How to enable HDR for apps using ICC profiles on Windows 11

Windows 11 supports HDR for apps that use ICC profiles to display colors, and here's how to enable or disable the feature on compatible applications.

Avatar for Mauro Huculak
@Pureinfotech
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Legacy display ICC color management
Legacy display ICC color management
  • Windows 11 includes HDR support for apps that use ICC profiles.
  • You can enable the “Use legacy display ICC color management” feature on the app > Properties > Compatibility.

On Windows 11, when high dynamic range (HDR) is enabled, some apps that use International Color Consortium (ICC) profiles (such as Photoshop, CorelDraw, and similar apps) do not display colors accurately since they are restricted to the sRGB color gamut. However, the system has a feature that allows these apps to access the whole gamut of HDR-capable displays to show colors more accurately.

The feature is known as “Use legacy display ICC color management,” and you can enable it on each app that can take advantage of the high dynamic range technology.

This guide will teach you the steps to enable or disable HDR support for color-managed applications on Windows 11.

Enable display ICC color management on Windows 11

To turn on HDR support color-managed apps on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Close the app in question.

  2. Right-click the app icon and select the Properties option.

    Windows 11 app context menu

  3. Click the Compatibility tab. Close the app in question.

  4. Under the “Settings” section, check the “Use legacy display ICC color management” option.

    Enable Use legacy display ICC color management

  5. Click the Apply button.

  6. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the app will display more accurate colors and access the full gamut from the HDR display. However, the feature will only take effect when HDR mode is enabled.

Disable display ICC color management on Windows 11

To restrict HDR support for apps, use these steps.

  1. Close the app in question.

  2. Right-click the app icon and select the Properties option.

    Windows 11 app context menu

  3. Click the Compatibility tab.

  4. Under the “Settings” section, clear the “Use legacy display ICC color management” option.

    Disable Use legacy display ICC color management

  5. Click the Apply button.

  6. Click the OK button.

After completing the steps, apps that use the International Color Consortium display color profiles will again be limited to the sRGB color gamut.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].