This display isn't HDR — content shows at standard (SDR) brightness
How to get HDR photos on iPhone
iPhones show HDR beautifully — but a regular JPEG won't glow until it carries a gain map. Here's how to make any photo display in HDR on iPhone.
See the difference
SDR
HDR
This display isn't HDR — content shows at standard (SDR) brightness
1
Open MakeHDR in Safari
On your iPhone, open the converter in Safari or any browser and drop in a photo. It stays on your device.
2
Convert to Ultra HDR
Download the Ultra HDR JPG. iOS reads the embedded gain map and displays the highlights brighter.
3
View or share it
Open it in Photos, post it, or share it — it glows on your iPhone's HDR screen and falls back cleanly elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
A standard JPEG has no gain map, so iOS shows it as SDR. Convert it to Ultra HDR and iPhone displays the highlights brighter.
Yes. Ultra HDR JPGs display in HDR in the iOS Photos app and other supported apps.
No. For HDR photos, MakeHDR runs right in Safari — nothing to install and your photos stay on your device. HDR video can't be made in Safari yet, so for a clip use the MakeHDR app on your iPhone or iPad, or convert on a computer with Chrome or Edge.
Yes — AirDrop and Messages keep the gain map, so the photo still glows on the other iPhone. Some chat apps re-compress images and may drop it.
No. Screens without HDR simply show your normal, full-quality photo — nothing looks broken or washed out.
