Question Why is my display dimming when I return to Desktop from Fullscreen App (HDR) ?

[drohack]

I'm on Windows 11 using it's HDR settings. Occasionally (not always) when I exit or Alt+Tab a full screen app (game) that uses HDR and return back to the Desktop, the display dims a lot. I have to go back into the Windows Display Settings -> HDR -> SDR Content Brightness, and select the bar. Just touching it (not changing it) it returns to the original brightness that I set for SDR content. It's like it's not recognizing that we're back on the desktop and need to use the SDR settings.

Is there any way to fix this? It's pretty anoying to have to adjust this every so often when returning to the desktop. Especially if I am Alt+Tabbing around (this can happen here as well).

Device info:

• OS: Windows 11 Home - 10.0.22631 Build 22631
• Graphics Card: Nvidia RTX 3080
• Monitor 1: Gygabyte M28U (main monitor that I'm having the issue with)
• Monitor 2: Dell U2312HM (HDR is not enabled on this monitor, doesn't support it)
• CPU: Intel Core i5-12600K 3.7 GHz 10-Core Processor
• Motherboard: MSI PRO Z690-A DDR4 ATX LGA1700
• Netowork card: RTL8125BG Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express
• RAM:
  • G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16
  • G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series (Intel XMP) DDR4 RAM 64GB (2x32GB) 3600MT/s
• PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 PE 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
• Disk Drives:
  • Intel 660p 1.02 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
  • Seagate BarraCuda 4 TB 3.5" 5400 RPM
  • Samsun DDS 840 EVO 500GB
  • Mushkin RAW 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive
  • 2x SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 2TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 Gaming M.2 Internal

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

 

[drohack]

Updated.

 

[gamerk316]

I'm assuming HDR is enabled within Windows.

In my experience, running applications with the Vulkan renderer cause me all sorts of headaches with HDR. In my case, Vulkan seems to force Exclusive Fullscreen (no idea why), and alt-tabbing out of an application causes the HDR mode to go bonkers. DX11/DX12 work as expected (at least in Borderless Fullscreen).

Might be something with that. Other then that, it could be some sort of dimming by the display depending on the content being displayed (though I doubt it if touching the SDR brightness bar immediately fixes it)

 

[Ralston18]

Regarding:

• Monitor 1: Gygabyte M28U (main monitor that I'm having the issue with)
• Monitor 2: Dell U2312HM (HDR is not enabled on this monitor, doesn't support it)

What happens if you switch Monitor 1 and Monitor 2?

Is it possible to swap in another monitor that supports HDR in place of Monitor 2?

If you right click an empty area of the Desktop and then select "Show more options" are you able to access the Nvidia Control Panel?