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Start by identifying what looks washed out: Kodi’s home-screen graphics, the on-screen display (OSD) or subtitles over HDR video, gray-looking blacks, or the video itself. Then check Kodi’s HDR GUI brightness controls and color-range setting. These address different problems, and neither is a universal fix: on Linux, the result can also depend on Kodi’s build, renderer, GPU, compositor, and display chain.
First identify where the problem appears
“Washed out” can describe several different faults. A pale or over-bright menu points toward HDR GUI luminance; blacks that look gray point toward a color-range mismatch; a problem limited to HDR playback may involve display-mode switching or tone mapping. Linux also has a documented limitation affecting Kodi’s menus during HDR playback. Work out which case matches before changing settings.
| What you see | First place to investigate | What the distinction tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Kodi’s home screen looks pale or too bright before a video starts | HDR GUI brightness controls in System > Display | This is a GUI-brightness question, not necessarily a playback problem. |
| OSD menus or subtitles look wrong only over HDR video | HDR GUI controls, then Linux HDR/OSD limitations | Menus and subtitles are SDR-origin graphics being shown while HDR media plays. |
| Blacks look gray, or the image lacks proper black levels | Use limited colour range (16-235) and the connected display’s range mode | Color-range mismatch is separate from HDR GUI luminance. |
| Only the video looks washed out, especially on an SDR display | Playback HDR mode and the Linux HDR-to-SDR path | Changing home-screen GUI brightness may not affect video tone mapping. |
| The defect appears or disappears when HDR starts or stops | Compare Kodi’s HDR mode behavior and the full display/rendering chain | The change may be tied to playback mode rather than the static home screen. |
For a clean comparison, check the home screen with no video playing, start the same HDR title and inspect the video and its OSD separately, then stop playback and check the home screen again. Note whether HDR is active in each state. This simple sequence helps distinguish a persistent GUI issue from one triggered by HDR playback.
Be specific about what “washed out” means as you compare. Pale GUI graphics are not the same as black levels that are lifted to gray, and neither description necessarily means the video itself has incorrect color. Likewise, LibreELEC’s documented description of bright, saturated menus during HDR playback is visually different from every pale-menu complaint. Naming the affected element and state gives you a useful starting point rather than a vague overall impression.
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If more than one element looks wrong, treat each as a separate observation. For example, a home screen that looks pale with HDR active, gray blacks on a PC monitor, and a washed-out HDR film on an SDR display could involve more than one setting or platform limitation. Do not assume one adjustment should correct all three. Compare like with like: the same menu, video, display mode, and playback state before and after each change.
Adjust Kodi’s HDR GUI brightness controls
Kodi’s official display-settings guidance documents two Expert-level controls relevant to SDR-origin graphics in HDR PQ mode: Use system HDR/SDR brightness balance and GUI peak luminance in HDR PQ mode. The graphics include the GUI, OSD and subtitles. These settings are the most relevant first check when the menu itself looks too bright or washed out while HDR is active.
- Open Settings > System > Display.
- Change the settings level to Expert, if needed, so the advanced display controls are visible.
- Find the HDR section and inspect Use system HDR/SDR brightness balance.
- If that option is enabled, Kodi follows the system’s HDR/SDR brightness-balance setting for HDR-mode GUI brightness. Adjust the system balance gradually, then compare the menu with the display still in the same HDR state.
- If the option is disabled, inspect GUI peak luminance in HDR PQ mode. This value sets the maximum brightness for the GUI in that mode. Change it gradually and compare, rather than assuming a particular percentage is correct for every display.
Do not treat these controls as video-brightness or color-range controls. They govern SDR-origin graphics in HDR PQ mode. If the defect is visible only in the video picture, or if the blacks are gray, use the relevant playback or range checks below instead of repeatedly changing GUI luminance.
Make one controlled change at a time. First note the current state of the system balance option and the GUI peak-luminance value, then change only the relevant control. Keep HDR active in the same way while comparing the menu, because changing between HDR and SDR states can alter the conditions you are testing. If the menu looks better but the video does not change, that is useful evidence that you have isolated a GUI issue rather than corrected video mapping.
