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There is no single best Linux HDR preset for Kodi: the right settings depend on Kodi’s build, GPU and driver, display server and compositor, and the connected display. If the whole chain supports HDR and you want the screen to switch modes for HDR titles, start with Player > Videos > Adjust display HDR mode: On. For SDR-origin menus and overlays during HDR playback, start with System > Display > Use system HDR/SDR brightness balance. These are separate controls, so tune them separately.
Start with the HDR path your Linux system actually supports
Kodi can expose HDR controls only when the full chain from the Kodi build through the graphics output to the connected screen supports HDR. A display that advertises HDR by itself is not enough to guarantee that Kodi can switch modes: the GPU, driver, output path, display server or compositor, and Kodi backend also matter.
Version is especially important on Linux. As of October 13, 2026, Kodi’s Linux downloads page lists v21.3 Omega as the recommended build. Kodi 22 Piers prerelease notes announced Linux HDR passthrough on OpenGL and Wayland Color Management protocol support for compatible compositors. That announcement concerns a prerelease; it does not establish that every distribution’s stable Kodi package includes those features. Check the installed version and build, and do not assume that a Kodi 22 Wayland feature applies to every Wayland session.
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Keep the release information in perspective when choosing a guide to follow. A feature announced for Kodi 22 Piers does not automatically describe Kodi 21.3 Omega or a distribution package that may use a different build or backend. The useful question is not just “Which Kodi version is installed?” but whether that particular build, graphics path, session, and compositor expose the feature together. Confirm what Kodi actually offers on your system before relying on a setting described for a prerelease.
Choose how Kodi handles HDR during playback
Go to Player > Videos > Adjust display HDR mode. Choose between asking the display to change mode for HDR media and keeping the display in its existing mode. Neither setting is best for every system; the deciding factor is whether the rest of the Linux setup handles HDR mode changes reliably and whether you want the display to change modes.
| Setting | What it does | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| On | Asks Kodi to switch the display to the HDR mode best matched to the media. | Use this as the starting point when the platform and connected display chain support HDR and mode changes work as intended. |
| Off | Keeps the display in its current HDR or SDR mode; Kodi applies tone mapping as needed. | Choose this when you intentionally want to keep the screen’s current mode or mode switching is unreliable. |
This setting governs display-mode behavior, not the brightness of Kodi’s menu graphics. If playback enters HDR but the interface becomes difficult to read, leave the playback choice alone while you adjust the GUI controls described below. Conversely, changing GUI brightness does not enable HDR output or make a missing HDR mode control appear.
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Set menu, OSD, subtitle, and graphic brightness separately
Go to System > Display. Kodi provides two approaches for SDR-origin GUI elements when the display is in HDR: use the system HDR/SDR brightness balance, or set Kodi’s GUI peak luminance manually. These controls affect interface elements such as menus, the on-screen display (OSD), subtitles, and graphics that originate in SDR; they are not a universal video brightness or HDR-mode switch.
Use the system balance first
Enable Use system HDR/SDR brightness balance if you want the system’s balance control to govern the brightness of SDR-origin GUI elements during HDR. This is a sensible starting point when that system control is available and behaves as expected in your desktop session.
Check the result with the content and viewing conditions you actually use. If menus, subtitles, or overlays are too dim or too bright, turn this option off and try the manual control rather than assuming that a single value suits every screen.
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Use manual GUI peak luminance when needed
With system balance disabled, adjust GUI peak luminance in HDR PQ mode. Kodi’s documentation does not specify one ideal peak-luminance number for all displays. Treat this as a display-specific adjustment: make a change, inspect menu and subtitle legibility during HDR playback, and refine it for your screen and room. Do not copy a number from another setup as though it were a universal calibration.
The practical separation is useful: choose the playback mode according to how your Linux HDR path behaves, then tune the interface for comfortable visibility. Menus that look wrong do not necessarily mean the video’s HDR mode is wrong.
In other words, menu brightness is not a shortcut for correcting the movie image. System HDR/SDR balance and GUI peak luminance target SDR-origin interface content, while Adjust display HDR mode determines whether Kodi asks the display to switch for HDR media. When an HDR picture looks acceptable but the OSD or subtitles do not, keep the investigation focused on the GUI controls. When the menus are readable but the display never changes mode, investigate HDR support and mode selection instead.
Decide whether Kodi should switch refresh rate for video
In Player > Videos, set Adjust display refresh rate to On start/stop if supported hardware and your display can switch modes appropriately. Kodi then changes display mode when playback begins and changes it back when playback ends, allowing output refresh rate to match the video’s frame rate. The display may blank briefly during a switch.
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Kodi marks Always as not recommended. Start with On start/stop rather than forcing mode changes in every situation. If playback stutters or the display blanks in a way that interrupts use, verify that the display supports the requested resolution and refresh rate and that the connected hardware can handle the mode. Kodi’s available display modes depend on the connected screen and hardware.
