How to Install a Screen Color Profile in Windows 10

If we have bought a new monitor for our computer and once connected correctly we check that it is not seen correctly, it is that something is wrong. This problem may be due to the color profile of the Windows 10 screen not being correct. In order to solve it, we are going to see how we can install a color profile that best suits the profile of our monitor.

What is a color profile

First of all, it is important to know what we mean when we talk about a color profile. We know a color profile as an ICC profile , short for the International Color Consortium, or it is also known as an ICM (Image Color Matching) profile . This is a file that contains a .ICC or .ICM extension and that contains the necessary parameters to create a color profile on our monitor. From here the monitor will be in charge of obtaining the color values optimized for the model to achieve a perfect balance of colors.

Install a Screen Color Profile in Windows 10

When installing Windows or connecting a new monitor to the computer, a default profile will automatically be used for this . However, this profile may not be adjusted to our liking depending on the needs of each user. If we are photography professionals, graphic designers or use programs such as Photoshop quite frequently, we may notice quite a difference in color in a photograph or video on the monitor compared to what we can see on other monitors. In these cases it is convenient to change the default profile that Windows includes by default, by the manufacturer’s own profile.

What color profile suitable for our monitor

To obtain perfect colors for our monitor we can choose to look for a manufacturer’s ICC or ICM profile , either from their website or from the installation CD that many monitors incorporate. Above all, because not all color profiles are compatible with our monitor, so it is always recommended to download the .ICM file available from the manufacturer.

Once the file is stored, it is recommended to save it directly in the monitor driver directory , which is the natural place where our monitor profiles are stored. By placing the .ICM file in this directory, the Administrator will detect it and automatically load it into the select list. For this we must access and save the file in the following path C:> Windows> System32> spool> drivers> color

How to access Color Manager

Installing a color profile is something that we can easily do from Windows. For this we will use the Color Manager tool. To access it we will have two ways.

The first way we have to access the Color Manager is as simple as typing your name in Cortana’s search engine . The shortcut will appear directly to us so that we can directly press and open this tool.

Buscar en Cortana Administrador de color

The second option is to access the screen options . To do this we will right-click on the desktop, the Windows context menu will open and we select “Screen settings”. Next, click on “Advanced screen settings”. A new window will appear where we must select “Show the properties of display adapter 1”. Now a new window with three tabs should appear, from which we select “Color Manager” to access it.

Install a profile using Color Manager

Once we have accessed the Color Manager, we must click on the “Device” drop-down list to select our monitor, which will appear as “Screen (number): Generic PnP Monitor (graphics card)” .

Administrador de color seleccionar monitor

The next step is to check the option “Use my settings for this device”. Once marked, click on “Add …” to search for the ICC or ICM file that we have downloaded . In case the file we are looking for is not in the list, we should look for it in the directory where we have stored it using the “Browse …” option.

Once we have loaded the profile, click on “OK” to return to the previous screen. Here we will click on the downloaded profile and later we will select “Set as default profile”.

Administrador de color establecer como perfil predeterminado

Next, we go to the tab on the upper right where it says “Advanced options”. At the bottom we will find “Change the system default values” , on which we must press, reloading the profile so that it is set as default. Once this is done, we must restart the computer for the changes to be applied.

Administrador de color cambiar los valores predeterminados del sistema