There is no single correct peak-luminance percentage in Kodi’s guidance for every display. The setting describes a maximum for the GUI in HDR PQ mode, while the system-balance option delegates GUI brightness behavior to the system setting when enabled. The practical target is a menu that is comfortable and legible on your display, not a value copied from another computer. A value that appears suitable in one display chain is not established as the right value for another.
If the HDR controls are missing
Kodi’s wiki says the HDR settings are hidden when the full video chain does not support HDR. If you do not see the controls after switching the settings level to Expert, do not assume that you missed an ordinary brightness slider. Check whether HDR is exposed through the connected display, driver, Kodi build and rendering path. Record those details before trying a different package or renderer; a setting absent from the interface cannot be adjusted there.
The missing controls are themselves a clue. They do not prove which component is responsible, but they indicate that checking the whole chain is more useful than continuing to search for a hidden menu item. Note the display and its connection, the Kodi package and version, the GPU and driver, and the rendering/session details available to you. If HDR is only active during playback, record that too; a hidden setting and a playback-only HDR transition are distinct facts that can help narrow the next test.
Check the color range if blacks look gray
The setting Use limited colour range (16-235) concerns the video/display color range, not the brightness balance of HDR menus. Kodi’s guidance distinguishes between an ordinary HDMI television without a PC or full-range mode and a PC monitor:
| Connected display and mode | Kodi guidance | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Regular HDMI TV without a full-range or PC mode | Limited range (16-235) is appropriate | Check that Kodi and the TV are not using mismatched range expectations. |
| PC monitor | Disable limited range for correct blacks | Confirm the monitor and Kodi are configured consistently for the available range. |
If blacks look gray, Kodi advises looking for a color-space mismatch somewhere in the Kodi-to-hardware-to-TV chain. The right setting therefore depends on the display and its mode. Do not apply “always full range” or “always limited” as a blanket fix, and do not expect a range change to correct an over-bright menu caused by HDR GUI luminance.
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Use the display type and its available mode to choose a diagnostic direction, not a universal rule detached from the hardware. A regular HDMI TV that lacks a PC/full-range mode is the case for which Kodi says limited range is appropriate. Kodi’s guidance for a PC monitor is to disable limited range for correct blacks. If you are unsure which mode the connected display is using, first identify whether it is a TV or monitor and whether a full-range/PC mode is available, then check that Kodi and the display are not expecting different ranges.
Color range is especially easy to confuse with overall brightness because both can make an image look flat. The useful clue here is the black level: Kodi specifically points to gray blacks as a reason to investigate a color-space mismatch in the chain from Kodi through the hardware to the television. If the main complaint is instead that the menu is too bright while the rest of the picture has acceptable black levels, return to the HDR GUI controls rather than using the limited-range toggle as a brightness slider.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSeparate playback HDR behavior from the home-screen problem
If the symptom starts only when a video plays, inspect Settings > Player > Videos > Adjust display HDR mode. Kodi describes this as a playback behavior choice:
- On: Kodi can switch the screen’s HDR mode to match the media.
- Off: Kodi respects the current HDR mode and applies tone mapping as needed.
This option is about matching playback and display mode; it is not a universal fix for a washed-out home menu. Check whether the option is available on your platform and whether the connected screen supports HDR. Compare the result during playback, and keep the home-screen check separate so a playback-only change is not mistaken for a GUI fix.
Think of this as a question about what Kodi should do when media starts, not a general color correction. With the option on, the application can change the screen’s HDR mode to match the media. With it off, Kodi respects the mode already in place and applies tone mapping as needed. A difference between those choices may help explain why the video changes when playback begins, but it does not by itself explain a home menu that is consistently pale before and after playback.
When testing this setting, use the same HDR title and observe the video and the OSD separately. Note whether the display changes HDR state and whether the symptom follows that transition. Also check whether Kodi exposes the option at all: Kodi’s description is relevant only where the platform makes the setting available and the connected screen supports HDR. If the control is unavailable, continue with the GUI, color-range, and configuration checks that apply to the symptom you can actually observe.
