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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallNVIDIA RTX HDR is a driver-and-app filter that converts a game’s standard dynamic range (SDR) output into an HDR-treated image on a compatible display. It can be useful for games without built-in HDR, but it does not add native HDR support or guarantee the same result across games. To use it, you need a supported GeForce RTX GPU, Windows 11 with HDR enabled, and an HDR 400-or-higher monitor.
What NVIDIA RTX HDR does
NVIDIA introduced RTX HDR with its February 22, 2024 Game Ready Driver and NVIDIA App beta. The feature applies an AI-powered Freestyle filter to SDR game output so it can be shown with HDR treatment on an HDR-capable display. NVIDIA described it as a way to add HDR to SDR games. NVIDIA’s launch announcement explains the feature.
RTX HDR is a post-process filter, not a change to the game itself. It does not make a game a native HDR title, and it cannot guarantee the same image quality as HDR authored by the game’s developers. NVIDIA has not published a universal quality score for RTX HDR across games.
RTX HDR is also distinct from NVIDIA RTX Video HDR, which applies HDR treatment to video playback. The game filter is enabled through the NVIDIA App overlay or its per-game graphics settings. NVIDIA’s App FAQ describes the current requirements.
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What you need to use RTX HDR
NVIDIA’s current requirements specify the following setup:
- Windows: Windows 11 version 22H2, build 22621, or newer.
- GPU: A GeForce RTX 20-series GPU or newer. RTX HDR requires single-GPU operation; SLI is not supported.
- Display: An HDR 400-or-higher monitor.
- Windows HDR: HDR must be enabled at Settings > System > Display > Use HDR.
- Driver: NVIDIA driver 565.90 or newer.
- Game API: DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 11, DirectX 12, or Vulkan. OpenGL is not supported.
- Game and Windows HDR features: Turn off the game’s own HDR mode and Windows Auto HDR while using RTX HDR.
- Display mode: Use fullscreen or exclusive fullscreen. For borderless windowed play, enable Windows Optimizations for windowed games.
NVIDIA says RTX HDR and RTX Dynamic Vibrance use Tensor Cores on RTX GPUs to accelerate their AI-powered filters. A supported GPU alone is not enough: Windows HDR, a suitable monitor, a compatible driver, and the right game and display settings are also required. See NVIDIA’s NVIDIA App FAQ for the requirement list.
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How to turn on RTX HDR
- Install a current NVIDIA driver and the NVIDIA App. The driver must be version 565.90 or newer.
- On Windows, open Settings > System > Display and turn on Use HDR.
- Launch a game that uses DirectX 9, 10, 11, 12, or Vulkan. Turn off the game’s native HDR setting and Windows Auto HDR.
- Open the NVIDIA overlay with Alt+Z, select Game Filter, and enable RTX HDR.
- Alternatively, enable RTX HDR for the game in its graphics settings in the NVIDIA App.
If you play in borderless windowed mode, also enable Windows Optimizations for windowed games. The filter is intended for SDR output; enabling the game’s own HDR mode at the same time can conflict with that use.
How RTX HDR compares with native HDR and Windows Auto HDR
| Option | How it works | Compatibility and setup |
|---|---|---|
| Native game HDR | The game is authored to render in HDR and can provide controls designed for its own implementation. | Only available in games that include HDR support. Turn it off if you want to use RTX HDR instead. |
| NVIDIA RTX HDR | A post-process filter applies HDR treatment to SDR game output. | Requires a compatible RTX GPU, Windows 11, Windows HDR, an HDR 400-or-higher monitor, and a supported API. Windows Auto HDR and the game’s native HDR should be off. |
| Windows Auto HDR | Windows applies its own HDR treatment to supported SDR games. | It is a separate Windows feature; disable it when using RTX HDR. |
The key distinction is where the HDR treatment comes from: native HDR is part of the game, while RTX HDR is generated after the game produces SDR output. Neither the available evidence nor NVIDIA’s published material establishes that one approach will look best in every game.
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Game and display compatibility
Games without built-in HDR
RTX HDR is designed for SDR games, including titles that do not offer a native HDR mode. NVIDIA says it can bring HDR to thousands of SDR games. Its 2024 figure that only 12 of the top 50 most-played GeForce games offered HDR support is NVIDIA’s own published count, not an independent compatibility survey. NVIDIA’s October 2024 App update discusses the feature and its expansion.
Supported graphics APIs
DirectX 9, 10, 11, 12, and Vulkan are listed as supported. OpenGL is not. A game’s API matters even if its graphics settings or storefront do not clearly advertise HDR compatibility.
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Multi-monitor PCs
NVIDIA added multi-monitor support in its October 1, 2024 NVIDIA App update. This requires the October 1, 2024 or later GeForce Game Ready Driver. NVIDIA’s update announcement gives the timing for this support.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why RTX HDR may be unavailable or greyed out
Check the prerequisites in this order if the filter cannot be enabled:
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- Check Windows HDR: Confirm that Use HDR is enabled in Windows Display settings.
- Check the display: The connected monitor must meet NVIDIA’s HDR 400-or-higher requirement.
- Check the GPU and driver: RTX HDR requires a GeForce RTX 20-series-or-newer GPU and driver 565.90 or newer. SLI is unsupported.
- Check the game’s API: The game must use DirectX 9, 10, 11, 12, or Vulkan; OpenGL games are not supported.
- Turn off competing HDR modes: Disable the game’s own HDR mode and Windows Auto HDR.
- Check the display mode: Use fullscreen or exclusive fullscreen. If using borderless windowed mode, turn on Windows Optimizations for windowed games.
- For multi-monitor setups: Make sure you have the NVIDIA App update and Game Ready Driver released on or after October 1, 2024.
What to expect from the image
An HDR 400-or-higher label is a stated compatibility requirement, not a promise that every monitor will deliver the same result. Display brightness and overall monitor performance influence what you see. Because RTX HDR transforms SDR output rather than using HDR created by the game, image control and appearance can vary from title to title; adjust expectations accordingly rather than assuming it will match native HDR.
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