You’ve just settled into your couch with some popcorn, ready to watch that new blockbuster everyone’s been talking about. The opening scene starts, and something feels off. The colors look flat, the brightness seems wrong, and those stunning visuals you’ve heard so much about just aren’t there. Your Sony TV’s HDR feature has decided to take an unexpected break.
This happens more often than you’d think, and it’s frustrating because HDR is supposed to make your viewing experience pop with richer colors and better contrast. The technology brings movies and shows closer to what directors intended you to see.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly why your Sony TV’s HDR stops working, what causes these hiccups, and most importantly, how to fix them yourself without calling a technician or spending money on repairs.
What’s Really Happening When HDR Fails
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range, and it’s basically your TV’s ability to display a wider range of brightness levels and colors than standard video. Think of it like the difference between looking at a photo through a foggy window versus seeing it in person. When HDR works properly, bright areas shine without washing out details, and dark scenes reveal shadows you’d otherwise miss.
Your Sony TV needs several things to align perfectly for HDR to kick in. The content you’re watching must be filmed in HDR format, your streaming device or cable box needs to support it, the HDMI cable must be capable of carrying the signal, and your TV’s settings have to be configured correctly. If just one piece of this puzzle isn’t fitting right, HDR won’t activate.
When HDR fails, you might notice your picture looks washed out or unnaturally dim. Sometimes the TV won’t even recognize that HDR content is playing. You might see an HDR badge appear briefly on screen, then disappear. Other times, colors look oversaturated or strange, which happens when the TV partially processes HDR but something’s blocking the full effect.
Ignoring this problem means you’re not getting what you paid for. Sony TVs with HDR capability cost more precisely because of this feature. Beyond the money aspect, you’re missing out on how filmmakers and content creators actually want their work to look. That Netflix series with the dark, moody cinematography? It’s probably unwatchable without proper HDR because you can’t see half the details in shadowy scenes.
Sony TV HDR Not Working: Common Causes
HDR problems usually stem from a handful of common issues, most of which are surprisingly simple. Before you start thinking your TV is broken, you should know that settings, connections, and compatibility factors create most HDR failures.
1. HDMI Cable Isn’t Up to the Task
Not all HDMI cables are created equal. Your cable might look fine on the outside, but if it’s an older version, it simply can’t carry the bandwidth HDR requires. HDR content needs HDMI 2.0 or higher, and if you’re using a cable from five years ago, there’s a good chance it’s HDMI 1.4 or earlier.
The cable might work perfectly fine for regular HD content, which tricks you into thinking everything’s okay. You plug in your PlayStation or streaming stick, regular shows look great, but HDR mysteriously fails. That’s because HDR requires significantly more data to travel through the cable.
Even some cables labeled as “high-speed” don’t actually meet the specifications needed for 4K HDR content. Manufacturers sometimes use vague marketing terms that don’t guarantee compatibility with HDR standards.
2. Wrong HDMI Port Selection
Most Sony TVs don’t enable full HDR capability on every HDMI port. Typically, only specific ports support the enhanced format, usually HDMI 2 and HDMI 3. If you’ve plugged your device into HDMI 1 or 4, HDR might not work even though everything else functions normally.
Your TV’s manual usually specifies which ports support HDR, but who keeps those manuals handy? Many people plug devices into whatever port is convenient or available without realizing this limitation exists. The TV will still display a picture, just not in HDR.
3. Enhanced HDMI Signal Format Is Disabled
Sony TVs include a setting called Enhanced Format or Enhanced HDMI Signal Format that must be turned on for HDR to work. This setting is often disabled by default because it can cause compatibility issues with older devices. Your TV is essentially being cautious, but this caution blocks HDR.
When this setting is off, the HDMI port operates in a limited mode that handles basic signals but can’t process the extra information HDR requires. Your streaming device might be sending an HDR signal, but your TV is refusing to accept it fully.
4. Source Device Isn’t Configured for HDR Output
Your PlayStation, Xbox, Apple TV, or streaming stick needs to be set up correctly to output HDR. These devices don’t always enable HDR automatically. They might detect your TV’s HDR capability but wait for you to manually activate it in their settings.
Some devices have multiple video output options, and you might have yours set to standard dynamic range without realizing it. Streaming services within these devices sometimes have their own quality settings too, and if those are set to “auto” or “data saver,” they might choose not to stream in HDR to save bandwidth.
Game consoles are particularly tricky because they separate HDR settings for games and video apps. Your PlayStation might play games in HDR perfectly while streaming apps stay in standard range, or vice versa, depending on how you’ve configured each section.
5. Outdated Firmware on Your TV
Sony regularly releases firmware updates that fix bugs and improve HDR performance. If your TV hasn’t updated in months or years, it might be running software with known HDR issues that have since been patched. Older firmware versions sometimes have compatibility problems with newer streaming devices or specific HDR formats like Dolby Vision.
