How to Calibrate HDR Display in Windows 11 Easily

Getting Started with HDR Calibration

Windows HDR calibration requires you to turn off any built-in picture effects on your monitor before you start the process. Turning off these extra settings on your screen stops them from messing with the color adjustments and helps the official Windows HDR Calibration app read your display correctly.

Some displays have post-processing effects that can interfere with calibration. If the Windows HDR Calibration app acts up, check your monitor's physical settings menu for options to disable these enhancements. Calibrate the HDR display under your typical lighting conditions; if you game in the dark, calibrate in the dark.

Aim for a balanced, natural look.

Step 1Download the Windows HDR Calibration App

Windows HDR calibration starts by downloading ⬇️ the official and free Windows HDR Calibration app directly from the Microsoft Store. Open the store app on your computer, search for the tool by name, and click the download button to install it 💿 on your system before you begin setting up your monitor.

• Click the Start button on your taskbar.
• Type Microsoft Store and select it when it appears.
• Once the Microsoft Store is open, use the search bar at the top to search for Windows HDR Calibration.
• Find the app in the search results and click the Get or Install button to download and install it.

Step 2Prepare Your Display

Windows HDR calibration only works correctly when you turn on the high dynamic range feature and place the app window on the exact monitor you want to adjust. Open your display settings, make sure the correct screen is active, and switch on the feature so the app can read your screen properly.

• Right-click on your desktop and choose Display settings.
• Scroll down to the HDR section.
• Find the toggle switch for Use HDR and make sure it is turned On for the display you want to calibrate.

If you have more than one display, make sure the correct one is selected at the top of the Display settings window before turning on HDR.

Step 3Launch the Calibration App

With HDR enabled and the app installed, you're ready to start calibrating. The app will guide you through the process.

• Click the Start button again.
• Type Windows HDR Calibration and select the app when it appears.
• The app will open. Click the Get started button to begin.

Calibrating Your Display's Brightness Levels

Calibrating your display's brightness levels involves using simple sliders within the app to fine-tune how your screen shows dark and bright images. The app shows test patterns, and your goal is to adjust each slider until the pattern disappears, showing the best setting for your display.

Step 4Adjusting Minimum Luminance

Windows HDR calibration uses the minimum luminance slider to set the darkest shades your monitor can display without losing detail. Drag this slider to the right until the test pattern blends completely into the background and disappears from your view.

• You will see a slider labeled Minimum Luminance and a test pattern below it.
• Drag the Minimum Luminance slider to the right until the pattern is no longer visible. This tells the app the darkest level your display can show accurately.
• Click the Next button once the pattern disappears.

Step 5Setting Maximum Luminance

Windows HDR calibration relies on the maximum luminance slider to determine the brightest possible light output for your screen. Move the slider to the right until the test pattern vanishes from the screen, then save the setting to lock in the peak brightness limit.

• You will now see a slider for Maximum Luminance and another test pattern.
• Adjust the Maximum Luminance slider to the right until the test pattern just becomes invisible.
• Click Next after you have made the adjustment.

Step 6Fine-Tuning Max Full Frame Luminance

Windows HDR calibration features a max full frame luminance test that controls how your monitor handles bright images that cover the entire screen. Adjust the slider until the test pattern is no longer visible to ensure bright full-screen scenes look natural and balanced.

• Find the Max Full Frame Luminance Test slider and its pattern.
• Move the slider until the pattern can no longer be seen.
• Click Next to continue.

Adjusting Color Saturation and Finalizing

With the brightness levels set, the app moves on to color. This is where you can control how vibrant your colors look.

Step 7Setting Color Saturation

Windows HDR calibration lets you adjust color saturation to control how rich and vivid colors appear for both standard and high dynamic range content. Drag the slider left or right to find the color intensity that looks the most natural and pleasing to your eyes.

• You will see a slider for SDR and HDR content color saturation. There is a default setting on the left and a more saturated option on the right.
• Drag the slider left or right to find the color saturation level that looks best to you. Remember: don't overdo it!
• Click Next when you are happy with the color balance.

The difference here might be subtle and depends on your display's capabilities. Trust your eyes to decide what looks most pleasing and natural.

Step 8Review and Save Your Settings

Windows HDR calibration finishes by showing you a comparison between your original settings and your new custom profile. Check the before and after images to see if the colors look more balanced and detailed, and click restart if you want to try adjusting the sliders again.

• Compare the Before and After images. Do the calibrated settings look better? Are the colors more balanced? Is there more detail visible in the bright and dark areas?
• If you are not happy with the results, click the Restart button. This will take you back to Step 3 to try the calibration again.
• If you are satisfied with the calibration, click the Finish button. This saves your new settings as a custom color profile for your display.

Step 9Confirm the Profile Save

After clicking "Finish," you will likely see a confirmation message.

• Click OK on the confirmation dialog box.

You can now close the Windows HDR Calibration app. Your display is now calibrated!

Managing Your Display's Color Profiles

Windows HDR calibration automatically generates and saves a custom color profile to help your operating system show accurate colors on your monitor. Over time, calibrating multiple displays creates a list of saved profiles that you may need to clean up or manage.

Color profiles, especially those created by the Windows HDR Calibration app or for different displays, accumulate over time. To remove an unwanted color profile, you can use Windows' Color Management tool, which helps you manage all display color settings in one place.

How to Remove a Color Profile

• Click the Start button.
• Type color management and select the Color Management app from the search results.
• In the Color Management window, click on the All Profiles tab.
• You will see a list of all color profiles installed on your system. Find the profile you want to delete. It might have a name related to the HDR calibration or your display model.
• Select the profile by clicking on it.
• Click the Remove button.
• You might get a confirmation prompt; click Yes or OK to confirm.

Windows lets you remove old color profiles through the built-in Color Management app when you no longer need them on your system. Open the start menu, search for color management, open the tool, and delete any unwanted profiles from the all profiles tab.

Summary

Using the free Windows HDR Calibration app can greatly improve how your HDR display looks, making colors more accurate and details clearer for games and movies. Remember to recalibrate if you change your monitor setup, and you can remove custom color profiles through the Color Management tool if needed.