All Screenshots come out washed.

Question

All Screenshots come out washed.

Rina Dragon 0

This is Windows 11, Samsung Galaxy Notebook.

Using the already installed Snipping Tool, I'm unable to take screenshots with their proper color. I'm guessing it's an HDR issue, since when I turned it on, the washed out colors looked the exact same as when I take a screenshot.

Here is what a color supposed to look like:

Exmaple

And here's what the screenshot turns it into:

User's image

HDR was toggled on and off and it hasn't fixed the issue.

HDR color correction was turn on for the Snipping Tool and it hasn't fixed the issue, nor turning it off when I do not have HDR on.

I tried to use auto color management, and it made things worse as everything was washed out, and the snipping tool still didn't work.

EDIT: I've tried to use other screenshot tools and they all have the same problem, so I guess it isn't just the snipping tool?

I need a solution to make screenshots from being washed out.

Locked Question. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

3 answers

Answer 1

On HDR-capable Windows 11 devices, washed-out colors and incorrect screenshots are usually caused by HDR/color pipeline issues or incorrect color profiles.

Follow these steps in order:

Update graphics drivers
1. Open Settings > Windows Update and install all available updates.
2. If the device manufacturer provides a graphics driver, install the latest version from their support site.
3. Reboot and test Snipping Tool again.
Check HDR and connection settings
1. Go to Settings > System > Display.
2. If using an external HDR display via HDMI and it supports DisplayPort, switch to DisplayPort instead. Some HDMI paths do not handle HDR and color correctly.
3. If HDMI must be used:
  - Go to Advanced display and try reducing the refresh rate to 30 Hz (if available), then test screenshots.
  - If that does not help, open Display adapter properties > List All Modes and select 1920 by 1080, 60 Hertz, then test again.
Fix general color issues on HDR laptops
- On HDR-capable laptops, HDR can be turned off on battery and re-enabled on AC, which may leave colors under- or over-saturated after restarts.
- Plug in the laptop, restart, then ensure HDR is configured as desired in Settings > System > Display > HDR before testing screenshots.
Calibrate HDR properly (if HDR is required)
1. Install and open the Windows HDR Calibration app.
2. Ensure HDR is On in Settings > System > Display > HDR.
3. Run the app full-screen on the HDR display and follow the three test patterns, moving each slider until the pattern disappears.
4. On the saturation screen, adjust the slider until SDR and HDR content look correct (not washed out) and save the calibration.
5. After calibration, test Snipping Tool again.

If screenshots still appear washed out after these steps, keep HDR off for normal desktop use and only enable it when needed for HDR video/games; this avoids the color pipeline issues that affect SDR screenshots on some HDR displays.

References:

Answer 2

Clary-N 17,000 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Rina Dragon,

Thank you for raising this issue. I understand how frustrating it can be when screenshots don’t reflect the actual on-screen colors.

To start, I’d recommend following the steps provided by Q&A Assist above, as they cover the common causes related to HDR configuration and graphics drivers. Please go through those suggestions first and let me know the outcome.

Additionally, could you help clarify a bit more about the behavior?

Did this issue occur from the very beginning (first setup of the device) or did it start recently?
If it started recently, do you recall any changes before it began (for example Windows Update, driver update or display setting changes)?

This information will help us narrow down whether it’s a configuration issue or something that changed in the system.

Please keep me updated with your findings after trying the suggested steps. I’ll be here to assist further.

If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-19T09:02:50.48+00:00

Hi Rina Dragon,

May I know if you have got any chance to check my answer?

I am glad to help if you have any other questions.
Rina Dragon 0 Reputation points

2026-05-20T07:11:50.95+00:00

Sorry for the late reply; I've tried the Q&A steps and they haven't worked. And to answer your question: the issue occurred from the very beginning. I just received the laptop 5-4 days ago.
Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-21T07:28:00.6166667+00:00

Hi Rina Dragon,

Thank you for the update and I appreciate you trying the suggested steps.

Since the issue has been present from the very beginning, I recommend first testing the device in Safe Mode to help determine whether the issue is related to drivers or software. To do this, press Windows + R, type msconfig and press Enter. In the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab, check Safe boot, select Minimal, then click Apply > OK and restart the device. Once the system starts in Safe Mode, please check whether the display issue still occurs. If the issue does not appear, it is more likely caused by drivers or background software; however, if it still persists, this may indicate a hardware or panel-related concern.

After that, I recommend restoring your Samsung display settings back to their default values to rule out any panel-specific configuration.

If the issue continues, it would also be helpful to contact Samsung Support to check for any device-specific or compatible display drivers, as these may differ from those provided through Windows Update and could address display-related behavior on this model.

If none of the above resolves the issue, considering that the problem started right out of the box and the laptop is newly purchased, I suggest contacting the retailer or place of purchase for further inspection or possible replacement under warranty.

As this is a user-to-user support forum, we don’t have access to advanced diagnostics tools or warranty services, but we’re here to help guide you through available troubleshooting steps.

