Windows 11 24H2 Update: Auto HDR Crashes Games - How to Fix

Attention, Windows gamers! If you've recently updated your system to the latest Windows 11 24H2 patch and you're seeing your favorite titles crash with all the grace of a game of Jenga in a hurricane, you’re not alone. Microsoft’s shiny feature-packed update has brought an unexpected player into the field: Auto HDR. Instead of boosting immersion in games by making visuals pop, it’s causing games to freeze, crash, misbehave, or refuse to even launch.
Let’s take a deep dive into what’s happening, why Auto HDR is malfunctioning, and how you can protect your gaming experience while waiting for a fix.

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What’s the Problem?​

The Windows 11 24H2 update—which comes with several new features and optimizations—is causing widespread frustration within the gaming community. The issue centers around Auto HDR, a feature many of you might already be familiar with.

Affected Games & Issues​

Gamers are reporting issues in big-name titles like:

• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
• Assassin's Creed Valhalla
• Need for Speed Unbound

The glitches show up in various forms:

• Random game crashes
• Odd and incorrect color displays (imagine your lush green forest turning into neon puke-green)
• Freezing on loading screens
• Some games downright refusing to start

This bizarre mix of errors effectively turns something as simple as booting up Call of Duty into a frustrating techno-puzzle.

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What Is Auto HDR, and Why Does It Matter?​

For the uninitiated, Auto HDR is a feature introduced by Microsoft in Windows 11 to enhance your gaming visuals. It takes Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) content—stuff designed for older monitors—and upgrades it to High Dynamic Range (HDR). The goal? To make the visuals more vivid, offering richer contrasts, brighter highlights, and deeper shadows.

How HDR Works in Gaming​

HDR, or High Dynamic Range, is a technology that allows your display to showcase a broader range of colors and brightness levels compared to SDR. HDR enriches gaming environments by making shiny armor glintier, fires more vibrant, and skies more radiant. Auto HDR essentially applies this technique algorithmically to older games that didn’t originally support HDR, giving them a fresh coat of visual polish.
But here’s the rub: transforming SDR to HDR on-the-fly demands a lot from your system—both in terms of processing power and compatibility with the specific game engine. And it seems that with Windows 11 24H2, the feature didn’t get the memo about cooperating with certain games.
Auto HDR’s intention is noble, but the execution in this case has been less than stellar.

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What Is Microsoft Saying?​

Microsoft has acknowledged the issue—a first step toward recovery. They’ve admitted the problem stems from Auto HDR and are actively working on a solution. But here’s the downside: no timeline has been provided for when a fix or patch will be rolled out.
Recognizing the extent of the problem, Microsoft has placed a safeguard to prevent impacted PCs from automatically receiving the update if Auto HDR is enabled. Clearly, they want to contain the chaos until things settle down.

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Temporary Fixes: How to Avoid Auto HDR Nightmares​

If you’re someone who’s already updated to 24H2 and are watching your frame rates (and patience) crash in real-time, don’t fret—we’ve got steps to neutralize the situation. Disabling Auto HDR seems to be the current go-to workaround until Microsoft swoops in with a permanent fix.

Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Auto HDR​

To turn off Auto HDR and restore your gaming stability, follow these steps:

• Open Settings:
• On your Windows desktop, hit Windows Key + I to open the settings menu.
• Navigate to the Display Options:
• Click on System and then select Display.
• Go to the Graphics Settings:
• Scroll down and find the Graphics link under “Related Settings.”
• Toggle Off Auto HDR:
• You will see the Auto HDR option here—turn it off entirely or disable it specifically for the game that’s causing issues.
• Restart Your PC (Optional but Recommended):
• Give your system a quick reboot to ensure the changes are applied properly.

Pro Tip:​

If you're unable to access the Display settings due to system crashes, you can temporarily disable HDR features through Safe Mode. Not sure how to enter Safe Mode? Reply for further clarification, and we’ve got you covered.

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What Should You Avoid?​

Here are some big no-nos while this issue is still under investigation:

• Avoid force-installing the update using tools like the Media Creation Tool or ISO images if Auto HDR is important to your gaming experience. Microsoft has specifically advised against doing this to save yourself from additional headaches.
• If Auto HDR is something that enhances your gameplay for supported titles, and you don’t want to switch it off entirely, consider pausing updates until the issue resolves. You can do this by navigating to:
  Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Pause Updates.

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Zooming Out: Bigger Lessons from This HDR Drama​

Microsoft’s Auto HDR innovation reflects the company’s continuing focus on enhancing gaming within the ecosystem of Windows 11. However, incidents like this highlight the double-edged sword of pushing technological boundaries. Features like Auto HDR hinge on complex algorithms and hardware-software interactions, and even minor tweaks can throw something as polished as an Assassin’s Creed landscape into chaos.
This issue also exemplifies the risks of "Day One Updates." Gaming enthusiasts often want to stay ahead of the curve, but rushing to upgrade immediately post-launch can backfire when unforseen bugs creep in. It’s a lesson in patience—a virtue that most of us abandon in the thrill of exploring new features.

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What’s Next?​

All eyes are now on Microsoft to provide a fast resolution to the problem and deliver a patch that restores Auto HDR’s performance without compromising stability. In the meantime:

• DIY fixes (like disabling Auto HDR) remain the best way to ensure your gaming isn’t disrupted.
• Expect more updates from Microsoft in the coming weeks to quell this mishap.

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Final Thoughts​

For now, the advice is simple: disable Auto HDR to game without hiccups or crashes. If it’s any comfort, you’re not alone in this, and the community at large is already buzzing with updates and workarounds. Microsoft may have inadvertently dimmed HDR's bright promise with this update, but rest assured, patches are on their way.
Gamers, share your thoughts: Have you been affected by the Windows 11 24H2 update issues? What games have given you trouble? Let us know below, and let’s dive into the discussion.

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Source: KitGuru [Auto HDR is making games crash following Windows 11 24H2 update](https://www.kitguru.net/ HDR is making games crash following Windows 11 24H2 update - KitGuru)