Refresh matching is a separate decision from HDR switching. On start/stop is about changing the output rate to match a video’s frame rate; it is optional and depends on the modes that the display and hardware can use. If you leave the display at a fixed refresh rate, you may accept cadence judder rather than triggering mode changes. A brief blank during a supported switch is expected, but repeated trouble is a reason to check the requested resolution and refresh rate or to avoid switching.
Sync playback to display is a separate option, not another name for refresh-rate switching. It changes playback speed to synchronize with the display. Kodi warns that when audio correction is needed, this option disables audio passthrough. If passthrough matters to your audio setup, consider that trade-off before enabling sync playback; it does not replace HDR mode selection.
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Choose hardware decoding for the GPU and codec, not for HDR
Kodi’s Linux-specific player options include VAAPI and VDPAU. They concern video decoding; choosing one does not itself switch the display into HDR. Whether hardware decoding works depends on the GPU, driver, codec, and Kodi package.
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|---|---|---|
| VAAPI | Mainly associated with Intel and, in some circumstances, AMD. | Confirm that the GPU and driver support the API and the codec used by the video. |
| VDPAU | Mainly associated with NVIDIA and some AMD hardware. | Confirm support for the specific GPU generation, driver, codec, and installed Kodi build. |
The Linux guidance is not a guarantee for every generation of GPU or distribution package. If playback performance is poor, check API and codec support for your actual setup rather than changing the HDR mode setting: decoding and display HDR output are different parts of the pipeline.
Use the hardware-decoding choice as a compatibility check, not as a picture-mode recipe. The broad VAAPI and VDPAU associations are useful starting points, but they do not guarantee that a particular GPU generation, driver, codec, and package combination supports the path. If hardware decoding is unavailable or performs poorly, reassess that combination. It does not follow that HDR mode switching should be turned on or off to fix decoding.
Match color range and bit depth to the output chain
If blacks look gray or shadow detail disappears, check that Kodi, the GPU output, and the display agree on color range. Kodi describes limited range, 16–235, as suitable for a regular HDMI television without a PC or full-range mode. Full range is generally appropriate for a PC monitor. The important requirement is agreement across the chain: a mismatch can make blacks look gray or crush detail.
Do not treat the SDR 10-bit output preference as a way to force HDR bit depth. Kodi states that HDR passthrough uses 10-bit regardless of that SDR preference. If you are troubleshooting an HDR signal, keep that distinction in mind and verify the output chain instead of changing an SDR-specific setting to solve an HDR problem.
Range is worth checking when the symptom points to black levels, but it is not a substitute for validating HDR support. A regular HDMI TV without a PC/full-range mode generally calls for limited range; a PC monitor generally suits full range. If components disagree, the image may show gray blacks or crushed shadow detail. Match Kodi, GPU, and display settings rather than selecting a range based only on the fact that the content is HDR.
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Apply changes in an order that separates compatibility problems from picture-preference adjustments. A setting cannot fix a feature the installed build or output path does not expose.
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- Check the installed Kodi build and session. Confirm the Kodi version and build, graphics backend, and whether the desktop session uses X11 or Wayland. Treat Kodi 22 Piers Linux HDR notes as prerelease-specific, and verify that the installed package includes the relevant support.
- Confirm that Kodi exposes HDR controls. Connect the intended HDR display through the actual GPU and output path, then inspect System > Display. If Kodi hides the HDR section, investigate support across the full chain before tuning brightness.
- Choose the playback HDR strategy. In Player > Videos > Adjust display HDR mode, select On to request a display switch for HDR media, or Off to retain the current display mode and use tone mapping as needed.
- Tune the GUI independently. In System > Display, start with Use system HDR/SDR brightness balance. If SDR-origin interface elements are too dim or bright, disable it and adjust GUI peak luminance in HDR PQ mode for the display.
- Consider refresh-rate switching. In Player > Videos, choose Adjust display refresh rate: On start/stop if the hardware and display support the modes you need. Expect a brief blank during a switch; do not start with Always.
- Check decoding and range only if symptoms point there. Verify VAAPI or VDPAU support for the GPU, driver, and codec if playback decoding is poor. If black levels are wrong, align limited/full range settings across Kodi, GPU, and display.
After that sequence, evaluate the result in parts rather than changing several controls at once. Confirm whether Kodi requests HDR mode switching, check whether menus and subtitles remain legible during HDR playback, and separately notice any brief refresh-rate transition. If a problem remains, its symptom helps identify the relevant control: GUI brightness, display mode, refresh behavior, decoding, or range. This avoids using an unrelated option to compensate for a problem elsewhere in the chain.
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HDR settings are missing
Check that the connected display is HDR-capable, the GPU and output path support HDR, and the installed Kodi build and display server or compositor can expose it. Kodi hides the display HDR section when the full video chain does not support HDR. A Wayland session alone does not establish compatibility with Kodi 22’s announced support, which specifies compatible compositors.
Kodi does not switch the display into HDR
Check Adjust display HDR mode and confirm it is set to On if you want Kodi to request a switch. Then verify the Kodi backend and build, the connected HDR display, and the rest of the output chain. The control is platform-dependent, so its presence or selection is not proof that every layer can perform the switch.
