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Windows 11 24H2 Auto HDR Bug: Why Games Look Oversaturated and What to Do

Microsoft documented and fixed an Auto HDR issue that made some Windows 11 24H2 games look oversaturated. Here’s how to test the per-game setting and distinguish color problems from separate crashes.

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Microsoft documented a Windows 11 version 24H2 bug that made some games look oversaturated when Auto HDR was enabled. Microsoft listed a fix in the January 28, 2025 preview update KB5050094 (OS build 26100.3037). If colors still look wrong, check Windows Update for applicable updates and test the affected game with Auto HDR turned off for that game. This color issue does not explain every game crash or freeze.

What the Windows 11 24H2 Auto HDR bug did

Auto HDR expands the color range and brightness of supported standard dynamic range (SDR) games when played on an HDR-capable display. Microsoft’s update notes described a specific fault: “The display of some games appears oversaturated. This occurs when you use Auto HDR.” The symptom was excessive saturation in some games, not a general diagnosis for every inaccurate, washed-out, or unstable game.

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Microsoft recorded the correction in KB5050094, a preview update dated January 28, 2025, for Windows 11 version 24H2, all editions, OS build 26100.3037. Treat this as the dated, documented fix—not a recommendation to seek out and manually install that older preview package. Check Windows Update for updates applicable to your PC. Microsoft’s KB5050094 notes identify the issue and the update.

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How to test whether Auto HDR is involved

Disable Auto HDR for the affected title, then close and restart the game. This is a useful isolation test: if the appearance changes, Auto HDR may be involved, but that alone does not prove the original 24H2 bug is still present.

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  1. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
  2. Select the affected game. If it is not listed, use the option to add or browse for the game, then select it.
  3. Choose Options, select Don’t use Auto HDR, and save the change.
  4. Exit and restart the game, then compare its appearance.

Microsoft documents this per-app control in its guide to optimizations for windowed games in Windows 11. Turning Auto HDR off for one title is different from changing the display’s global HDR setting.

Check Windows HDR settings and calibration separately

Auto HDR requires HDR to be enabled on a display that supports HDR. To check the feature settings, open Settings > System > Display, turn on HDR for the relevant display, and review the Auto HDR setting. Microsoft explains the setup in Use Auto HDR for better gaming in Windows.

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Display calibration is a separate step, not the documented fix for the 24H2 bug. Microsoft’s free Windows HDR Calibration app requires an HDR-capable display and HDR enabled. Its calibration guidance cautions that pushing saturation too far can make HDR content look unnatural or oversaturated. If you are calibrating independently, follow Microsoft’s HDR Calibration instructions.

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When a crash or freeze is a different problem

Oversaturation and a game becoming unresponsive are different symptoms. Microsoft’s 24H2 release-health page describes a separate 2026 issue in which some games could become unresponsive under particular conditions involving certain RGB peripheral drivers. The report names ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and THE FINALS, and attributes the issue to peripheral or internal components with RGB lighting features rather than Windows updates. That report is not the Auto HDR color fix; compare your symptoms and setup with Microsoft’s Windows 11 version 24H2 known-issues page.

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If the problem is a freeze, crash, or reboot rather than unusual color, record the game, Windows version and build, graphics and peripheral driver versions, and RGB device software. These details help distinguish a game or driver issue from the Auto HDR color symptom; the available Microsoft reports do not establish that every instability has the same cause.

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Windows 11 24H2 status and support date

Microsoft’s release-health information says Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions reach end of updates on October 13, 2026. That date is approaching as of October 7, 2026. Edition and lifecycle details can change, so check Microsoft’s release-health page for the current status of your edition.

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