Windows HDR Calibration

Windows HDR Calibration is a free display configuration tool that enables Windows 11 PC users to properly calibrate their monitor or TV display to render Windows apps and multimedia that is graded with HDR colors, extracting maximum capabilities from their displays, and ensuring that content is showcased in a way creators intended.



HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a modern display technology that allows for a wider range of brightness and color compared to standard dynamic range displays.

While SDR content is graded and calibrated to always be shown identically on all displays, HDR is a dynamic color reproduction format that can be reproduced on consumer devices in many ways, depending on the hardware capabilities of their display hardware, such as brightness, contrast, and color settings.

HDR calibration procedure is highly essential for ensuring that the viewing experience of HDR content is done in an accurate way. A poorly calibrated display may result in washed-out colors, loss of detail, or a lack of contrast, which can impact the quality of the content of all types, from desktop surfaces to multimedia content and video games.

Key Features

Windows HDR Calibration by Microsoft comes in the form of a simple-to-use dashboard that allows users of all knowledge levels to quickly calibrate their display for accurate reproduction of HDR and Auto HDR content.

This process can be started by first ensuring that the display has been switched to the HDR mode of operation (which can be done from the Display Settings utility in the Windows 11 OS), and then simply clicking on the “Get Started” button.

This will start the calibration sequence that will ask the users to simply match on-screen elements to set the accurate dark and white points that the screen can achieve.

Microsoft HDR Calibration tool does not feature any other HDR configuration tools. For those users, users are encouraged to go to the HDR section of their Display tab in the Windows 11 Settings app.

There, they can manage various HDR functions, such as support for streaming video, Auto HDR, SDR content brightness, and more.

FAQs

What is the Windows HDR Calibration app used for?
The app helps calibrate HDR displays by tweaking brightness and color saturation, so you can get the most accurate and consistent visuals when HDR is enabled in Windows. 

Which test patterns does the app use, and why?
It uses three test patterns recommended by the HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG) to set the darkest visible detail, the brightest visible detail, and the maximum display brightness. 

What are the requirements for using the HDR calibration tool?
You must run Windows 11, have an HDR-capable display, have HDR turned on in your system settings, and use a modern GPU (e.g., NVIDIA GTX 10xx or newer) with a display driver version of WDDM 2.7 or later. 

How do I adjust color saturation for HDR and SDR content?
In the app, you drag a slider during calibration to set the saturation of both HDR and SDR content, moving left for less saturated colors and right for more saturated ones, and the changes depend on your display’s characteristics.

PROS

• Enhanced display quality with vivid HDR visuals
• Precise color calibration for accurate image reproduction
• Improved viewing experience for HDR content
• Fine-tuning options for personalized display settings
• Better visual clarity and detail in compatible applications

CONS

• Limited compatibility with older displays and GPUs
• Potential color accuracy discrepancies due to calibration
• Possible performance impact on lower-end systems
• Reliance on display and GPU drivers for optimal results

Overall

Windows HDR Calibration app is a crucial tool for ensuring that HDR content is displayed accurately and optimally on all HDR-compatible displays that a modern Windows 11 PC can be connected to. It is important to note that this app is only optimized to work on the Windows 11 operating system.