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Customization

Assign the Right Colour Profile per Monitor

Two monitors with two different colour characters need two profiles. Windows applies one per display, and only apps that ask for it get the benefit.

by@guidox updated:10/31/26 time:15 min level:Beginner tested on:Windows 11 24H2 works on:Windows 10, Windows 11 tools:ICC profile file
TL;DR

Install the vendor **ICC file**, assign it per display in **Colour Management**, and set it as the default for that device. Games ignore it; colour-managed apps and Windows itself use it.

Before you start

Requirements

  • Windows 11
  • An ICC or ICM file for the monitor
  • Two monitors to compare
Step by step

Instructions

01

Get the profile for the exact model

The vendor ships ICC files per panel, not per series. Download the one matching the model number on the label, not the marketing name on the box.

⚠ warningA profile from a review unit of the same model is close but not correct. Panel variance is real.
02

Install the file

Right-click the .icc file and choose Install profile. Windows copies it into the system colour folder; the assignment is a second, separate step.

%SystemRoot%\ystem32\pool\rivers\olor
03

Assign it per display

Open Colour Management, pick each monitor in the device list and add its profile. The last profile in the list is the default; remove old entries to stop guessing.

colorcpl
04

Check the calibration checkbox

Under the advanced tab, enable **Use Windows display calibration**. Without it the profile is installed but not applied to the desktop and to colour-managed apps.

Colour Management > Advanced > Use Windows display calibration
tipThe checkbox is per user. A second account on the same PC starts with the default profile.
05

Know which apps use it

Photoshop, Lightroom, Firefox and the Windows photo viewer ask the system for the profile. Games and most video players draw straight to the display and ignore it completely.

06

Compare the two screens properly

Open the same colour-managed image on both displays and look at a neutral grey and a skin tone. A visible difference after the assignment points at the panel, not at the profile.

Troubleshooting

Common issues

The profile has no visible effect

The calibration checkbox is off, or the app ignores profiles. Test in a colour-managed viewer before you suspect the file.

HDR mode changes everything

HDR bypasses the SDR profile. Calibrate HDR separately and accept that the SDR profile only applies with HDR off.

The wrong profile is applied after a monitor swap

Windows associates profiles with the port, not the panel. Reassign the profile after changing cables or inputs.

Colours look worse than before

The file may be for a different panel revision. Remove the profile and compare with the sRGB default.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Do I need a colorimeter for this?

To measure your own panel, yes. A vendor profile is a reasonable starting point without one.

Can I use one profile for both monitors?

You can assign it, but it is only correct for the panel it was measured on.

How to undo this

Remove the profile in **Colour Management** and untick **Use Windows display calibration**. The installed file can stay in the colour folder without affecting anything.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-31
    First version
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