How to Solve VLC HDR Playback Issues to Play HDR (4K) on VLC

VLC added HDR support to the media player in 2018. However, this support is largely limited to HDR10 content only. Since Dolby Vision is a proprietary technology that requires specific hardware, VLC does not yet fully support it. Further complicating the matter is the wide variety of video formats, recording devices, codecs, and other technologies used in creating videos. Sometimes, compatibility issues may arise, triggering VLC HDR playback issues. In this detailed guide, we've identified the most common issues causing VLC HDR playback problems and provided easy fixes to resolve them. Follow the step-by-step instructions in this guide to play HDR content on VLC Media Player without any issues.

Fix 1: Activate HDR in Windows

HDR may be activated on your Windows version by default, but if it isn't, you must activate it manually. The steps involved are slightly different for Windows 10 and 11. Therefore, ensure that you follow the instructions carefully to avoid any confusion.

Step 1:Click the 'Start' button > Select 'Settings.'
Step 2:Go to 'System' and access 'Display' settings.
Step 3:On Windows 11, turn on the 'Use HDR' setting.

On Windows 10, open 'Windows HD Color settings'. Scroll to 'Display capabilities', select 'Yes' next to 'Use HDR.'

Fix 2: Activate VLC HDR Settings

VLC Player is HDR capable since the 3.0 version. However, if you're using an older version of VLC, update it immediately to the latest version. All you need to do is go to 'Help' and click 'Check for Updates.'

This should resolve the issue in many cases, as HDR is enabled by default on VLC. If it isn't, you can activate it manually by following these steps:

Step 1: Open Preferences in VLC

Launch VLC Media Player, go to 'Tools' in the Main Menu, and select 'Preferences'.

Step 2: Activate HDR

Go to the 'Video' tab, open the 'Output' menu to access VLC HDR Settings > Choose 'OpenGL video output for Windows' or 'OpenGL video output.'

Fix 3: Enable/Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware Acceleration is a double-edged sword. If your device and app support it, it significantly boosts performance. However, not all graphics cards have the power to supply the necessary juice for hardware acceleration. Unless your desktop has a powerful graphics card, it's best to turn off hardware acceleration altogether. Here's how to turn hardware acceleration on or off:

Step 1: Open Preferences in VLC

Launch VLC Media Player, go to 'Tools' in the Main Menu, and select 'Preferences'.

Step 2: Enable or Disable Hardware Acceleration

Go to 'Input/Codecs', open the menu next to 'Hardware-accelerated decoding'. Choose 'Direct,' 'Direct3D11 Video Acceleration' or 'DirectX Video Acceleration (DXVA2.0).'

Fix 4: Enable Multi-threading

Multi-threading is an effective way to resolve the choppy playback of HDR videos in VLC Media Player. You are essentially breaking down the tasks into multiple threads that can be processed individually on different CPU cores. This parallel processing of tasks boosts performance, enabling VLC to handle HDR content even on relatively low-powered devices. Since HDR 4K videos require a significant amount of CPU resources, this makes them more efficient to handle. Follow these steps to enable multi-threading.

Step 1:Launch VLC Media Player >> Go to 'Tools' in the Main Menu >> Select 'Preferences'
Step 2:Go to 'Input/Codecs' >> Select the 'All' radio button at the bottom left corner.
Step 3:Scroll down to 'Video Codecs' on the left panel and expand it >> Choose 'FFmpeg' >> Increase the value of 'Threads' from '0' to '4' or higher, depending on how many threads your CPU supports.

Fix 5: Adjust the Color Settings of NVIDIA Graphic Card

If you notice the peculiar HDR washed-out issue on VLC, especially on a desktop with an NVIDIA graphic card, it could be due to GPU settings. You can change the default dynamic range setting to accommodate full HDR support. On NVIDIA-equipped devices. Follow these step-by-step instructions.

Step 1:Right-click on your desktop >> Click 'NVIDIA Control Panel.'
Step 2:Click on 'Adjust video color settings' under 'Video' in the left panel >> Select the 'With the NVIDIA Settings' in the main panel >> Go to the 'Advanced' tab.
Step 3:Open 'Dynamic Range' menu >> Choose 'Full (0-255).'

Fix 6: Convert HDR Videos to SDR

Having run through the fixes, if you are unable to play HDR content on VLC, the easiest solution would be to convert HDR content to SDR format. VLC will have no trouble playing SDR content. For this, you'll need a powerful tool like HitPaw Univd to convert HDR content to SDR without significantly compromising the video quality. Univd excels at this task.

How to Convert HDR Video to SDR in HitPaw Univd

Step 1: Import HDR Videos

Launch HitPaw Univd, switch to the 'Converter' module. Drag HDR videos directly into the upload box, or use the 'Add Files' button.

Step 2: Choose Output Format

Click on the 'Convert all to' button to open up output settings, go to 'Video', you can choose the same output format as the original or change it as per your needs.

Step 3: Customize Output Quality

Click on the 'Pen' (settings) icon to open output settings, choose Quality, Bitrate, Video Codec, Audio Codec, Frame Rate, and more, click 'Create.'

You can experiment with different quality settings until VLC is able to play the video after conversion.

Step 4: Convert HDR Video

Hit the 'Convert all' button to start convert HDR video.

FAQs on VLC HDR Playback Issues

Q1. Can VLC play HDR content from streaming services?

A1. No. Although VLC supports HDR content to a limited extent, it does not yet support it for streaming content. You still need native streaming apps for playing HDR content, such as the Netflix app and Amazon Prime Video app.

Q2. Is VLC the best media player for HDR content?

A2. No. Other players, such as Kodi and MPC-HC, handle HDR content much better than VLC. Owing to VLC's limited support for it, it isn't the best app for playing HDR content.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while VLC Media Player supports HDR playback, it can sometimes be challenging to configure it correctly. By following the steps in this guide, you can fix common issues. If nothing else works, you can always convert your HDR videos to SDR using tools like HitPaw Univd. This way, you can enjoy your 4K HDR content without any playback problems. What's more, you can decrease the size of videos with Univd so that they don't stutter or lag on a low-end desktop, too. Try Univd today.

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