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Understand the Linux OSD limitation during HDR playback
LibreELEC’s 4K/HDR documentation says Kodi on Linux does not support HDR-to-SDR conversion and cannot present OSD menus in SDR while HDR media is playing. It describes bright, saturated menus during HDR playback. That documented symptom is not identical to every user’s description of “washed out,” which is why the home screen, playback OSD, subtitles and video should be assessed separately.
This limitation matters most when the menu looks wrong only while HDR media is on screen. Kodi’s HDR GUI controls may help tune SDR-origin graphics in HDR PQ mode, but the LibreELEC documentation does not promise that those controls can make the OSD appear in SDR during HDR playback. If the issue is confined to overlays during HDR video, record it as a playback OSD case rather than treating it as proof that the static home menu has the same fault.
The same LibreELEC documentation describes muted or washed-out HDR video on a non-HDR TV as a separate HDR-to-SDR problem. If the video is the affected part, changing menu luminance is unlikely to resolve the cause. Keep video mapping, GUI brightness and color-range mismatch as distinct diagnostic tracks.
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Check the Linux build and rendering path before changing packages
Linux HDR behavior can vary with the Kodi build and package source, renderer, GPU and driver, session/compositor, and connected display. Capture the configuration before testing a different build so that a result can be tied to the setup that produced it.
- Linux distribution and version.
- Kodi version and package source, including whether Kodi is installed as a Flatpak.
- Renderer/build details, including GL or GLES where known.
- GPU and driver.
- Session and compositor: Wayland, X11 or GBM, where relevant.
- Connected display, and whether it is a TV or PC monitor.
- Whether HDR is active on Kodi’s home screen or only during playback.
- Whether the issue affects GUI graphics, playback OSD/subtitles, blacks, video, or more than one of these.
A 2024 Flathub issue records a specific GBM/Intel N100 configuration where changing from a GL to a GLES build enabled HDR switching. A later comment says that contributor initially lost VAAPI hardware decoding, with 4K/60 playback lagging until they adjusted the build. This is a configuration-specific report, not a general recommendation to switch renderers: it shows that a rendering change can have trade-offs as well as an effect on HDR switching.
If you compare packages or rendering options, change one variable at a time and repeat the same home-screen and playback checks. Note whether HDR switching changes, whether the menu changes, and whether hardware decoding or playback smoothness changes. Do not assume a GL/GLES switch is supported or beneficial on another distribution, GPU, driver or session.
The Flatpak report is useful as a lead only when the setup is meaningfully comparable: it involved GBM, an Intel N100, and a GL-to-GLES build change. Even in that report, the contributor described a cost: VAAPI hardware decoding was initially lost, and 4K/60 playback lagged until the build was adjusted. That trade-off is a reason to avoid copying the renderer change blindly. A change that enables HDR switching can still affect another part of playback.
For a useful comparison, record the original configuration and outcome before testing anything else. Then note exactly what changed—package, renderer/build, or another component—and repeat the same test: home screen, HDR playback video, playback OSD/subtitles, and home screen again after stopping. If playback becomes less smooth or hardware decoding behavior changes, include that result alongside the HDR result. Without those observations, it is easy to mistake a configuration-specific workaround for a general Linux fix.
There is no evidence here for a universal supported renderer change, a required GPU upgrade, or a cable replacement. The supported troubleshooting path is to identify the affected part and document the build, graphics, session, and display chain. Only then does a comparison with another package or renderer provide a meaningful result for that particular setup.
Check Kodi release notes, with beta status in mind
Version can matter because Kodi’s release notes include HDR fixes, but those fixes have defined scopes and do not establish a universal cure for washed-out menus.
