Windows 10 HDR problems in full screen.

I think I cracked it. (repost from my GeForce forum post)

After numerous rebuilds or different versions of windows 10, drivers, settings and all combinations of them. The fix in the end was to enable desktop sizing in the Nvidia CP and drop the width by the smallest setting. 3802 x 2160 instead of the default 3840 x 2160. Then ensure the games are still running in the old default 3840 x 2160. No drop of brightness or colour. HDR stays active on every single game now past or present.

Bizarre how this works as I tried a ton of different resolutions but I'm not complaining, It now running exactly how I wanted it when I bought it.

Hope this helps others with a similar issue.

Finally found someone with the same issue as me and I've tried so many things to resolve it. 

After several complete reinstalls of Windows (even purposefully download 1803 instead of 1809) I still couldn't crack it. Tried every potential fix and tweak out there.

The only workaround I found was on build 1803 if I use the display settings in windows and change the scale to anything else (even by 1%), apply. It then says the changes won't take effect until the next sign out. For some reason, all games work in hdr until I reboot/sign out! After a reboot, I would have to repeat the process each time.

Sadly, windows update kicked in (forgot to disable) and it "upgraded" to 1809. Now my workaround doesn't work. And even after a roll back, the workaround is busted. Looks like the 5th windows reinstall is incoming.

I'm tempted to get an even older version, 1709 maybe and try that, but I think the 2070 drivers mat not be compatible.

Please let me know if you find anything more!

Hi Willy,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

In order to get clarity on this issue and assist you with appropriate troubleshooting steps, please reply with the answers to the questions below.

1. Are you facing this issue with a particular game or all the games?
2. Are the colors washed out in the game?
3. How do you get to know that HDR mode gets disabled?

Meanwhile, try the below methods and check if this helps.

Method 1: Update Graphics Card Drivers.

Try updating the Display Drivers, restart the computer once after updating the drivers, and check for the issue.

Method 2: HDR and WCG color settings in Windows 10.

Try the troubleshooting steps mentioned in HDR and WCG color settings in Windows 10 and check if this helps.

Also, please refer to the section Display requirements for HDR in Windows 10 from the above article to check the compatibility of your monitor for HDR.

Method 3: Reduce Frame Rate.

Step 1: Go to Settings > System  > Display  > Advanced display settings > Display adapter properties.

Step 2: Switch to Monitor tab > Select 30 Hertz for the Screen refresh rate and click on OK.

Step 3: If you cannot find the option to change Frame Rate, reduce resolution by going to Display adapter properties, switch to Adapter tab, and select List All Modes.

Step 4: In List All Modes, select the setting that includes 1920 by 1080, 60 Hertz, then select OK.

Step 5: Once you make the changes, restart the computer once and check for the issue.

Give it a shot and let us know of any changes.

Hope it helps.

Hello moderator

1. Its all the games I own that don't support HDR10. Basically when I full screen on a non-HDR game, the screen goes black for a few seconds and HDR gets disabled and all the colors looked washed out (Like its in SDR)

I took 2 screenshots, One is in window mode, the other is in full screen

Windowed mode (HDR on) : https://imgur.com/a/fm6K21X

Full screen mode (HDR off) : https://imgur.com/a/76e4qLN

2. Yes SDR looks washed out. I want to play my games in full screen and in HDR. Playing in windowed mode is a nightmare
3. I know because the monitor goes black for a few seconds and all the colors look washed out (As shown in the screenshots)

Sadly the fixes did not work :( 

I updated the GPU drivers via GeForce Experience app.

My Monitor does support 4k HDR10

I tried lower the resolution and the refresh rate but that did not work.

Here is a video of my problem

YouTube Link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ftp-fTZ1ys

Time Stamps :

0:00 HDR mode is on everything looks fine (In the video, when it looks high contrast, that means HDR is on)

0:35 I full screen the game. If you notice the high contrast is no longer there, the colors are washed out

0:46 I disable full screen and HDR mode is back on

*HDR looks high contrast, Ignore that, that's just the video itself.

Im also using windows 10 64bit 1809

I just upgraded to 1809 and i have the same problem. Also when i play Devil May Cry 5 in HRD game for some reason goes into window mode after 20 minutes and i loose Hdr and when i go into windows10 Settings i see HDR disabled. Windows 10 1809 is garbage

Hi Willy,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

In order to get clarity on this issue and assist you with appropriate troubleshooting steps, please reply with the answers to the questions below.

1. Are you facing this issue with a particular game or all the games?
2. Are the colors washed out in the game?
3. How do you get to know that HDR mode gets disabled?

Meanwhile, try the below methods and check if this helps.

Method 1: Update Graphics Card Drivers.

Try updating the Display Drivers, restart the computer once after updating the drivers, and check for the issue.

Method 2: HDR and WCG color settings in Windows 10.

Try the troubleshooting steps mentioned in HDR and WCG color settings in Windows 10 and check if this helps.

Also, please refer to the section Display requirements for HDR in Windows 10 from the above article to check the compatibility of your monitor for HDR.

Method 3: Reduce Frame Rate.

Step 1: Go to Settings > System  > Display  > Advanced display settings > Display adapter properties.

Step 2: Switch to Monitor tab > Select 30 Hertz for the Screen refresh rate and click on OK.

Step 3: If you cannot find the option to change Frame Rate, reduce resolution by going to Display adapter properties, switch to Adapter tab, and select List All Modes.

Step 4: In List All Modes, select the setting that includes 1920 by 1080, 60 Hertz, then select OK.

Step 5: Once you make the changes, restart the computer once and check for the issue.

Give it a shot and let us know of any changes.

Hope it helps.