Your TV might not automatically update itself, especially if it’s not connected to the internet regularly or if you’ve disabled automatic updates to avoid interruptions. Meanwhile, your streaming devices and content sources keep getting updated, creating a mismatch that breaks HDR functionality.
Sony TV HDR Not Working: How to Fix
The good news is that you can fix most HDR issues yourself in just a few minutes. These solutions are straightforward and don’t require any technical expertise or special tools.
1. Upgrade Your HDMI Cable
Start by replacing your HDMI cable with a certified Premium High Speed HDMI cable or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Look for cables specifically labeled as supporting 4K HDR at 60Hz. These cables cost between ten and twenty dollars at most electronics stores or online.
When you get the new cable, connect your device directly to the TV without any adapters or extenders in between. Extra connections in the chain can degrade the signal. Make sure you push the cable firmly into both the TV and your device until you hear or feel a slight click.
After connecting the new cable, restart both your TV and the connected device. Sometimes the handshake between devices needs a fresh start to recognize the improved cable’s capabilities. Turn everything off completely, wait about thirty seconds, then power back on.
2. Switch to the Correct HDMI Port
Check your Sony TV’s manual or look online for your specific model to identify which HDMI ports support HDR. Most Sony models from recent years enable full HDR on HDMI 2 and 3, but this varies by model.
Unplug your device from its current port and move it to one of the HDR-compatible ports. After reconnecting, press the Input or Source button on your TV remote and select the new HDMI input you just connected to.
3. Enable Enhanced HDMI Signal Format
Grab your TV remote and press the Home button. Navigate to Settings, then look for External Inputs or Inputs. You’ll find an option called Enhanced Format or HDMI Signal Format. Select the HDMI port your device is connected to and toggle Enhanced Format to “On.”
Some Sony TVs list this setting as “Enhanced 4K Signal Format” or simply “HDMI Enhanced.” The exact wording depends on your TV model and software version. You need to enable this setting individually for each HDMI port you want to use with HDR devices.
After enabling this setting, your TV screen might flicker or go black for a few seconds. That’s completely normal as the TV adjusts to the new signal format. Once the picture returns, try playing your HDR content again.
4. Configure Your Source Device Properly
Go into your streaming device or game console’s video settings. On PlayStation 5, navigate to Settings, then Screen and Video, and enable HDR. On Xbox Series X/S, go to Settings, General, TV & Display Options, and make sure 4K and HDR are both enabled. For Apple TV, check Settings, Video and Audio, and verify that Match Dynamic Range is turned on.
If you’re using a streaming stick like Roku or Fire TV, access its display settings and confirm the output is set to 4K HDR or Auto. Also check individual streaming apps like Netflix or Disney+. Open the app, go to its settings or account section, and verify playback quality is set to High or Auto rather than a data-saving mode.
5. Update Your TV’s Firmware
Press the Home button on your Sony TV remote and go to Settings. Find System or System Settings, then look for Software Update or About. Select “Check for System Software Update” and let your TV search for available updates.
If an update is available, your TV will download and install it automatically. This process can take fifteen to thirty minutes, and your TV will restart when finished. Make sure your TV stays powered on and connected to the internet throughout the update. Don’t unplug it or turn it off during this process.
After the update completes and your TV restarts, go back and verify that your Enhanced Format settings are still enabled for your HDR ports. Sometimes updates reset certain settings to their defaults.
6. Adjust Picture Settings and Modes
Press the Home button and navigate to Settings, then Display & Sound, and Picture. Look for your current picture mode. If it’s set to Vivid or Standard, switch it to Cinema or Custom. Some Sony TVs also have specific HDR picture modes that automatically activate when HDR content plays.
Within the picture settings, find options related to HDR. You might see settings like “Auto HDR Tone Mapping” or “Brightness Preferred.” Enable these if available. Also check that any power-saving or eco modes are turned off, as these can interfere with HDR processing by limiting the TV’s brightness capabilities.
7. Contact a Professional Technician
If you’ve tried everything above and HDR still won’t work, your TV might have a hardware problem or a software issue that requires professional attention. Contact Sony support or a qualified TV repair technician who specializes in Sony products. They can run diagnostic tests to identify problems with the HDMI board, main processor, or other internal components that you can’t fix at home.
Wrapping Up
HDR issues on your Sony TV usually come down to settings and connections rather than serious hardware problems. Most people fix their HDR by simply using the right cable, switching HDMI ports, or enabling the correct settings on both the TV and their streaming device.
Take your time going through each fix methodically. Once you get HDR working again, you’ll immediately notice the difference in picture quality. Those colors will pop, dark scenes will reveal hidden details, and you’ll finally see content the way it was meant to be experienced.