Bug 515660 - VRR with HDR causing Gama/brightness flicker
Summary: VRR with HDR causing Gama/brightness flicker
Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 477016
Alias: None
Product: kwin
Classification: Plasma
Component: platform-drm (other bugs)
Version First Reported In: 6.5.5
Platform: Manjaro Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: KWin default assignee
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on: 502202
Blocks:
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Reported: 2026-02-06 22:08 UTC by deemon
Modified: 2026-02-06 22:18 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

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Description deemon 2026-02-06 22:08:16 UTC
+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #502202 +++

SUMMARY
When I don't use VRR, everything is fine. 240Hz, HDR, no flicker. Movies via mpv etc work perfectly with HDR. When I turn VRR on on top of those settings in KDE -- adaptive sync: Always -- even the normal desktop and windowed apps start doing this brightness flickering chaotically. There are some moments flicker free also, so it's not constant strobo at least.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Have HDR enabled and high refresh rate monitor in top refresh rate.
2. Set adaptive sync to Always in KDE settings.
3. Observe flicker.

OBSERVED RESULT
screen brightness / gamma is flickering.

EXPECTED RESULT
no flickering

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Manjaro Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.5.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.22.0
Qt Version: 6.10.1
Kernel Version: 6.18.7-arch1 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Processors: 32 × AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-Core Processor
Memory: 32 GB of RAM (31.3 GB usable)
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
***
The only way how to get rid of this is to disable VRR again (turn adaptive sync to never).

Monitor: AORUS FO32U2P variable refresh rate with a 48-240Hz range
Comment 1 Zamundaaa 2026-02-06 22:18:58 UTC

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 477016 ***