Menus or subtitles are too dim or too bright during HDR
Use the system HDR/SDR brightness balance or disable it and adjust GUI peak luminance in HDR PQ mode. These settings target SDR-origin GUI elements, including the OSD and subtitles. Change the GUI control rather than assuming the playback HDR-mode choice controls menu brightness.
Playback judders or the screen blanks around a mode change
A brief blank can occur when Kodi changes display mode. Use On start/stop rather than Always, and check support for the requested resolution and refresh rate. If the display cannot use the requested mode, revise the available display-mode setup rather than expecting a refresh-rate setting to overcome a hardware limitation.
Video decoding is slow or playback performance is poor
Check that the selected VAAPI or VDPAU path is supported by the GPU and driver for the codec being played, and that the installed Kodi package supports that configuration. The general Linux API guidance does not guarantee support on every GPU generation or distribution build. HDR mode switching is a separate concern.
Black levels look gray or details disappear in shadows
Compare the range settings in Kodi, the GPU output, and the display. A regular HDMI TV without a PC or full-range mode generally calls for limited range, 16–235; a PC monitor generally suits full range. The components must agree, since a range mismatch can make blacks gray or crush detail.
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How to choose among the main options
| Decision | Starting choice | Change it when |
|---|---|---|
| HDR display behavior | Adjust display HDR mode: On, when the supported chain should switch for HDR media. | Keep the current display mode instead; select Off and let Kodi tone-map as needed. |
| HDR menu brightness | Use system HDR/SDR brightness balance. | Menus, subtitles, OSD, or graphics need a different level; disable system balance and tune GUI peak luminance. |
| Refresh behavior | Adjust display refresh rate: On start/stop, if supported. | Mode changes cause problems or are not needed; avoid Always, which Kodi does not recommend. |
| Hardware decoding | Use the API supported by the GPU, driver, and codec: VAAPI is mainly for Intel and some AMD; VDPAU is mainly for NVIDIA and some AMD. | The selected API is unsupported or performs poorly on the actual system; reassess decoding support, not HDR mode. |
| Output range | Limited for a regular HDMI TV without a full-range mode; full range generally for a PC monitor. | Blacks are gray or shadow detail is crushed; align Kodi, GPU, and display. |
For a supported HDR setup, the most useful starting configuration is therefore conditional rather than universal: use HDR mode switching when your Linux chain handles it, keep it off when you want to retain the current mode and tone-map, and calibrate SDR-origin interface brightness independently. Add refresh-rate switching and hardware decoding only when the display and GPU path support them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enable HDR in Kodi on Linux?
First confirm that your installed Kodi build, GPU and driver, output path, display server or compositor, and connected display support HDR together. Kodi hides its display HDR section when the full video chain does not support it. If the control is available and you want Kodi to switch the display for HDR media, go to Player > Videos and set Adjust display HDR mode to On.
Which setting makes Kodi menus brighter during HDR playback?
In System > Display, start with Use system HDR/SDR brightness balance. If menus, OSD, subtitles, or graphics originating in SDR remain too dim or too bright, disable that option and adjust GUI peak luminance in HDR PQ mode. Kodi does not specify a universal peak-luminance number.
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Choose On if the supported Linux display chain should switch into the HDR mode matched to the media. Choose Off if you want to keep the screen in its current HDR or SDR mode and have Kodi tone-map as needed, or if mode switching is unreliable. Neither choice is best for every system.
Why are HDR settings missing in Kodi on Linux?
Kodi hides the display HDR section when the complete video chain does not support HDR. Check the connected screen, GPU and output path, Kodi build and backend, and display server or compositor. Kodi 22 Piers prerelease notes announced Linux HDR support on OpenGL and Wayland color-management support for compatible compositors; a Wayland session alone does not guarantee compatibility.
Do VAAPI or VDPAU enable HDR output?
No. VAAPI and VDPAU are hardware-decoding options, not HDR display-mode switches. Kodi’s general Linux guidance associates VAAPI mainly with Intel and some AMD hardware, and VDPAU mainly with NVIDIA and some AMD. Verify support for your specific GPU, driver, codec, and Kodi package.
Should I enable refresh-rate switching for Kodi video?
If your hardware and display support the needed modes, Adjust display refresh rate: On start/stop can match output rate to the video and restore the prior mode afterward. A brief blank during switching can occur. Kodi does not recommend Always. Sync playback to display is separate and can disable audio passthrough when audio correction is needed.
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The Bottom Line
There is no universal Linux HDR preset for Kodi. On a supported chain, use Adjust display HDR mode: On when Kodi should switch the display for HDR media, or Off when you want to keep the current mode and tone-map as needed. Tune SDR-origin menus and overlays separately with system HDR/SDR brightness balance or manual GUI peak luminance. Confirm Kodi build and compositor support first, then add refresh switching, decoding, and range adjustments only when your hardware and symptoms call for them.
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