear darker and deeper. You will find this setting under different names in different HDR TV models. To get the best HDR experience in gaming, it is recommended that you enable this setting on your TV.
• Color: The look of an image is affected by the color temperature on a TV. This setting is often called color tone or color temperature (depending on the model of your HDR TV) and has options such as cool, C10, Warm1, W10, etc. If you want the best HDR gaming experience, use Warm1, W10, or normal color settings on your HDR TV.
• Sharpness: Enabling the sharpness on your HDR TV could lead to unnecessary sharp edges that affect the HDR content. Hence, it is recommended to disable the sharpness settings on your HDR TV to get the best HDR gaming experience.

read: How to check If HDR is supported on a Windows 11 PC.

How do I make my Xbox HDR look better?

You can make your Xbox HDR look better by calibrating the HDR settings correctly. For this purpose, you can use the Xbox game calibration app. By using this app, you can configure the best HDR settings on your HDR TV for Xbox gaming.

Is HDR good for gaming?

HDR technology produces a clearer image. If you capture an image with HDR enabled on your camera, you will see the darker and brighter parts of the image more clearly. The purpose of HDR technology is to create more realistic images. HDR is good for gaming. If you want to enjoy a better gaming experience, you should play your games with HDR enabled. If you enable HDR mode, you will get a more diverse contrast in the darker environments in your game.

Read next: How to configure the best FPS settings for gaming on a PC.