How can I keep my preferred RGB or YCbCr color mode?

Select the desired format in the display's Color Mode menu, then enable Configuration Protection > Color Mode in that display's App Menu block. BetterDisplay saves the selected non-HDR format and attempts to restore it when it changes.

For an HDR connection, select the desired format while HDR is active and use HDR Color Mode protection. Color Mode saves the non-HDR format. HDR Color Mode saves the HDR format. Color mode describes the connection format, such as RGB or YCbCr, bit depth and range. It is separate from an ICC color profile.

These protections require Pro and Apple silicon connection-mode information. BetterDisplay must remain running, and the desired mode must be available through the current connection. If a dock or adapter stops offering the mode after wake, protection cannot select it until it becomes available again.

Configuration Protection shows the saved format. Check the current Color Mode list to see whether it is still available. If the available list shrinks after wake, compare the current Color Mode choices and connection information. You can try an adapter reset or display reinitialization, then check the available formats again.

Protection corrects a mismatch by switching back to an available matching mode. The monitor can briefly go black while it resynchronizes. You may not notice this during wake. If the current format already matches the saved one, BetterDisplay does not need to switch it.

Keep BetterDisplay running to restore the format automatically. Editing the default resolution or refresh rate does not save a system-wide default color format that works with BetterDisplay closed.

For a full comparison and restoration procedure, see fix an output-range mismatch and keep a working color mode.

See Configuration Protection and Color Mode for selecting and protecting a format.