How to fix a monitor with distorted colours or a pink/green tint on Windows and macOS

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix a monitor with distorted colours or a pink/green tint on Windows and macOS. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

A distorted or tinted display is usually caused by a loose cable, incorrect colour profile, or a monitor setting that has drifted. Pink, green, or washed-out colours can appear suddenly or develop over time. The steps below will help you isolate the cause and restore accurate colour on Windows and macOS.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Check that the video cable is firmly seated at both the computer and monitor ends.
2. Power cycle the monitor — turn it off at the wall for 30 seconds, then back on.
3. Try a different video cable if you have one available.
4. On Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + Windows + B to restart the graphics driver.
5. On macOS, open System Settings > Displays and check the colour profile.

Detailed Instructions

Check the physical connection

1. Turn off the monitor and computer.
2. Unplug the video cable from both ends — HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA.
3. Inspect the cable for bent pins, fraying, or kinks.
4. Reconnect the cable firmly at both ends. Ensure the connector clicks or screws in completely.
5. If your monitor has multiple input ports, confirm the correct input source is selected using the monitor's on-screen menu.

Test with a different cable and port

1. If possible, swap the video cable with a known-working one.
2. Try a different port on the computer if available — for example, move from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2, or from DisplayPort to HDMI using an adapter.
3. If you are using a docking station or USB-C hub, connect the monitor directly to the computer to rule out the dock.

Check monitor settings

1. Open the monitor's on-screen display menu using the buttons on the monitor bezel or underside.
2. Look for a Colour or Picture menu.
3. Check the Colour Temperature setting. It should normally be set to Standard, Neutral, or 6500K.
4. If the monitor has a Reset or Factory Reset option, perform a reset to clear any accidental colour adjustments.
5. Check for a Colour Space or Input Colour Format setting. On some monitors, setting this to RGB rather than YCbCr resolves pink or green tints.

Fix colour on Windows

1. Right-click the desktop and select Display settings.
2. Scroll down and click Advanced display.
3. Check the Colour format dropdown. It should typically be RGB. If it is set to YCbCr444 or another format, change it to RGB.
4. If the option is greyed out, update your graphics driver first, then return to this setting.
5. Open Settings > System > Display > Colour profile (or Colour management in older versions).
6. Ensure the correct colour profile is selected for your monitor. If unsure, choose sRGB IEC61966-2.1 as a safe default.
7. If colours remain distorted, press Ctrl + Shift + Windows + B. The screen will flicker briefly while the graphics driver restarts.

Fix colour on macOS

1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
2. Click Displays.
3. Select the affected display from the list if you have multiple monitors.
4. Click the Colour Profile dropdown.
5. Try selecting a different profile. sRGB IEC61966-2.1 or Colour LCD are common defaults. If the current profile is Adobe RGB or a custom profile, switching to sRGB often fixes pink or green casts.
6. If you have a custom profile that you no longer need, click Open Profile, then delete or disable it from the ColourSync Utility.
7. Restart the Mac if the change does not take effect immediately.

Update or reinstall graphics drivers (Windows)

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click your graphics card and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
5. If Windows finds no updates, visit the manufacturer's website — NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel — and download the latest driver for your specific graphics card model.
6. After updating, restart the computer and check the display.

Check for magnetic interference (older monitors)

If you are using an older CRT monitor or a display that is sensitive to magnetic fields, move speakers, phone chargers, and other electronic devices at least 30 cm away from the screen. Magnetic interference can cause localised colour distortion, particularly pink or green patches.

Troubleshooting

The tint only appears on part of the screen

A pink or green patch in one corner often indicates physical damage to the panel or pressure on the screen. Check for anything pressing against the display. If the patch remains after a restart and cable reseat, the panel may need replacement.

The colours are correct on the laptop screen but wrong on the external monitor

This points to the cable, the monitor's own colour settings, or the colour format setting in Windows. Work through the cable and monitor reset steps first, then check the Colour format dropdown in Windows.

The screen flickers between normal and tinted colours

Intermittent colour faults are almost always a cable or port issue. Replace the cable with a high-quality certified HDMI or DisplayPort cable. Avoid excessively long cables — keep runs under 3 metres where possible.

Colours look washed out or faded

Check the monitor's Contrast and Gamma settings. On Windows, open Settings > System > Display and disable HDR if it is enabled — HDR on a non-HDR monitor often produces washed-out colours. On macOS, check System Settings > Displays and turn off High Dynamic Range if present.

Night Light or True Tone is causing a colour cast

• On Windows, open Settings > System > Display > Night light and turn it off or adjust the strength.
• On macOS, open System Settings > Displays > Night Shift and turn it off or adjust the schedule.
• On MacBooks with True Tone, open System Settings > Displays and toggle True Tone off to see if the tint disappears.

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If you have worked through these steps and the colour issue persists, the monitor or graphics hardware may require service. Open a Ticket and our team will assist with diagnosis and repair options.

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