androidx / androidx/media

Media3 fails to switch back from HDR/HDR10 to SDR once the playback is stopped

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@microkatz is already working on this.

Since Sep 10, 2026.

bug needs triage
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Description

Version

Media3 main branch

More version details

HDR/HDR10+ to SDR Transition Issue with Media3 both Stremio and Just (video) Player enter correctly in HDR/HDR10/HDR10+ but fails to return to SDR once the the playback is stopped even in the Home of the Launcher (AndroidTV stock)

this is the short version of the story. long version below:

I am experiencing an issue when switching from HDR/HDR10+ video playback back to SDR on an Android TV box connected to a 4K QLED display.
The display supports HDR, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. The issue occurs specifically when playback is handled through Media3/Exo.

WHAT HAPPENS
With Media3 after starting to play HDR* material it goes from SDR to HDR no issue, when playback is quitted the HDR mode does not return to SDR. The display remains in HDR instead of correctly switching back to SDR.

This behavior is consistent and reproducible when using Media3/ExoPlayer, Tested in Both Stremio and Just (Video) Player which uses Media3/exo.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER PLAYBACK ENGINES

I tested the same type of HDR → SDR transition using different playback engines.

Two different YouTube 3rd party applications were tested, and the problem did not occur. HDR content could be followed by SDR content without the HDR state becoming stuck in HDR

Kodi was also tested with an HDR10+ sample. Kodi correctly returned to SDR after HDR10+ playback.

OBSERVED BEHAVIOR

YouTube app https://github.com/Stremio/stremio-bugs/issues/1:
HDR/HDR10+ → SDR: Works correctly
HDR state: Correctly returns to SDR

YouTube app https://github.com/Stremio/stremio-bugs/issues/2:
HDR/HDR10+ → SDR: Works correctly
HDR state: Correctly returns to SDR

Kodi:
HDR/HDR10+ → SDR: Works correctly
Frame-rate switch: Yes
HDR state: Correctly returns to SDR

Stremio / Media3:
HDR/HDR10+ → SDR: Fails
Frame-rate switch: Yes
HDR state: Remains in HDR

Just (Video) Player / Media3:
HDR/HDR10+ → SDR: Fails
Frame-rate switch: Yes
HDR state: Remains in HDR

PLEASE FIX Media3 WHICH IS CLEARLY FAR BETTER THAN THE OTHER ENGINES AND PLAYERS.

Devices:
Samsung 4k QLED Q7F, new
Xiaomi Mi Box S 3rd gen
HDMI cable brand new from UGREEN rated 48Gbps

Devices that reproduce the issue

Samsung 4k QLED Q7F, new
Xiaomi Mi Box S 3rd gen, AndroidTV 14 and Also Xiaomi Mi box S 2nd gen AndroidTV 11
HDMI cable brand new from UGREEN rated 48Gbps

Devices that do not reproduce the issue

I have no idea since i'm focused on AndroidTV 14 but like I said other engines don't have this issue, so I can roll out my devices as buggy

Reproducible in the demo app?

Yes

Reproduction steps

Stremio or Just (Video) Player. exoplayer engine
Choose anything that is HDR/HDR10/HDR10+ or HLG
Play the content for little as 4-5 seconds to let exo match the frame rate if needs to.
Quit the playback, HDR state is on
go back to Home, HDR still active

Expected result

Stremio or Just (Video) Player. exoplayer engine
Choose anything that is HDR/HDR10/HDR10+ or HLG
Play the content for little as 4-5 seconds to let exo match the frame rate if needs to.
Quit the playback, goes Back to SDR mode

Actual result

Still on HDR mode and the playback is quitted. Used Stremio as example but the same thing happens on Just (video) Player

Media engine after quitting playback:
(you can see the green on the play button blown out in colors)

Image

VLC engine after quitting Playback:

Image
Media

https://ff.wetransfer.com/downloads/0f596c6233476b3a74a7005f2912235320210201160114/257cf4

File named: hdr10+test_lake_2021_02_01.zip inside the video

hdr10+test_lake_2021_02_01.mp4

from:
https://ff.de/hdr10plus-metadata-test/

Bug Report
  • You will email the zip file produced by adb bugreport to android-media-github@google.com after filing this issue.

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