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| Release information | Documented HDR changes | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Kodi 21.2 Omega | Release notes include fixes for HDR passthrough and HDR-to-SDR tone mapping with partial or missing display metadata on GL/GLES platforms. | These address particular playback and metadata cases; they are not a blanket menu-brightness fix. |
| Kodi 22 Piers Beta 2, announced September 5, 2026 | The beta announcement lists HDR screenshots enabled, HDR-to-SDR colorimetry fixed, stale HDR metadata fixes and other HDR changes. | It is a beta announcement, and the listed improvements do not promise a fix for this exact Linux menu symptom. The announcement also warns that beta builds may still have bugs. |
Check the version actually installed and the notes for that release and package. A fix for passthrough, metadata or colorimetry may be relevant to a particular playback defect without affecting the home-screen GUI. If considering a beta, weigh its stated HDR changes against the possibility of unresolved bugs; do not treat a release announcement as confirmation that a specific configuration is fixed.
Kodi 21.2 Omega’s notes are relevant if the issue is tied to HDR passthrough or HDR-to-SDR tone mapping in a GL/GLES situation involving partial or missing display metadata. They are narrower than a general promise that the GUI will look correct. Similarly, Kodi 22 Piers Beta 2 lists HDR-related work, including HDR-to-SDR colorimetry, but that is not evidence that the beta fixes every Linux menu or OSD complaint.
The Kodi 22 Piers Beta 2 announcement was published on September 5, 2026, and identifies the build as a beta. The announcement notes that beta builds may still contain bugs. Treat its feature list as release context, not as a guarantee: a beta may be worth comparing for a specific HDR problem, but a listed colorimetry or metadata fix does not establish that your GUI brightness, color-range mismatch, compositor, or playback OSD limitation is resolved.
When checking an update, compare the exact Kodi version and package source, then repeat the same symptom test. If a new build changes video tone mapping but leaves the home menu unchanged, that points toward distinct playback and GUI behavior rather than a failed test. If the package changes renderer or platform behavior as well as version, record both; otherwise, it will be difficult to tell which part of the change mattered.
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A practical troubleshooting order
Use this sequence to avoid changing unrelated controls and losing track of what helped:
- Classify the symptom. Check the home screen with no video, then playback video, OSD and subtitles, then the home screen after stopping. Record which elements look wrong and when HDR is active.
- For a pale or over-bright GUI, inspect the HDR section. In Settings > System > Display, set the level to Expert and test the system HDR/SDR brightness balance or GUI peak luminance, according to which control is active.
- For gray blacks, check color range. Match limited range to a regular HDMI TV without a PC/full-range mode; for a PC monitor, Kodi’s guidance is to disable limited range. Consider the entire display chain if the mismatch remains.
- For a playback-only issue, inspect HDR mode behavior. In Settings > Player > Videos > Adjust display HDR mode, determine whether Kodi switches to match media or respects the current HDR mode and tone maps as needed.
- For OSD issues only during HDR video, account for the Linux limitation. LibreELEC documents that Kodi on Linux cannot present those menus in SDR during HDR playback.
- If controls are absent or behavior varies by setup, document the platform. Record distribution, Kodi version/package, renderer, GPU/driver, session/compositor, display, and when HDR is active.
- Only then compare versions or builds. Review the installed release’s notes and, if testing another package or renderer, change one element at a time while checking both HDR behavior and playback trade-offs.
To make the sequence repeatable, keep a short note with the observed symptom, the playback state, whether HDR was active, the setting changed, and the result. If you test a system balance or peak-luminance adjustment, write down which one was active; if you test color range, record whether the display was a TV or monitor and which mode it offered. For a package or renderer comparison, note any change in HDR switching and hardware-decoding or playback behavior as well as menu appearance.
This comparison is more informative than changing several settings together. If you alter GUI luminance, color range, and HDR mode at once, a better-looking picture will not tell you which adjustment mattered. Make the test narrow enough to answer one question: does this change affect the GUI, the black level, the playback video, or only the transition into HDR playback? Repeating the same sequence after a change is a practical way to preserve that distinction.
There is no single percentage, color-range choice, or renderer change established as correct for every Linux HDR setup. The useful result of the sequence is a narrower diagnosis: GUI luminance, range mismatch, playback mode/tone mapping, the HDR OSD limitation, or a configuration-specific rendering/build issue.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do Kodi’s HDR brightness controls not appear?
