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Before you begin: select the OLED monitor and confirm HDR support
- Connect and power on the monitor, then open Settings > System > Display.
- If more than one display is connected, select the OLED gaming monitor you want to configure. Make sure you are changing settings for that screen, not another monitor.
- Open the selected display’s HDR settings and turn on HDR if Windows reports that the display supports it. Check the capability indicators for HDR video, games, and apps rather than assuming that an OLED panel automatically means HDR is available over the current connection. See Microsoft’s HDR settings in Windows and overview of HDR in Windows.
This workflow is for Windows 11. Microsoft’s current requirements for the HDR Calibration app call for Windows 11 and an HDR-capable display. Microsoft also notes that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025.
Choose the right calibration tool for an external monitor
Use the Windows HDR Calibration app for an external HDR-capable OLED monitor. Do not confuse it with Windows’ separate Display calibration for HDR video feature: Microsoft says that feature calibrates built-in displays only. Its external-display guidance is in Calibrate your HDR display using the Windows HDR Calibration app.
The app is a Windows software calibration aid, not a substitute for professional instrument-based calibration. Microsoft says HDR-certified displays typically work well out of the box; using the app is an option for adjusting how Windows handles HDR on your selected display.
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Check the monitor’s HDR mode and processing
Monitor menus differ, so consult the manual for your exact model to identify its HDR mode and any image-processing controls. Microsoft warns that post-processing effects enabled by default can keep the HDR Calibration app from working as expected; its guidance is to disable such effects through the display’s on-screen display (OSD) when applicable.
Use a straightforward HDR mode intended for PC HDR input if your monitor manual recommends one. There is no universal HDR preset, tone-mapping choice, brightness value, or OLED setting that applies to every model. Avoid hidden service-menu changes and borrowed settings from another panel. For example, LG provides a model-specific manual and support information on its 27GS95QE-B product support page.
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Check app and graphics compatibility
Before launching the app, confirm that HDR is enabled for the correct display. Microsoft also specifies these graphics and driver requirements for the app’s saturation controls:
- AMD RX 400 series or later, or a Ryzen processor with Radeon Graphics.
- Intel 11th Gen integrated graphics or later, or DG1 discrete graphics or later.
- NVIDIA GTX 10xx or later.
- Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.7 or later.
These are Microsoft’s stated compatibility requirements, not a recommendation to buy or replace hardware. If the app does not behave as expected, check Windows Update or your GPU manufacturer for driver updates.
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Calibrate the display with Windows HDR Calibration
- Install Windows HDR Calibration from the Microsoft Store.
- Open the app full screen on the OLED monitor being calibrated. Microsoft lists full-screen mode, Windows 11, and an HDR-capable display with HDR enabled among the requirements.
- Follow the app’s three test patterns. For each, adjust the slider until the pattern is no longer visible, as the app directs. The patterns help set the darkest visible detail, brightest visible detail, and maximum display brightness.
- Adjust the final SDR and HDR saturation controls only if needed. Start near the default and make small changes; Microsoft cautions that excessive saturation can make the image look unnatural or oversaturated. The effect can be subtle and varies by display.
- Finish the app’s process to create its color profile. Microsoft recommends running the calibration under the lighting conditions you normally use for viewing.
Do not copy someone else’s reported slider positions or generic nit values. The app’s patterns are intended to be judged on the selected screen in its current monitor mode, so results can differ between OLED models and settings.
Check the result in your games and manage the profile
After calibration, check familiar HDR content or a game that supports HDR and confirm that the image looks plausible. This is a practical visual check, not a Microsoft-prescribed certification sequence. With multiple displays connected, verify that the app ran on the intended monitor.
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The app creates a color profile that you can remove through the Color Management control panel. Microsoft recommends calibrating again after a display setup change, such as adding or replacing a display. If you change monitor picture modes or processing settings later, the calibration result may no longer match the setup you are using.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use Auto HDR only when it fits the game
Auto HDR is optional and separate from monitor calibration. In Windows 11, find it in the selected display’s HDR settings. Microsoft describes it as a way to increase color range and brightness for supported older games that do not provide native HDR. A game’s own HDR mode and Windows Auto HDR are different paths; use the option that the game supports and that looks better to you. See Microsoft’s guide to using Auto HDR for gaming.
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