How to install a Color Profile in Windows 10 using an ICC Profile 2023

Have you ever wondered why an image was different on each monitor? Why do some of the pictures taken from one phone look much better on another phone's display? The answer is how the display has been configured to produce the correct color for this image. Imagine a computer-based configuration file to make sure that it can choose the right color from the images and view it. This file calls a Color profile.

Install a color profile with the help of an ICC profile

In this article, I'm going to show you how to install a color profile in Windows 10 using a ICC Profile by covering the following topics:

What is a color profile?
What are the ICM and ICC files?
Find and download the color profile for your monitor
Install a color profile in Windows 10

Be sure to review each one before installing the color profile of your monitor.

1) What is a color profile?

Although I explained it in simple terms above, but let's dig a little deeper. The display of a specific color has certain aspects: Display Driver and Monitor. A combination of both sets the number of colors displayed. I will keep the display driver away from here.

A color profile is like a manual that defines how a monitor can create colors and how to use them. They are written by the monitor hardware. You can also call them Blue Prints. Thus, when the operating system wants to print colors on a screen, it must use this plan to draw accordingly.

If you do not see the same color as in the real world, the display or monitor does not have the correct color profile.

And it's not just the monitor. Printers need a color profile to print correctly; Scanners need a color profile to scan files with the same color as the document, and so on.

2) What are the ICM and ICC files?

The image color management or ICM is the color profile extension for the displays. When a display driver is installed, an ICM file is also installed. If the ICM file is not available, Windows will use a general ICM file that works with most displays. This is the reason why installing the ICM file is essential.

ICC or International Color Consortium is identical to ICM files. Windows 10 treats them both as equals.

3) How to find and download color profiles for your monitor?

You need to find the right ICC profile, specifically for your monitor. If you install an incorrect color profile, the colors will not be correct.

The OEM website is the only place where you can get the right profile for your monitor. The ICC or ICM file is available with the driver installation.

Start by finding the exact monitor model. You should have it in your bill, or you can find it written on the back of the screen. If you still can not find it, open Device Manager> Monitors, which lists all the monitors with the exact name of the model. Note it somewhere.
Go to the OEM website and locate the driver download section. It is usually available under Downloads or Support.
When you find it, download it to the computer and extract it.

For example, LG has drivers available on its Software and Support page. I recently bought a LG monitor model 24 inches 24MP59G. So here's how I downloaded the drivers

Open their Software and support page.
Type of model no 24MP59G, and click on the Search button
It automatically located the drivers for Windows, Mac and if there was anything else.
Download the file and extract the folder. It contains the driver and the ICC file.

Chances are that if additional software is available for the monitor, it will be listed here.

I've downloaded the OnScreen software, which helps me split my screen into different sizes, and then place the windows accordingly.

4) How to install a color profile in Windows 10 using the ICC profile

The installation of a color profile is very close to the way we install fonts in Windows 10.

Find the ICC or ICM file in the folder you extracted above. Then, right-click the file, and then choose the installation profile from the shortcut menu. That's it.

The color profile is installed instantly without any additional steps. A restart of the computer can finally make it effective. When using multiple monitors, you must install the color profile for each monitor.

Install a color profile using color management

If for some reason this does not work, we can use the Windows 10 color management feature to install the ICC file or ICM file.

In the Start menu search box, type "Color management. " It will show the color management option. Click to open. Here you can manage color profiles for all devices related to the display. It can work from a fax machine, a printer or a display stand.

Select the monitor for which you need to install the color profile. Click on the identification monitor to confirm.
Under the profiles associated with the selected view, all color profiles will be listed. Yes, it is possible to have multiple color profiles, and you can switch between them
Check the box that says – Use my settings for this device
This will activate the Add button. Click on it and select the ICM or ICC file.
Once added, it will be available in one of the profiles.
Select it and set it as the default profile in Windows 10.

Once done, you must then calibrate your screen. It's crucial, according to my experience. When setting up the monitor at home, I found that the red scale of the screen was on the top side. I had to reduce it a bit to make it look natural.

I hope this tutorial was easy to understand and that you could install a color profile in Windows 10 using the ICC profile.