Netflix now supports HDR streaming on Windows 10

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
last updated

Move over Xbox One: Windows 10 can now handle Netflix HDR, too.

Xbox One users have been able to stream HDR content on Netflix for a while, but Windows 10 is now joining the party as well. Netflix today announced that HDR streaming is now supported in its Windows 10 app, as well as in Microsoft Edge.

There are some caveats to the news, however. First, you'll need a premium Netflix plan and a supported PC to get started, Netflix says. From Netflix:

Intel's 7th generation and higher CPUs provide that capability needed to play the Netflix HDR10 encodes. In addition, both Intel and Nvidia developed GPUs that use 10 bits-per-channel for each of the RGB colors, increasing the color space that can be represented. With this new hardware available in consumer PCs, Netflix and Microsoft partnered together to put the software pieces in place.

You'll also need to be updated to the Fall Creators Update, which added the necessary bits needed to support HDR. Of course, your display will also have to support HDR, which is still a fairly new thing for desktop PC monitors. It's not yet clear if AMD processors are or will be supported.

HDR is largely heralded as an even bigger advance in picture quality than the bump to 4K. With it, whether through the HDR10 standard (used here) or Dolby Vision, images can be displayed with greater levels of contrast, improving detail across a given scene. Netflix was an early adopter of HDR content, and a number of its own original shows are available to watch in HDR.

If you have a compatible PC and display, you should be able to get started with Netflix HDR streaming from the app or in Microsoft Edge now.

See at Microsoft Store (opens in new tab)

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

15 Comments
  • I wonder when we will start seeing HDR displays on surface devices.
  • once you have HDR displays, you will lose the Adobe RGB, CMYK, and Pantone certification cause the colours end up distorted so that they appear more vivid rather than more accurate.
  • I didn't think HDR and Adobe RGB were mutually exclusive. As I understand there are monitors that support both. https://petapixel.com/2017/12/05/32-inch-philips-display-99-adobe-rgb-hd...
  • Next year.
  • HOLY MOLY!
    Just wondering.... Is it supported on Android?
    Is it supported on iOS?
    Is it supported on Apple TV?
    Roku?
    Sticks?
    PlayStation?
  • Goes to Windows website, asks about everything but Windows.
  • Why would I ask about Windows when the article is about how its available on Windows?.... Did you read the article? 🙂
  • If you have an HDR phone it has been available on Android for a while. I think it started with the G6.
  • This Intel only for 4k and hdr Netflix is bull. If a PS4 pro and my Samsung Galaxy s8 can play Netflix in 4k and hdr, then any relatively recent PC should be able to also. Regardless of CPU manufacturer. The likes they will go to hurt AMD customers is amazing
  • So, this is only for 7th Gen of Intel CPUs and Nvidia GTX1050+. Honestly, this is bs. Conspiracy, if you wish, to make us buy new stuff. I would understand older CPUs not having some stuff to decode it, but I don't really see a reason why my GTX960 won't do. And even better, completely ignoring AMD is just pathetic.
  • Holy smokes, an article about HDR that actually describes it as contrast and not as expanded colors! Given this is a rare bit of factual accuracy you don't see on most tech blogs on the subject, you deserve a cookie.
  • You're welcome 😊
  • Still waiting for Windows Mobile support :(
  • What's the point? Is any WM phone HDR compliant? Exactly.
  • The vast majority of PC HDR monitors are rubbish, there is only 1 maybe 2 that are actually proper HDR. It's nice Netflix added it but Windows needs a lot more work for HDR usage and PC monitors that meet the standard.