Frustrated by the sudden changing of colors while gaming on your Windows 11 device? Fret not, mate! This is the sort of issue that has irked a number of gaming aficionados, taking the scene away from their adrenaline-pumping gameplay. The good thing is the automatic changing of colors in games is not a huge deal as you can take control of it through a few adjustments. And that’s precisely what I’m going to discuss in this in-depth troubleshooting Windows guide. On this very note, check out these 19 real-life tested tips to fix colors change while gaming on Windows 11 like a pro.
Fix Colors Change While Gaming on Windows 11
So, what causes the colors to change automatically in games on your PC? From what I have experienced, these are the prime villains that tend to trigger this annoying issue –
- HDR misconfiguration
- Auto HDR enabled
- GPU driver issue
- Display cable fault
- Windows color profile
- Game color settings
- Monitor color mode
- GPU color settings
- Third-party software
- Refresh rate mismatch
- Overclocking instability
- Background apps interference
More often than not, you can resolve this issue with ease by nabbing these culprits and either flushing them out or preventing them from running amuck.
1. Force Kill Your Game and Reboot Your PC
More often than not, you can troubleshoot the automatic color change when gaming issue on your Windows 11 device by force-killing your game and rebooting the device. If the problem has taken center stage due to a temporary glitch, this tip will let you overcome the hurdle with consummate ease.
- Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys at once > Select the game in the left sidebar > Hit End task at the top.
- Now, head into the Start menu > Power icon > Restart.
- Next up, relaunch the game to check if the issue is gone.
2. Disable Auto HDR
Windows 11 comes with the Auto HDR mode, which might be spoiling your game and attempting to alter the colors in games.
- Open Settings on your PC > System > Display.
- Click on HDR and toggle Auto HDR Off.
- After that, you need to restart the game and check if the color distortion persists.
3. Turn Off Night Light
Night Light is designed to add a warm tint to reduce blue light. If this visual feature is active, it might be impacting your game.
- On your PC, launch Settings > System > Display.
- Toggle the Night Light Off and check if the issue is gone.
- However, if the issue persists, click Night Light settings and set Strength to 0%.
4. Disable Color Filters
Windows’ “Color Filters” is a great accessibility feature for folks who have color sensitivity. Ensure this Accessibility feature is disabled on your PC
- On your Windows device, dive into Settings > Accessibility > Color filters.
- Toggle Color filters Off > restart your game to check for changes.
5. Check Game Display Settings
Bear in mind that certain games have built-in color correction settings that allow you to override system settings on Windows 11. So, take a detailed look at the game display settings and fine-tune them perfectly.
- To get it done, head over to the game settings and navigate to Graphics/Display.
- Now, find the Color Mode, Gamma, or HDR settings and reset them to default.
- In the end, make sure to apply changes and restart the game.
6. Update the Problematic Game App
If the problem is related to a specific game app, make sure to update the app as the outdated version might be at the heart of the issue.
- On your PC, head over to the Microsoft Store app > Library tab in the left sidebar > Find the game app and hit the Update button right next to it.
7. Update Graphics Drivers
Keep in mind that the outdated or corrupt graphics drivers are equally responsible for causing the color inconsistencies. Therefore, I’d recommend you update the graphics drivers to restore the color consistencies on your PC.
- Just right-click on the Start menu > Device Manager.
- Now, expand Display adapters > right-click your GPU > select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers and update your driver.
8. Reinstall Graphics Drivers
If colors continue to change while gaming on your Windows device, a clean installation of the graphics drivers would be a viable way to resolve the issue.
- Launch the Device Manager > Expand the Display adapters section > Right-click on the graphics driver > Uninstall device and restart your Windows 11 device so that it can reinstall the latest driver.
9. Reset Your Game App
Unable to bring an ill-functioning game app back on track? Now is the right time to reset the app to flush out the cache and cookies.
- Head into the Settings app > Apps > Installed Apps > Find the game app and hit the ellipsis icon right next to it > Advanced options > click Reset and confirm.
10. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
Be warned that the fullscreen optimizations are also equally responsible for tweaking the colors in some games on Windows.
- First off, right-click the game’s .exe file and select Properties.
- Navigate to the Compatibility tab.
- Next up, check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
- Up next, click Apply > OK.
11. Disable Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Be aware of the fact that the VRR aka Variable Refresh Rate might be interfering with color accuracy in some games.
- On your Windows 11 device, go to the Settings app > System > Display > Graphics.
- Now, click Change default graphics settings.
- Next, disable the Variable Refresh Rate and reboot your device.
12. Adjust GPU Color Settings
Make sure that the wrongly configured GPU settings are not forcing color changes.
Fine (NVIDIA) Color Settings:
- Head straight into the NVIDIA Control Panel > Display > Adjust desktop color settings.
- Now, choose Use NVIDIA settings and adjust Digital Vibrance, Gamma, and Contrast.
Adjust (AMD) Color Settings:
- Go to AMD Radeon Software > Display and disable Custom Color.
13. Disable Windows Game Mode
Windows’ Game Mode puts enhanced performance at the top of the priority list in order to ward off sluggishness. Though the Game Mode is very helpful, sometimes, it tends to automatically tweak certain settings to boost the performance of your gaming.
- To turn off the Game Mode, head over to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode > Disable its toggle and then restart your PC.
14. Turn Off Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
Some modern Windows monitors come with a feature that allows them to change contrast dynamically.
- Launch your monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) menu.
- Navigate to Picture Settings and turn off Dynamic Contrast or Adaptive Contrast.
15. Check Display Cable and Ports
Never overlook a faulty cable or port as it is also responsible for affecting color output.
- So, use a different HDMI/DisplayPort cable.
- Try connecting the monitor to a different port on the GPU.
- Then, you can test the monitor with another PC to rule out hardware failure.
16. Reinstall the Game App
No luck as yet? Should the problem continue to haunt your gaming, reinstall the game app. With a fresh installation, you will be able to wipe out the corrupt files and restore the full functionality of the game.
- Dive into the Settings app > Apps > Installed Apps > Game app > Click on the ellipsis icon next to the game app > Uninstall and confirm the action.
17. Calibrate Display Colors
Windows lets you manually calibrate your display for accurate colors. So, it would be a good idea to calibrate the display colors on your PC.
- Fire up, Settings > System > Display.
- Now, click Advanced display settings > Display adapter properties.
- Go to the Color Management tab and choose Calibrate display.
- Next up, go through the on-screen instructions to adjust brightness, contrast, and gamma.
18. Reset Monitor to Factory Settings
Do you know that certain monitors store custom color profiles, which at times, tend to conflict with system settings?
- Navigate to your monitor’s OSD menu > Find the Factory Reset under the Settings/System tab.
- After that, select Reset All to restore the default color settings and restart your PC.
19. Check Windows Color Profile
Misconfigured color profiles could be paving the way for washed-out or oversaturated colors on your PC.
- Open Settings on your Windows computer > head into the System tab in the left sidebar > Display.
- Now, scroll down and click Advanced display settings.
- Then, choose Display adapter properties > Color Management.
- Under the Devices tab, choose your monitor and click Profiles > Remove any custom profiles.
- Once you have made the necessary changes, restart your PC.
Wrapping up…
There you have it, folks! I hope your games are no longer plagued by this vexing Windows 11 issue. Now, feel free to shoot your views and the tips that have managed to restore your gaming in all its glory.
