This is a "color space" mismatch. To fix this manually:
Don’t forget to check the and Subtitles tabs. HandBrake will often preserve original audio tracks (e.g., 5.1 surround) and subtitle tracks. No special changes are needed here for SDR conversion. convert hdr to sdr handbrake
Remember to always test a short preview first. With a little experimentation, you can produce an SDR video that looks vastly better than simply playing the raw HDR file on an incompatible screen. This is a "color space" mismatch
Note: This guide assumes you own the legal right to convert your video files. Always respect copyright laws and licensing agreements. No special changes are needed here for SDR conversion
True manual HDR-to-SDR conversion requires changing the color space from Rec.2020 (HDR) to Rec.709 (SDR). In HandBrake, this is handled automatically when you select "Use Tone Mapping" in the Dimensions tab.
Before you spend an hour encoding a 2-hour movie:
In the tab, select H.264 or H.265 . (We suggest H.264 for SDR conversion as it creates universally playable files).