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ELDEN RING

ELDEN RING HDR Setup and Washed-Out Colors on PC

For enabling HDR, a missing in-game HDR option or a pale, washed-out picture on the Windows Steam version.

Edited by Gemnao Editorial Team (Japanese)Last checked 2026-10-18
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The short answer

Set up HDR for the actual gaming display in Windows first, then restart the game and compare its HDR settings. Windows HDR Calibration is for Windows 11. Display capability, connection and picture settings all matter; use SDR if it produces a clearer result.

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Key facts

Game support
The existing game reference includes HDR support.
Windows first
Settings → System → Display → select the display → HDR.
Calibration app
Microsoft’s Windows HDR Calibration app requires Windows 11 and an HDR-capable setup.
Fallback comparison
Compare SDR in the same scene rather than forcing a poor HDR result.

Report an issue or a fix

Find your symptom

Start with your symptom. Skip steps that do not apply to your setup.

What you seeWhat to checkGo to
HDR cannot be selected in the gameCheck Windows HDR, the display and connection.Step 1
HDR looks pale or washed outCompare calibration and brightness settings.Step 2
The picture remains poor after adjustmentCompare SDR; the symptom does not prove one specific fault.Step 4

Fixes, in order

Continue this issue

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Step 1｜Enable HDR for the selected Windows display

Close the game before changing the Windows display setup.

Time: A few minutes · Risk: low

  1. Exit the game.
  2. Open Settings → System → Display and select the monitor used for the game.
  3. Enable HDR or Use HDR. If unavailable, check display capability, connection, display mode and driver; absence of the toggle alone does not identify which requirement is missing.

Results that did not fix the problem help the next reader too.

Step 2｜Use Windows HDR Calibration on Windows 11

Follow the app’s patterns for the display you actually play on.

Time: Several minutes · Risk: low

  1. On Windows 11 with a compatible HDR setup, obtain Windows HDR Calibration from Microsoft Store. On Windows 10, skip this app and use the game/display controls instead.
  2. Run the app on the intended HDR display and follow its dark, bright and saturation patterns in your usual room lighting.
  3. Finish and save the calibration profile, then confirm the intended display/profile before comparison.

Results that did not fix the problem help the next reader too.

Step 3｜Restart and compare the in-game HDR settings

Keep one repeatable dark scene and one bright scene for comparison.

Time: Several minutes · Risk: low

  1. Launch the game again and enable its HDR setting.
  2. Adjust the game’s HDR brightness controls while comparing both a dark cave and a bright outdoor view; avoid changing every control together.
  3. Inspect the monitor’s own HDR preset using its manual. Record and restore any preset change that makes the result worse.

Results that did not fix the problem help the next reader too.

Step 4｜Compare with HDR off

Choose a usable picture rather than treating HDR as automatically better.

Time: A few minutes · Risk: low

  1. Turn off in-game HDR and compare the same scene.
  2. If SDR is clearer, use it and keep a note of the HDR settings tested.
  3. Unofficial color/HDR mods are separate from calibration and may require an anti-cheat-disabled setup. Do not use a bypassed or modified setup for normal online play.

Results that did not fix the problem help the next reader too.

Avoid

  • Do not judge a Windows HDR change solely while the game remains open; restart the game before comparison.
  • Do not connect online with an anti-cheat bypass or incompatible color modification.

Important cautions

  • Results depend on the monitor. Check its HDR instructions and retain original settings.

FAQ

Why did the desktop become too dark or pale?

Windows maps SDR and HDR differently. Inspect the SDR content brightness or HDR content brightness balance for the selected display; the available control depends on display type.

What if washed-out colors remain?

Compare SDR and record whether the problem affects only this game or other HDR content. The existing community reference describes unofficial corrections, but those are not a guaranteed fix or a suitable basis for ordinary online play.

How do I check whether my monitor supports HDR?

Inspect Windows HDR capabilities and the monitor’s specification. A missing toggle can also involve the cable, port, display mode or driver, so do not infer lack of panel support from the toggle alone.

Sources

English adaptation of the existing Japanese guide, preserving its step IDs, actions and precautions. Game-specific file paths and community-documented behavior are retained from the original’s September 2026 review; they are not new live-game measurements. Publisher and Windows guidance is distinguished from editorial comparisons. Preserve current data and original settings before a change.

PCGamingWiki: ELDEN RING reference retained from the Japanese guideMicrosoft: Windows HDR settings and calibrationMicrosoft: Windows HDR settings and calibrationELDEN RINGJapanese version of this page