Microsoft is planning to automatically add HDR support to more than 1,000 PC games. The software manufacturer is now testing a new Auto HDR feature in Windows 10, which works the same as in the latest Xbox Series S and X consoles. Enabling Auto HDR will add high dynamic range (HDR) to a large number of DirectX 11 games and DirectX 12, as long as you have a compatible HDR monitor.
“While some game studios develop for HDR gaming PCs dominating their games natively for HDR, Auto HDR for PC accepts DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 games only SDR and intelligently expands the color / brightness range up to HDR,” says Hannah Fisher, a DirectX program manager at Microsoft. “It’s an integrated platform feature that will give you an incredible new gaming experience that makes the most of your HDR monitor’s capabilities.”
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Auto HDR can be enabled in the latest trial version of Windows 10 (21337) released for Windows Insiders today. It must be activated automatically or you can switch it in the display part of the settings. Auto HDR is only in preview for now, and not all major DirectX 11/12 games support it yet. Microsoft is also working to optimize performance and fix some problems, and the company admits that “automatic HDR requires some computing power from the GPU to be implemented”.
Along with the Auto HDR feature, the latest trial version of Windows 10 also includes improvements for virtual desktops, a File Explorer layout update and even some changes to integrated applications like Notepad.
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Windows 10 will soon include custom backgrounds for each Virtual Desktop, with the ability to easily reorder desktops. Microsoft is also adding additional padding between elements in File Explorer. There is now a compact mode with the classic File Explorer mode, and the new view is slightly more optimized for touch.
Notepad also has a new icon now and will be updated through the Microsoft Store. Microsoft is also updating the applications it bundles with Windows 10 to include Windows Terminal and Power Automate Desktop.