How to Fix HDR Not Working in Amazon Prime Video on Mac

Trying to fix HDR not working in Amazon Prime Video on Mac?

Amazon Prime Video is another popular content streaming service, similar to Netflix. The platform allows users to create a Watch Party and enjoy some of the best movies and TV shows, including Amazon Originals’ Exclusive. And what better way to enjoy a night with your friends than stream content in HDR for the best experience?

Unfortunately, being a top-tier platform doesn’t mean that Prime Video or its supported features are free from flaws or errors. Many Amazon Prime Video users reported they’re experiencing HDR not working in Amazon Prime Video on Mac. While the reasons for this are hard to diagnose, we’ve covered several troubleshooting methods to fix the issue.

So let’s take a look at them right away!

1. Ensure Network Connectivity.

One of the main causes of HDR not working in Amazon Prime Video on Mac is poor internet connectivity. Due to an unstable network connection, you might be unable to stream your content in high quality. 

Check the speed of your network to ensure its stability. You also might want to try changing the position of your device that it’s near a router for better connection.

Below are the steps you must follow:

1. Go to Speedtest by Ookla and click on Go from the center of your screen. 

2. Wait for the speed test to finish, then check your internet strength. 
3. If you find that your Wi-Fi connection is weak, restart your router or move closer to it to ensure you have a strong internet connection.

Once your network connection is stable, check if the HDR is now working in Amazon Prime Video on Mac. 

2. Ensure the Title Supports HDR or Dolby Vision.

Another major reason for this issue may be the unavailability of streaming content in HDR. Amazon Prime Video regularly updates its catalog with new releases of movies and series. 

If your desired content doesn’t support HDR, it’s likely that that’s the reason why you can’t stream it in that quality. So, make sure the tile supports HDR or Dolby Vision by searching for it on the browser.

3. Ensure Your Mac Supports HDR.

Now, if the title supports HDR, yet you’re unable to stream the content, it’s probably because your Mac doesn’t support HDR streaming. Therefore, to check whether your device is compatible with HDR playback, see if your Mac model supports HDR. However, if it doesn’t, proceed to the next solution.

4. Check Playback Quality Settings.

At times, the playback quality of your streaming content might shift automatically to a lower level due to a poor network connection. In order to bring the playback quality back to its original or higher resolution, change the settings.

Here’s how to do so:

1. Open the preferred browser from your Mac and head over to Amazon Prime Video. 
2. Next, sign into your account and play any video. 
3. Pause the video and click on the gear icon from the upper-right corner. 
4. Now, click on Best from the given options. 

5. Lastly, unpause the video and see if the HDR not working in Amazon Prime Video is resolved. If not, head over to the next method to fix your issue. 
   
   

5. Open Prime Video in Safari.

If you’re streaming a title in Amazon Prime Video via web browsers such as Chrome or Firefox and are unable to play it in HDR quality, it may be because not all web browsers support HDR playback. Hence, it’s preferable to switch to Safari as it supports high-quality content streaming.

6. Disable Optimized Video Streaming.

The macOS includes a specific feature known as Optimized Video Streaming. This feature helps save your Mac’s battery life by playing HDR content in SDR. In order to turn this feature off, perform the following steps: 

1. Launch Spotlight Search by pressing Command + Spacebar keys from your Mac’s keyboard. 
2. After that, type in ‘System Settings’ and press the Enter key. 
3. From the left pane, scroll down and choose Battery. 
4. Now, scroll all the way down and select Options from the lower-right corner. 
5. Finally, turn on the toggle for Optimize video streaming while on battery and choose Done from your screen’s bottom-right corner. 

This should successfully fix the HDR not working in Amazon Prime Video on Mac.

 

7. Clear Cache and Cookies for Prime Video.

If the above methods didn’t work to solve your issue, you can try cleaning the cache and cookies for Prime Video. Sometimes, the stored cache may also cause the video streaming quality to subside.

If you’re streaming Amazon Prime Videos through Safari, you can clean out your cache and cookies by following the steps below:

1. Go to Spotlight Search by pressing Command and Spacebar keys simultaneously from your Mac’s keyboard. 
2. Next, type in ‘Safari’ in the search bar and hit the Enter key. 
3. Click on Safari from the top bar and select Settings. 
4. Once in Safari Settings, go to the Privacy tab. 
5. Now, select Manage Website Data. 
6. Type in ‘primevideo.com’ in the search bar located at the screen’s top-right corner and choose the same from the search results. 

7. Then, click on Remove. 
8. Lastly, click on Done to save these changes. 

Once done, head over to Amazon Prime Video and check whether the HDR not working issue is resolved or not. 

8. Reinstall Amazon Prime Video.

If there is no issue with your device and the internet, the problem may be in the app itself. Hence, it’s suggested to uninstall Amazon Prime Video from your Mac and reinstall it. This may fix any internal bugs or issues within the app and allow HDR content streaming.

You can reinstall Amazon Prime Video in the following way:

1. Go to Finder from the Dock. 
2. From the sidebar, click on Applications. 
3. Now, find and click on the Amazon Prime Video app and drag it to Trash. Alternatively, you may click on the app, select File, and choose Move to Trash. 
4. Select Finder from the top and click on Empty Trash to delete the app. 
5. To reinstall the app, head over to the App Store and search for the Amazon Prime Video app. 
6. Finally, click on the Get button or the install icon to install it on your Mac. 

Once the Amazon Prime Video app is reinstalled, check if the HDR not working issue still persists. If it does, consider updating your macOS by following the next method below.

9. Update macOS.

Lastly, an outdated macOS can also cause the HDR to not work in Amazon Prime Video on your Mac. So, it’s best to keep your macOS up to date. By doing so, you can use the latest Safari version to watch Prime Videos in HDR without any issues.

Here’s how to update your macOS:

1. Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences.

2. Locate and select Software Update. 
3. Click on Check for Updates and wait for your system to fetch any pending updates. 
4. If there’s one available, select the Upgrade Now button to allow Apple to install and update your Mac’s software. 

Keep in mind that a software update requires an active internet connection, sufficient battery, and storage. So, connect to a stable Wi-Fi connection, charge your Mac, and remove unnecessary files from your Mac before starting the installation process. 

After your Mac is up-to-date with the latest macOS, the HDR in Amazon Prime Video should work perfectly without any problem. 

Conclusion

The HDR not working in Amazon Prime Video issue can really ruin the whole watching experience. Whether it’s due to a poor internet connection or an incompatible device, the methods mentioned in this guide will be of great help. 

You can use Safari to watch videos or clear the cache of your device to fix this error. Moreover, updating your macOS also enables you to watch Amazon Prime Videos in HDR.

And that sums up our guide on how to fix HDR not working in Amazon Prime Video on Mac. If you have further questions, leave them in the comments section below. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can. 

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