How to Calibrate HDR Display in Windows 11 Easily

Getting Started with HDR Calibration

Calibrating your HDR display with the Windows HDR Calibration app helps make your picture look even better, especially after changing your monitor setup. If your screen has extra picture effects that you can’t turn off, check your monitor’s own settings menu to disable them before you start.

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.

Step 1Download the ⬇️ Windows HDR Calibration App

To calibrate your HDR display, you first need to get the free Windows HDR Calibration app from the Microsoft Store. Open the Microsoft Store by clicking the Start button ⊞ and typing ‘Microsoft Store’, then search for the app and click ‘Get’ to download it ⬇️.

• 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

Before you begin calibrating, ensure that HDR is turned on for the specific display you plan to adjust. Also, make sure the Windows HDR Calibration app window is open on that same HDR display so it can properly read your screen’s settings.

• 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 just disappears, showing the best setting for your display.

Step 4Adjusting Minimum Luminance

The Minimum Luminance test helps set the darkest shades your display can show correctly. Look for the Minimum Luminance slider and the test pattern, then drag the slider to the right until the pattern blends into the background and is no longer visible.

• 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

Next, you will set the Maximum Luminance to define the brightest your display can get for HDR content. Use the Maximum Luminance slider and test pattern, moving the slider right until the pattern just disappears from view, then click ‘Next’.

• 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

The Max Full Frame Luminance test adjusts how your display handles very bright, full-screen images. Find the Max Full Frame Luminance slider and its test pattern, and move the slider until the pattern can no longer be seen, then click ‘Next’.

• 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

This step adjusts color intensity for both HDR and SDR content when HDR is on. You’ll see a slider with a less saturated look on one side and a more vivid look on the other; drag it to find the color balance that looks best to you.

• 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.

Step 8Review and Save Your Settings

After calibration, the app shows your original settings next to the new ones. Compare the ‘Before’ and ‘After’ images to see if the calibrated settings look better, with more balanced colors and visible detail. If you don’t like the changes, click ‘Restart’ to try 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

The Windows HDR Calibration app creates a custom color profile for your monitor after you calibrate it, which helps Windows show colors accurately. If you calibrate multiple displays or adjust settings often, you might end up with several profiles you can manage later.

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.

To remove a color profile, click the Start button ⊞, type 'Color Management', and then open the Color Management app. Go to the 'All Profiles' tab within the Color Management app. Find the specific color profile you want to delete, which might be named after your HDR calibration or monitor. Select that color profile to remove it from your system.

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.