How to change display color profile on Windows 11

If you want colors to render accurately on your display, you have to set the correct color profile.

Windows 11 Color Management
Windows 11 Color Management / Image: Mauro Huculak
  • To change the color profile on Windows 11 24H2, open Settings > System > Display > Color profile, click “Add profile,” and open the “ICM” or “ICC” file to change the profile.
  • On Windows 11 23H2 and older versions, open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, click the adapter properties setting, click on “Color Management” from the “Color Management” tab, choose the display, open the “ICM” or “ICC” file, and click “Close.”

On Windows 11, you can add and change a monitor’s color profile to ensure that colors appear as accurately as possible on the screen. In this guide, I will show the steps to complete this configuration, whether you have an older or newer version of Windows.

What is a color profile?

A color profile is a file with instructions that describe how the system should render the correct colors for a specific display. You’ll find two types of profiles, including the ICC and ICM.

While both profiles are virtually the same, “ICC” stands for International Color Consortium, the organization that created the standard format for this profile type, and “ICM” stands for Image Color Management, a term used by Microsoft for color profiles.

How to find and download color profiles?

The easiest way to download color profiles is to open your display manufacturer’s support website, search for your display model, and download the corresponding files on the support page.

Usually, display manufacturers provide these profiles as part of the support aside from the drivers. However, anyone can create and share a color profile. For instance, for this guide, while looking for the profile for my monitor, I found out that the Rtings website also offers color profiles in its reviews. You may also find color profiles from well-known video and photo editing companies.

It’s important to note that sometimes, computer manufacturers will preinstall the corresponding profile in the default installation of Windows 11. Also, when purchasing a monitor, the box typically includes a disc with the drivers and the different profiles, or at least you will receive instructions to download the files from the support website.

In this guide, I will outline the steps to add and switch color profiles on Windows 11.

Change color profile on Windows 11 24H2

To change the color profile of a display on version 24H2 and higher releases, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Display page.

  4. Click the Color profile setting to open the “Color management” page.

    Windows 11 24H2 Color profile settings

  5. Select the display to change the setting (multi-monitor display).

  6. Click the Add profile button from the “Add color profile” setting.

    Change color profile on Windows 11 24H2

  7. Select the ICM or ICC file with the color calibration information.

  8. Click the Open button to set the new profile.

  9. (Optional) Click the profile setting and click on “Set as system default.”

Once you complete the steps, the monitor should now render the most optimal colors on the screen.

If you have multiple profiles, you can switch them from Settings > System > Display > Color profile and clicking the “Set profile” button. You can also switch profiles from System > Display.

Remove color profile on version 24H2

To remove a profile from your computer, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Display page.

  4. Click the Color profile setting to open the “Color management” page.

    Windows 11 24H2 Color profile settings

  5. Click on the profile you no longer want.

  6. Click the Remove option.

    Windows 11 24H2 remove and reset color profile

After you complete the steps, the color profile will be removed from Windows, and the settings will reset to the generic configuration.

On Windows 11 23H2, you can switch profiles from System > Display from the “Color profile” setting.

Change color profile on Windows 11 23H2

To change the color profile on version 23H2 and older releases, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Display page.

  4. Click the Advanced display setting under the “Related settings” section.

    Windows 11 23H2 open Advanced display

  5. Choose the monitor from the “Select a display to view or change its settings” option.

  6. Click the “Display adapter properties for Display X” setting.

    Windows 11 open display adapter settings

  7. Click the Color Management tab.

  8. Click the Color Management button.

    Legacy Color Management

  9. Choose the display from the “Device” drop-down menu.

  10. Check the “Use my settings for this device” option.

  11. Click the Add button.

    Legacy add color profile option

  12. Click the Browse button.

    Associate color profiles browse option

  13. Open the folder with the color profile file.

  14. Select the ICM or ICC file.

  15. Click the Add button.

  16. Click the OK button.

  17. (Optional) Click the “Set as Default Profile” button.

  18. Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, the screen should now display colors more accurately.

Remove color profile on version 23H2

To remove a specific color profile from your computer, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on System.

  3. Click the Display page.

  4. Click the Advanced display setting under the “Related settings” section.

    Windows 11 23H2 open Advanced display

  5. Choose the monitor from the “Select a display to view or change its settings” option.

  6. Click the “Display adapter properties for Display X” setting.

    Windows 11 open display adapter settings

  7. Click the Color Management tab.

  8. Click the Color Management button.

    Legacy Color Management

  9. Choose the display from the “Device” drop-down menu.

  10. Select the profile from the list.

  11. Click the Remove button.

    Windows 11 23H2 remove color profile

After you complete the steps, the profile file will be deleted, and the screen will continue to work, using the default settings to display colors.

Although the default color rendering should be fine for most users, it’s a critical component for those working with video and photo editing, graphic designers, and gamers.

It’s important to note that setting a color profile does not replace color calibration. If your work relies on color accuracy, you should be using both features.

Color profile vs color calibration

On the one hand, the color profile contains information about a display’s specific capabilities, which helps the operating system render color more accurately. On the other hand, color calibration uses software and sometimes hardware (colorimeter) to measure your monitor’s response to various colors, and then you can use this information to adjust the settings on the monitor.

You can even use calibration to capture the correct measurements to create a custom color profile.

The reason why you have to use both color methods is that all displays will show colors differently, even those from the same company and the same model. For instance, I have a multi-monitor setup. One of the monitors has a brightness level of 36, and the other one is set to 45 for a more even viewing experience.

Are you using a custom color profile on your computer? Let me know in the comments.

About the author

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].