How do I fix HDR YouTube videos looking washed out when viewing?

Question

Level 1

8 points

How do I fix HDR YouTube videos looking washed out when viewing?

When I view HDR YouTube videos on my new 16" MacBook Pro they looked washed out or over-exposed. This is using Firefox, Safari, or Chrome.

On my old 2013 MacBook Pro the same video's YouTube settings don't show any HDR options, just HD. And it looks fine.

I discovered in System Preferences the Battery settings and made sure "Optimize video streaming while on battery" was unchecked.

Any ideas of how to fix this? Thanks.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Oct 14, 2022 5:39 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

dougitect Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 17, 2022 3:07 PM in response to bailier

It's hard to imagine how signing in as a different user on my Mac would affect the look of an HDR video on YouTube. What would that do?

Reply

Answer 2

green500

Community Specialist

Oct 17, 2022 3:25 PM in response to dougitect

Hello dougitect,

We recommend that you test in a new user account to helps us isolate the cause. We also recommend testing in safe mode to isolate the cause using the steps as listed here: How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

Apple silicon

Shut down your Mac.
Turn on your Mac and continue to press and hold the power button until you see the startup options window.
Select your startup disk, then press and hold the Shift key while clicking “Continue in Safe Mode.”
Log in to your Mac. You might be asked to log in again.

Let us know if you have further questions.

Take care.

Reply

Answer 3

Lissy_12

Community Specialist

Oct 16, 2022 9:06 AM in response to dougitect

Hi dougitect,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! For this issue, we would suggest the guidance in the following article under the section "Getting the best HDR picture" that can help:

Play HDR video on Mac

Hope this helps!

Have a great day.

Reply

Answer 4

bailier

Community Specialist

Oct 17, 2022 8:07 AM in response to dougitect

dougitect,

Thanks for the update. Do you experience this issue if you create a different user account to test in? This will allow us to further isolate the issue.

Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac - Apple Support

Let us know.

Have a great day.

Reply

Answer 5

dougitect Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 16, 2022 4:08 PM in response to Lissy_12

Thanks but nothing on that page helps. I already have the Battery setting turned off and I'm not using an external monitor.

Reply

Answer 6

dougitect Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 18, 2022 3:09 PM in response to green500

OK, I made a second User on my Mac and tested it in Safe Mode. That "fixed" the problem—HDR videos on YT looked correct. Then I booted up in Safe Mode and signed into my regular User account—that worked too.

What should I check next?

Thanks.

Reply

Answer 7

dougitect Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 23, 2022 11:01 AM in response to dougitect

I mean, I don't want to be limited to always booting up in Safe Mode. So, how do I find which app or whatever is causing the problem?

Reply

How do I fix HDR YouTube videos looking washed out when viewing?

Similar questions