Xbox Insiders get HDR calibration tool on Xbox One S and Xbox One X

By Asher Madan
last updated

That's a handy tool.

Xbox One X
Xbox One X (Image credit: Matt Brown | Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • The Xbox One S and Xbox One X support high dynamic range (HDR) colors.
  • According to numerous users, the console now lets you calibrate HDR.
  • This was added with the latest Xbox Insider console update.
  • It's unclear which rings it's available to, but it's probably part of the Alpha and Alpha - Skip Ahead groups.

Today, many Xbox Insiders noticed that the new preview build, possibly just for Alpha and Alpha - Skip Ahead insiders, featured a new high dynamic range (HDR) lighting calibration tool. You can take a look at the image taken by Twitter user @EvilBoris below. The "Uncalibrated Image" looks more washed out than the "Calibrated Image." This should definitely come in handy when you're dealing with finicky games like Monster Hunter World.

Right now, only the Xbox One S and the Xbox One X support HDR. So you may need one of those two consoles to access this feature. It won't work with the regular Xbox One because it doesn't have the capacity to render HDR through its HDMI port.

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Are you excited to use this feature? Do you have issues with HDR in some games? Let us know. I've found that a lot of the games I play on Xbox One X are a little too dark, so this should help with that.

Huge shoutout to @EvilBoris on Twitter for the tip.

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Asher Madan
Asher Madan

Asher Madan handles gaming news for Windows Central. Before joining Windows Central in 2017, Asher worked for a number of different gaming outlets. He has a background in medical science and is passionate about all forms of entertainment, cooking, and antiquing.

7 Comments
  • Will be interesting to go through this calibration on my Xbox One X (I'm in Alpha Skip Ahead and have an HDR compatible TV).
  • This should remain a TV function. Set top boxes should not manipulate audio or video... Just send data and metedata as intended by the author
  • What would be the downside?
  • Are you serious right now? What is the difference between changing settings on your TV or changing on the device showing the image? Also, this isn't defeating the artist's representation of the image, this is capping a brightness output. This is hardly making Mario's hat blue instead of red.
  • carry on. Anyone can grab a remote and a controller and shift settings.
  • I would actually like this function. For my HDR / Dolby Vision 4k in the living room, I'd probably only adjust the TV settings, as there's so many settings to play with. On my HDR 4k Monitor in my game room, it's very limited in settings. 4 Presets, and brightness, that's it. So when I'm on my Monitor, HDR adjustments on Xbox One X would be great. And like real0395 said, what's the downside. If you only adjust on your TV, then don't use it. For my monitor setup, I can't wait to try it out.
  • Apart from the fact my Expensive Sony 55" TV has terrible dimming options for the backlight. So I wouldn't say TV manufacturers get it right. It's an amazing TV. But some of its options are a joke.