HDR should make your movies pop and your games look ultra-realistic—but sometimes it just… doesn’t work. If your Samsung TV isn’t showing HDR properly, or the option is greyed out, you’re definitely not the only one.
Whether you’re streaming on Netflix, gaming on PS5 or Xbox, or watching a 4K Blu-ray, here are 7 quick fixes to get HDR working again on your Samsung TV.
1. Make Sure HDR Is Turned On in Settings
This sounds obvious, but some Samsung TVs have HDR disabled by default.
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Go to Settings > General > External Device Manager > HDMI UHD Color
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Enable HDMI UHD Color for the HDMI port your device is connected to
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Restart your TV after toggling the setting
Pro tip: If the HDR toggle is greyed out, make sure the source device is turned on and plugged in.
2. Use the Right HDMI Port and Cable
HDR won’t work properly unless you’re using a high-bandwidth HDMI port and cable.
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Use HDMI port 1 or 2 for best results (some older Samsung TVs only support HDR on specific ports)
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Use a High Speed HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 cable
(Check out our TV cable guide)
3. Set the Input Device to Output HDR
If you're using a game console or streaming box, HDR also needs to be enabled there.
For Xbox Series X/S:
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Go to Settings > General > TV & display options > Video Modes
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Check the Allow HDR10 box
For PS5:
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Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output
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Set HDR to "On When Supported"
For Apple TV or Fire TV Stick:
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Enable HDR in Display Settings
4. Check for a Firmware Update
Samsung occasionally releases firmware that improves or fixes HDR compatibility.
To check manually:
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Settings > Support > Software Update > Update Now
If your TV hasn’t auto-updated in a while, you may be missing bug fixes for HDR handling.
5. Adjust Picture Mode and Backlight Settings
Some Samsung TVs disable HDR automatically if you're using a weird Picture Mode.
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Use Movie, Standard, or Dynamic mode
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Make sure Eco Mode or Energy Saving Mode is OFF (this can dim HDR brightness)
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Set Backlight/Brightness to Max under Settings > Picture
If the screen looks too dark with HDR, check out How to Optimize HDR Settings on Samsung TVs.
6. HDR Still Not Working on Netflix or Disney+?
If you’re streaming content in 4K and it doesn’t look like HDR, make sure:
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You’re watching a title that supports HDR (look for the “HDR” or “Dolby Vision” badge)
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You have a fast enough internet connection (at least 25 Mbps for 4K HDR)
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You’re logged in with a 4K subscription tier (especially on Netflix)
Still no luck? Try reinstalling the app or rebooting your TV.
7. Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If nothing else works, a factory reset can often resolve weird HDMI handshake issues.
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Go to Settings > General > Reset
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Enter PIN (default is 0000) and reset the TV
Make sure to back up your picture settings or account logins before doing this!
Bonus Tip: HDR Format Mismatch
Samsung TVs don’t support Dolby Vision—only HDR10 and HDR10+. If your content defaults to Dolby Vision (like some Apple TV+ or Netflix shows), your TV will just play it in standard HDR10.
Want to know which format is best? Check out:
HDR10 vs HDR10+ vs Dolby Vision: Which One’s Better?
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If this helped, let us know in the comments below!
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