Kodi’s official wiki says its HDR settings are hidden when the full video chain does not support HDR. First set the display-settings level to Expert. If the controls are still absent, check whether HDR is exposed through the display, driver, Kodi build, and rendering path rather than looking for a standard brightness slider.
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No. Kodi says limited range (16-235) is appropriate for a regular HDMI TV without a full-range or PC mode. For a PC monitor, Kodi recommends disabling limited range for correct blacks. Gray blacks can indicate a mismatch somewhere in the Kodi-to-hardware-to-display chain, so match the setting to the display and its mode.
Can Adjust display HDR mode fix a washed-out home menu?
It is a playback behavior setting, not a universal home-menu fix. When on, Kodi can switch the display HDR mode to match media; when off, it respects the current HDR mode and applies tone mapping as needed. Use it to investigate a playback-only symptom, and check GUI brightness separately for a pale menu.
Why do Kodi menus look bright or saturated only over HDR video?
LibreELEC documents that Kodi on Linux cannot present OSD menus in SDR while HDR media is playing, and describes bright, saturated menus in that situation. That limitation is distinct from a static home-screen brightness problem. Check the home screen before and after playback to see whether the defect is confined to the overlay during HDR video.
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Not necessarily. Team Kodi’s September 5, 2026 announcement lists HDR-related changes, including HDR-to-SDR colorimetry and stale-metadata fixes, but it is a beta announcement and does not promise a general Linux menu fix. A release-note change may address a particular playback case without changing GUI brightness or the Linux OSD limitation.
Is switching from GL to GLES a good general fix?
No universal recommendation is established. A 2024 Flathub issue describes HDR switching enabled by a GL-to-GLES build change on one GBM/Intel N100 setup, but a later comment also reports an initial loss of VAAPI hardware decoding and lag at 4K/60 until the build was adjusted. Treat it as a lead for a comparable setup, not a portable recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Kodi’s HDR brightness controls not appear?
Kodi’s official wiki says HDR settings are hidden when the full video chain does not support HDR. Set the display-settings level to Expert; if the controls remain absent, check the display, driver, Kodi build, and rendering path.
Should I always turn limited color range off?
No. Kodi says limited range (16-235) is appropriate for a regular HDMI TV without a full-range or PC mode. For a PC monitor, Kodi recommends disabling limited range for correct blacks. Match Kodi and the display rather than applying one rule to every setup.
Can Adjust display HDR mode fix a washed-out home menu?
It is a playback behavior setting, not a universal home-menu fix. On lets Kodi switch the display HDR mode to match media; Off respects the current HDR mode and applies tone mapping as needed. Check GUI brightness separately for a pale menu.
Why do Kodi menus look bright or saturated only over HDR video?
LibreELEC documents that Kodi on Linux cannot present OSD menus in SDR while HDR media is playing, and describes bright, saturated menus in that situation. Compare the home screen before and after playback to confirm whether the issue is confined to the HDR overlay.
Will Kodi 22 Piers Beta 2 fix the problem?
Not necessarily. Team Kodi’s September 5, 2026 beta announcement lists HDR-related changes, including HDR-to-SDR colorimetry and stale-metadata fixes, but does not promise a general Linux menu fix. Beta builds may still have bugs.
Is switching from GL to GLES a good general fix?
No. A 2024 Flathub issue describes HDR switching enabled by a GL-to-GLES change on one GBM/Intel N100 setup, but the contributor initially lost VAAPI hardware decoding and saw 4K/60 playback lag until the build was adjusted. It is not a portable recipe.
The Bottom Line
Fix the symptom you actually have: use Kodi’s Expert-level HDR GUI controls for pale menus, check limited range when blacks are gray, and investigate Adjust display HDR mode and tone mapping for playback-only problems. If OSD menus look wrong only during HDR playback, account for LibreELEC’s documented Linux limitation. Record your Kodi build, renderer, GPU/driver, session, and display before testing alternatives; no one brightness value or renderer change is established as a universal fix.
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