The Ultimate Guide to Perfectly Calibrating HDR on Windows 11

Windows 11 HDR Calibration Step-by-step

To calibrate an HDR display in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Install the Microsoft Calibration app. Search for the Windows HDR Calibration tool in the Microsoft Store, click "Get," and wait for the installation to finish.

Next, Enable HDR. Assuming you have an HDR-capable display, right-click anywhere on the desktop, and select Display Settings from the menu that pops up.

Tip: For detailed steps, refer to our full guide to enabling HDR in Windows 11.

Select the HDR monitor.

Scroll down to find the  “Use HDR” option.

Optionally, by clicking the small arrow located to the right of "Use HDR," you can access additional options to finely adjust the functionality and appearance of HDR. Nonetheless, as we proceed with

Tip: Easily toggle HDR on and off in Windows 11 using a convenient keyboard shortcut. Simply press Win + ALT + B to switch between modes.

Now, it's time to calibrate your HDR Display. Open the Windows HDR Calibration app and click the "Get started" button.

After this, you will receive a notification to modify numerous configurations. For every configuration, simply drag the slider either left or right until the pattern becomes invisible, in order to calibrate the screen. Subsequently, proceed by clicking the "Next" button​​.

Finally, confirm a profile name and click the “Finish” button, followed by the “OK” button​.

Why Calibration Matters for HDR in Windows 11

Calibrating your HDR display can greatly enhance your viewing experience. It involves adjusting the brightness, contrast, and color settings to optimize the display's output.

Benefits include more precise color representation, enhanced shadow detail, and a more immersive and lifelike viewing experience. Put simply, calibrating your display ensures that you fully enjoy the benefits of your HDR panel purchase.

Why Calibration Might Not Help

Calibration is essential before giving up on HDR in Windows 11, but even after calibration, the results may still be unsatisfactory. The reality is that there are numerous computer monitors and TVs labeled as "HDR" that do not meet the necessary specifications for presenting HDR content as intended.

While these screens may have color and brightness capabilities beyond the SDR standard, they lack the required peak brightness and contrast to meet even the basic HDR standards. The reasons behind this and how such monitors are allowed to carry the "HDR" label is a topic for another discussion.

To determine whether your display is capable of HDR, it is recommended to check specialized websites like RTINGS. If your display fails the HDR test, no amount of calibration can overcome its hardware limitations.

Windows 11's handling of HDR deserves acknowledgement. Even on high-quality HDR monitors, the regular desktop environment's appearance in HDR mode has been far from satisfactory.

This is precisely why the introduction of the new HDR keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 is a blessing. It allows users to operate their desktop in SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) and effortlessly switch to HDR mode when launching a game or a movie. Unless you are editing HDR content, there is minimal advantage to having HDR enabled for desktop tasks.

But with a little effort on the front end and a quick toggle to switch between work and play mode, you’ll get the most out of your HDR monitor.