Windows · Apps
Tune video quality and battery options
Video playback settings control how Windows plays video content, including automatic quality adjustments, HDR video streaming, and battery-saving options for video apps.
How to open Video Playback
- Open Settings → Apps → Video playback
- Toggle battery saving video quality as preferred
- Enable HDR video streaming if your display supports it
- Adjust automatic video quality settings for your network
What you should know
- Enable automatic video quality adjustment based on network conditions
- Turn on battery-saving options that lower quality when unplugged
- Enable HDR video streaming on supported displays
- Adjust video processing options for supported graphics hardware
Why it matters
Video streaming is one of the most common daily activities on a PC, and these settings directly affect both visual quality and battery life during playback. Enabling battery-saving options can meaningfully extend runtime on a laptop during long flights or workdays away from a charger. HDR video settings matter increasingly as more displays and streaming services support high dynamic range content, and getting the setting wrong can mean paying for 4K HDR content but never actually seeing the benefit. For users on metered or unreliable connections, automatic quality adjustment prevents buffering interruptions.
Best practices
- Enable battery saving video quality if you frequently watch video unplugged
- Turn on HDR video streaming only if your display supports HDR to avoid washed-out colors on unsupported panels
- Leave automatic quality adjustment on for the smoothest playback on variable connections
- Revisit these settings after connecting a new external HDR monitor
Common problems and fixes
- Video looks washed out after enabling HDR streaming
- Turn off HDR video streaming unless your display is confirmed HDR-capable and HDR is enabled in Display settings.
- Video quality drops unexpectedly while on battery
- This is expected if battery saving video quality is enabled; disable it if you prefer full quality regardless of power source.
- Playback stutters even with good internet
- Check hardware acceleration settings in the browser or app being used, as this page only affects native Windows video processing.
Tips and tricks
- Check Display settings to confirm HDR is enabled at the system level before troubleshooting video HDR issues
- Turn off automatic quality adjustment temporarily to force maximum quality on a known-fast connection
Frequently asked questions
Does this affect YouTube or Netflix quality?
It can influence apps that use Windows' built-in media pipeline, though many streaming services manage their own quality settings within the browser or app.
Will HDR video drain my battery faster?
HDR processing can use more power, so battery saving mode will automatically reduce quality when unplugged if enabled.
Do I need special hardware for HDR video?
Yes, both your display and graphics hardware need to support HDR for this setting to have a visible effect.
Related settings
- HDR SettingsHDR settings let you turn on high dynamic range on a supported display, adjust HDR brightness balance, and stream HDR video content for a wider range of colors and contrast.
- Display SettingsDisplay settings allow you to adjust screen resolution, brightness, scaling, and multiple monitor configurations. Proper display configuration improves visual clarity and productivity.
- Apps & FeaturesApps & Features lists every application installed on your PC, including size, install date, and whether it came from the Microsoft Store or a traditional installer. From here you can uninstall software you no longer need, modify or repair certain apps, and move installed apps to a different drive to free up space on your main disk.
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