Color problems
Why does YouTube change my video's colors? HDR, P3 and tags
Short answer
YouTube shows your video the way its metadata describes it. HDR uploads are converted to SDR for screens that can't show HDR, which often looks flatter; HDR graded in DCI-P3 instead of Rec. 2020 PQ or HLG produces incorrect results, YouTube says; and SDR exports with missing or wrong color tags make players guess. For SDR, export Rec. 709 and tag it; for HDR, follow YouTube's HDR requirements.
Key takeaways
- HDR videos need HDR metadata; YouTube makes HDR versions for HDR devices and an SDR downconversion for everyone else (YouTube Help).
- Grade HDR in Rec. 2020 with PQ or HLG; YouTube says other configurations, including DCI-P3, produce incorrect results.
- Viewers on non-HDR devices see the SDR version, which can look flatter than your HDR master.
- For SDR, export Rec. 709 and tag primaries, transfer and matrix as BT.709 so players don't guess.
- Judge color in a browser and on a phone, not only in QuickTime, which interprets gamma differently.
Find your case
| What you see | What it usually means | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| HDR video looks gray or flat on most screens | YouTube's SDR down-conversion | Control the SDR version (step 1) |
| Colors wildly off, HDR graded in P3 | DCI-P3 isn't a supported HDR configuration | Grade in Rec. 2020 PQ or HLG (step 2) |
| SDR video slightly darker or more saturated | Missing or wrong color tags; player guessed | Export tagged Rec. 709 (step 3) |
| Looks different in QuickTime than in Chrome | Players handle Rec. 709 gamma differently | Judge in a browser (step 4) |
| Only some viewers see a difference | HDR vs SDR devices see different versions | Check both versions (step 1) |
| Washed out, gray | HDR shown as SDR, or SDR without color tags | Tag SDR as Rec. 709; check HDR metadata |
| Green or magenta tint | Wrong color matrix or range (full vs limited) | Export limited range, BT.709 matrix |
| Oversaturated | P3 or Rec. 2020 colors shown as Rec. 709 | Export in the color space you graded for |
Fix it step by step
Expect two versions of an HDR upload
YouTube detects HDR metadata, makes HDR transcodes for HDR devices and an SDR down-conversion for everything else. Viewers on non-HDR devices see the SDR version. If you care how that looks, YouTube's HDR help covers more control over the SDR conversion.
Grade HDR in Rec. 2020 with PQ or HLG
YouTube says HDR videos need HDR metadata in the codec or container, and that grading in a different configuration, including DCI-P3, produces incorrect results. Export from a supported app such as DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, After Effects or Final Cut Pro.
For SDR, export and tag Rec. 709
Set your project and export to Rec. 709 and make sure the file carries color primaries, transfer and matrix tags. Untagged files are interpreted differently by different players.
Judge the result in a browser
QuickTime and some editors display Rec. 709 with a different gamma than Chrome and the YouTube apps, so the same file can look lighter in one and darker in the other. Compare your export and the upload in the same browser.
Avoid accidental HDR
iPhone clips are HDR by default. If you edit them on an SDR timeline without conversion, colors shift twice. Convert to SDR at the start or turn off HDR Video for footage meant for SDR delivery.
Tag an SDR export correctly
- In your editor, set the output to Rec. 709 (BT.709), limited (video) range.
- With FFmpeg, tag the file explicitly:
ffmpeg -i in.mov -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -pix_fmt yuv420p -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 -c:a copy out.mp4 - Check the tags:
ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries stream=color_space,color_transfer,color_primaries,color_range -of default=nw=1 out.mp4
Free tool:Inspect color tags
Why your YouTube video turns green
A green or magenta cast, or blocky green frames, comes from a mismatch in how the color data is described: the wrong matrix (BT.601 vs BT.709), full-range values marked as limited, or a corrupted segment. Re-export with the BT.709 tags above and limited range. If only one player shows it, update that app or the graphics driver; if everyone sees it, the file is the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my video look washed out on YouTube?
Usually it is an HDR file being shown as SDR, or an untagged SDR export. Upload SDR tagged Rec. 709, or HDR graded in Rec. 2020 PQ/HLG with proper metadata.
Does YouTube support HDR?
Yes, with HDR metadata in the file. Viewers on HDR devices see HDR; everyone else gets an SDR down-conversion.
Can I grade HDR in DCI-P3 for YouTube?
No. YouTube says to grade in Rec. 2020 with PQ or HLG; DCI-P3 produces incorrect results.
Why does YouTube darken my videos?
Usually the player reads your file's gamma differently from your editor, or an HDR video is shown as its SDR version. Tag SDR exports as Rec. 709 and compare in a browser.
Why does my YouTube video turn green?
The color matrix or range in the file is wrong or missing, so the player decodes the colors incorrectly. Re-export with BT.709 tags and limited range.
Does YouTube convert HDR to SDR?
Yes. YouTube makes HDR versions for HDR devices and an SDR downconversion for others, so viewers on standard screens see the SDR version.
Sources
- YouTube Help: Upload High Dynamic Range (HDR) videos (official, checked 2026-10-05)
- YouTube Help: Recommended upload encoding settings (official, checked 2026-10-05)
Reviewed 2026-10-06. Steps not attributed to a source are general video practice or computed above.