Windows HDR on 24/7

[GamerLCD]

Finally got the F variant of the Alienware QD-OLED.I’m using the HDR-1000 mode.

 

One thing I was curious about was whether or not it hurts the monitor to keep the Windows11 HDR mode on for casual desktop/web use, or if you should keep it off unless you’re gaming. 
 

I know it has a 3 year warranty but I’m not trying to damage this gorgeous display. It just looks so amazing

[Thomas4]

Turn it off, you'll save a little on your electricity bill.

[BiotechBen]

Unless you NEED web browsing and desktop to be HDR, only turn on HDR when it's gonna be a benefit.

[GamerLCD]

Well I pretty much always have a game running on the Alienware and I use a secondary monitor for my videos and web browsing. 
 

Do you know if there’s a way to program a hot key or shortcut in Windows 11 to automatically turn HDR off when I don’t need it without having to go into the menu every time? 

[Andrewtst]

No impact and I had use before 4 HDR monitor and 1 HDR TV, all always set HDR output and so far so good, no issue.

 

Also always Windows HDR ON is the only way you can have streaming movies in HDR, example Netflix, YouTube. If you put Windows HDR Off, those streaming services will detect your monitor as SDR and not give you HDR video output. 

 

Also if you want gaming SDR games in HDR, you need to set Windows HDR ON as well. Most SDR games look much better Auto HDR. 

 

Also decent HDR monitor mostly better HDR color out of box than SDR.

 

I also believe HDR is actually much power saving as it did not light on entire screen same nits like SDR. 

[xg32]

if it was fald i'd have no problem leaving it on 24/7, but it's oled so i toggle, 90% of the time it's off

[Stahlmann]

5 hours ago, Thomas4 said:

Turn it off, you'll save a little on your electricity bill.

That's just the case if you configure it wrong. If you use HDR 24/7 you should turn down the SDR/HDR conversion slider to 5-10 (100-200 nits peak brightness for SDR content), so you don't get blinded by 1000 nits every time you open up a white window. If you turn down that slider, the monitor shouldn't use any more power than it would be in SDR displaying the same brightness.

 

4 hours ago, GamerLCD said:

Well I pretty much always have a game running on the Alienware and I use a secondary monitor for my videos and web browsing. 
 

Do you know if there’s a way to program a hot key or shortcut in Windows 11 to automatically turn HDR off when I don’t need it without having to go into the menu every time? 

 Windows+Alt+B is the shortcut to toggle HDR. I'd advise you to leave it on 24/7 as OLED displays typically don't have any problems with that. But if you have washed out colors etc. then just use the toggle shortcut and enable it when you need it.

[GoodBytes]

18 hours ago, Stahlmann said:

 

 Windows+Alt+B is the shortcut to toggle HDR. I'd advise you to leave it on 24/7 as OLED displays typically don't have any problems with that. But if you have washed out colors etc. then just use the toggle shortcut and enable it when you need it.

Windows 11 has a calibration tool, so before turning it off, you can use that to help and adjust the colors. Worth trying.

[Stahlmann]

5 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Windows 11 has a calibration tool, so before turning it off, you can use that to help and adjust the colors. Worth trying.

Might be worth trying. In my case the calibration tool doesn't do anything. Moving the saturation slider doesn't change the saturation at all. And if you can somehow get it to work, all it does is create an ICC profile which isn't supported by most apps anyway. I hoped for a more "integrated" solution than an ICC profile.

[Nick Brennan]

The calibration tool made my hdr pop in win 11. Was dull and flat before. After the calibration tool in the windows store, everything is bright and vibrant on the desktop. Worked really well for me. My monitor is a QN90B 43inch mini led TV.

[DSD27]

Windows calibration tool made my HDR400 look actually good and worth using. And SDR content even looks right with it On.