Please feel free to keep me posted on the outcome. I’ll be glad to assist further.
Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-22T07:24:38.81+00:00

Hi Rina Dragon,

I have not heard from you for a couple of days.

Please let me know if there is anything I can help by leaving your comment down here.
Rina Dragon 0 Reputation points

2026-05-25T05:41:53.6633333+00:00

This appears before I finish your steps to put my device into Safe Boot. I don't believe I have access to any passwords/keys?
Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-26T06:58:59.25+00:00

Hi Rina Dragon,

Thank you for sharing the screenshot.

Since enabling Safe Mode changes boot settings, Windows requires the BitLocker recovery key on the next restart. If you don’t currently have that key, I recommend not proceeding with Safe Boot for now to avoid being locked out of the device.

As an alternative, you can try performing a Clean Boot to help identify if the issue is caused by background services or startup programs. Press Windows + R, type msconfig and press Enter. In the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all. Next, go to the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager, then disable all startup items one by one. Close Task Manager, click Apply > OK, and restart your device normally. After restart, check if the issue still occurs. If it doesn’t, you can re-enable services and startup items gradually to find the cause.

*Disclaimer: A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by-step so that it will help you get back on track.

If you’d still like to try Safe Mode later, you can retrieve your BitLocker recovery key by following this guide: Find your BitLocker recovery key - Microsoft Support

Please let me know how it goes. I’ll be happy to continue helping.
Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-05-27T08:12:22.84+00:00

Hi Rina Dragon,

Have you had a chance to check my answer yet?

Please do keep me updated.
Rina Dragon 0 Reputation points

2026-06-02T23:35:59.1+00:00

Hello. I did try the clean boot option, and the issue was still there.

Part of me is rather hesitant to try the safe mode option, as I don't want to accidentally hard restart my device, even if I get the code.
Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-06-03T05:05:37.8966667+00:00
Hi Rina Dragon,

Thanks again for your patience. I really appreciate all the steps you’ve gone through so far.

Since the issue is still present even after a clean boot, we can try a couple of additional checks that don’t require entering Safe Mode:

1. Test with a new user profile

This helps determine whether the issue is specific to your current Windows profile.

Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users

Select Add account

Choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information

Click Add a user without a Microsoft account

Create a temporary username and password

Sign out, then sign in to the new account

Check if the issue still occurs

If the issue does not appear on the new profile, it may indicate that your current profile is causing the problem.

2. Consider an in-place upgrade (repair install)

If the issue persists, this step can help repair Windows without removing your files or apps.

Before you start, please back up important files as a precaution and make sure your device is plugged in.

Download the Windows installation tool from Microsoft’s official site

Run the tool and choose Upgrade this PC now

When prompted, select Keep personal files and apps

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process

*Disclaimer: Let’s try performing an in-place install or in-place upgrade which will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up before making large system changes. If you want to back up your data first, please do so. Once you are done backing up, you can follow the steps in the following guides: How to run In-place upgrade in Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A

Please let me know how it goes and I’ll be happy to guide you further.
Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-06-04T08:20:20.8766667+00:00

Hi Rina Dragon,

Kindly help check my answer above and keep me updated if you need any further assistance.
Rina Dragon 0 Reputation points

2026-06-05T01:50:13.3866667+00:00

I did the first option and screenshots came out normally, so i suppose that means it is a user profile problem.

Then my next question would be: how would i find out what setting is causing it? The device is new but my Microsoft account has been around since 2019 or 2021; when I signed into the device with it, it simply transferred things over.
Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-06-05T06:33:04.6266667+00:00

Hi Rina Dragon,

Thanks for confirming that. If the screenshots look normal on the new profile, it does point to something within your original user profile rather than a system-wide issue.

In most cases like this, it’s not a single obvious setting but something that got carried over with your Microsoft account sync (such as display preferences, app settings, or font-related configurations). Unfortunately, Windows doesn’t provide a built-in way to pinpoint exactly which specific setting is causing it.

At this point, you can try a couple of practical approaches:

First, compare basic settings between the working (new) profile and your original one, especially under Settings > System > Display (scaling, resolution) and Accessibility (text size, contrast, filters). If the issue is related to rendering, these are the most likely places to check.

You can also try temporarily turning off sync on your Microsoft account (Settings > Accounts > Windows backup / Sync your settings) and then sign out/in again, to see if the issue is tied to synced preferences.

If nothing obvious stands out, the most reliable solution is usually to migrate to the new profile that’s working correctly (copy your files over and start using it as your main account). This avoids chasing a hidden or corrupted setting.

If you’d like, you can also share a screenshot from both profiles, just make sure to hide or blur any personal or sensitive information (such as email address, username, or device name) before sharing. I’d be happy to take a closer look and see if anything stands out.
Clary-N 17,000 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-06-06T08:56:22.1733333+00:00

Hi Rina Dragon,

Please feel free to let me know if you need further assistance with this issue.

Answer 3

Deleted

This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Comments have been turned off. Learn more