Roku's HDR Update Turns Colorful Shows Into Black & White

Written:: on 05 May 2025; by V. Ionut

Roku's HDR Update Sucks the Color Out of Streaming (Literally) If you’ve been watching Andor lately and thought, “Huh, didn’t this galaxy far, far away used to be more colorful?”—you’re not alone. Roku users are reporting that their TVs have decided to take a little creative license with HDR content by turning it into grayscale masterpieces. What started as an issue on Disney Plus has snowballed into a full-blown color crisis across multiple streaming apps.

Who Turned Down the Color?

According to Roku’s community forum, users began noticing washed-out, desaturated visuals—particularly in HDR content—after a recent Roku software update. A moderator, going by the name RokuEmmanuel-D (who we assume isn’t a robot but maybe wishes they were right now), confirmed the issue and asked users to share more info: which shows look sad, what TV models they own, and what version of the Roku software they’re running.

From Disney to... Literally Everyone

At first, the blame was placed squarely on Disney Plus and TCL TVs. But as more comments rolled in, it became clear that this wasn’t just a case of one app throwing a tantrum. YouTube TV, Netflix, Apple TV Plus, Amazon Prime Video—they’re all looking like they’ve been filtered through a 1940s newsreel.

Interestingly, some folks reported the problem on Hisense-branded Roku TVs as well. And while the issue seems to plague HDR content from streaming apps, it doesn't show up when playing HDR from a PS5 or a 4K Blu-Ray player. That narrows it down to a Roku software issue, not a total meltdown of TV hardware (thankfully).

Version 14.5... Not So Alive

Most of the affected users mentioned they’re on Roku software version 14.5. Coincidence? We think not. It appears that with this update, Roku may have tried to enhance HDR handling but accidentally dialed it down to "Classic Noir Mode."

HDR: High Drama Resolution

Washed-out HDR isn’t a new complaint among budget TV owners—it’s often why people turn the feature off entirely. But this seems different. We’re talking nearly monochrome images, while app menus and non-HDR content remain perfectly fine. If the menus look great and the shows look like a 1920s film reel, you know something’s gone sideways.

What Can You Do?

At this point, there’s no official fix, but Roku is actively investigating. If you're experiencing the issue:

- Check your Roku software version (Settings > System > About) - Share your model, version, and affected apps on Roku’s support thread - Consider turning off HDR temporarily (we know, it’s not ideal) - Reassure your family that no, your TV didn’t suddenly get possessed

In the Meantime...

Maybe take this opportunity to enjoy some actual black-and-white classics—Casablanca, Psycho, It’s a Wonderful Life. At least those were supposed to be in grayscale.