How to check a display for uneven white balance

Does one side of your monitor look pink while the other looks yellow, or does a white page look different near the edges? Uneven white balance can come from the panel, a display setting, the viewing angle, or even the light in the room.

You can narrow it down with a consistent color check and a few simple comparisons. The Display Test provides color checks for spotting visible differences, but it cannot measure color temperature or certify a screen's color accuracy.

Check the display for uneven color

Open the Display Test on the screen you want to check. If you use more than one monitor, open the test on each display separately.
Turn off settings that deliberately tint or adapt the picture, such as Night light, Night Shift, or True Tone. Set the screen brightness to a comfortable, steady level.
Look at the test's color checks from directly in front of the display. Pay attention to broad white or light areas, if shown, and check whether one part looks more yellow, blue, pink, or green than another.
Move your head a little from side to side, then return to the same central viewing position. Note whether the tint stays in the same place on the screen or changes as your viewing angle changes.
Repeat the check in a dimmer room and compare with another screen, if available. Keep the brightness and viewing angle as similar as you can.

Use the same test and conditions for each comparison. A phone photo is not a reliable color measurement because the phone camera can automatically change exposure and color balance.

What the result means

The tint stays in one area of the panel

If a patch or band looks warmer or cooler from straight on, and remains in the same physical part of the screen when you move, the panel may have uneven color across its surface. A color profile or monitor setting can also cause an uneven-looking image, so check the other settings below before deciding the panel is faulty.

The colors change when you move your head

This points to a viewing-angle effect. Some screen types shift in brightness or color when viewed off-center, especially near the edges of a large monitor. Sit squarely in front of the screen and check again before judging uniformity.

The whole screen looks warm or cool

A uniform cast is more likely to come from a color temperature setting, a night mode, True Tone, HDR, or a color profile than from uneven white balance. If the tint disappears when you turn off an adaptive display feature, the panel may be working normally.

The pattern looks even, but photos or apps look different

The display may be applying a color profile, or an app may handle color differently from the browser. A browser-based color check can show visible differences, but it cannot tell you whether a screen matches a professional reference or whether its colors are numerically accurate.

How to fix an uneven-looking white balance

Turn off automatic color changes. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display and turn off Night light. On macOS, open System Settings › Displays and turn off Night Shift and True Tone, if those options appear. Test again after each change.
Check the monitor's picture settings. Use the monitor's physical buttons or its on-screen menu to look for a color temperature, white balance, or picture preset setting. Choose a neutral or standard preset, then check whether the tint changes. Names and options differ by monitor.
Check the color profile. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display › Color profile and note which profile is selected. On macOS, open System Settings › Displays and check the color profile option for the selected display. If you recently installed or changed a profile, switch back to the display's default profile and compare.
Set a steady brightness and viewing position. Disable automatic brightness if it keeps changing the screen while you test. Sit centered and keep the room lighting consistent. A bright window or colored lamp reflecting on one side can make a neutral screen look tinted.
Check the cable and input. For an external monitor, reconnect the video cable at both ends, then try another port or cable if one is available. Also check whether the monitor has separate picture settings for different inputs.
Compare with another device. Show the same test on another computer connected to the monitor, or connect the original computer to another display. If the tint follows the monitor, its settings or panel are more likely involved. If it follows the computer, check its display profile and graphics settings.

When the display may need repair

A persistent color patch that stays in the same location after you disable adaptive features, restore neutral monitor settings, and try another source is evidence of a display issue. Check whether it appears on the monitor's own startup screen or built-in menu too. If it does, the computer and its color profile are not causing the patch.

For a new monitor, document the issue with a photo taken straight on, but remember that the photo may not show the tint accurately. Compare against the seller's return or warranty terms. For an older display, ask the manufacturer or a repair shop whether panel repair is practical. A browser test cannot repair a panel or determine the exact cause.

Why lighting and color tests can mislead

Your eyes adapt to the color of the room. After looking at warm indoor lighting, a neutral white may seem blue; after staring at a cool screen, the same white may seem yellow. Give your eyes a moment to adjust, and avoid comparing a lit screen with a reflection or a brightly colored object nearby.

The Display Test is useful for spotting obvious visual differences, not for measuring a precise white point. For consistent everyday use, a neutral monitor preset and a comfortable viewing position are usually a better starting point than trying to correct a faint tint by eye. If you are comparing a screen's overall warmth rather than a patch across its surface, see how to compare warm and cool monitor settings.