Having issues with the color display on your Samsung phone can be frustrating. The colors may look dull, too bright, or have a strange tint. Thankfully, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the color on your Samsung phone.
Check Your Display Settings
The first thing to check is your display settings. Samsung phones come with different display modes that can alter the color output. Here are some display settings to check:
Display Mode
Go to Settings > Display and look for Display Mode. This lets you switch between different color profiles like Vivid (enhanced colors), Natural (accurate colors), etc. Try changing display modes to see if it fixes the color issue.
Color Balance
You can fine-tune the color balance by going to Settings > Display > Color Balance. Adjust the sliders for Red, Green, and Blue to get the right color temperature.
Screen Mode
Under Display settings, choose Screen Mode and switch between Adaptive Display (adjusts color based on content) or AMOLED Cinema/Photo (preset color profiles).
Blue Light Filter
The Blue Light filter can add a yellowish tint to your screen. Disable the Blue Light filter under Display settings if colors appear off.
Check For App Issues
Sometimes an app can cause display color problems, especially if it has its own color adjustment settings. Try these steps:
- Close any apps running in the background.
- Open apps one by one to see if any particular app is the culprit.
- Go into the app’s settings to disable any custom color settings.
- Update problem apps in case it’s a bug causing the issue.
- Report color issues to the app developer.
Troubleshoot Hardware Issues
If display settings don’t fix the problem, it could be a hardware issue. Here are some things to check:
Screen Damage
Inspect the screen for any cracked/damaged areas. Screen damage can allow light to leak in and create discolored spots. You may need a screen replacement if the issue is hardware damage.
Remove Screen Protector
A screen protector, especially a low quality one, can alter colors on your display. Try temporarily removing the screen protector to see if it’s the cause.
Connection Issues
Loose cabling or broken connectors between the display and logic board can cause color issues. Have a technician reseat connections or test with a known good display.
Outdated Software
Make sure your Samsung phone is updated to the latest software. Bug fixes and display driver updates can resolve color problems due to software.
Try Repairing/Resetting Phone
If all else fails, try repairing or resetting your phone to factory settings. Here are a few last resort options:
- Backup your phone and do a factory reset in Settings > General management.
- Boot into Safe Mode to see if basic apps have color issues.
- Take your phone to a repair shop to have a technician diagnose hardware issues.
- Contact Samsung support about a potential warranty repair or replacement.
Third Party Apps to Adjust Colors
If built-in settings don’t cut it, you can use third party apps to customize your Samsung phone’s display colors:
| App | Features |
|---|---|
| Hex Installer | Lets you customize colors system-wide or on a per-app basis. Change colors of UI elements like notifications, menus, etc. |
| Swift Installer | Similar to Hex Installer, lets you theme apps and UI elements with custom colors. |
| Display Tuner | Fine tune color balance, gamma, saturation, temperature. Has AMOLED color presets. |
| AMOLED Black Control | Adjust colors specifically for AMOLED displays. Set black point and saturation. |
Be careful when using third party apps to change system-level display settings, as they can sometimes cause issues. Try resetting to default colors if anything goes wrong.
Adjust Individual Apps
If the color issues seem isolated to a few apps, you can adjust each app’s color settings individually:
- Look in the app’s settings for a color/display adjustment section.
- For browser apps like Chrome, you can force them to use default system colors in the app settings.
- On Android 10 and up, go to Settings > Developer Options > Force apps to be resizable to disable custom coloring in apps.
- Uninstall and reinstall apps to reset any customized colors.
Get Your Screen Professionally Calibrated
For the most accurate color reproduction, get your Samsung phone’s screen professionally calibrated. This involves specialized equipment to analyze colors and create a custom profile. There are a few options:
- Mail-in services that provide step-by-step instructions to calibrate your display.
- In-person screen calibration from phone repair shops.
- Buy a calibration tool like SpyderX Pro and DIY.
Pro calibration provides the truest on-screen colors. It creates an ICC color profile tuned specifically to your display. The results may be subtler than changing display modes, but more correct.
Try a Different Screen Mode App
Some third party apps offer more granular control and custom screen modes over Samsung’s built-in options. Here are some to check out:
V4A (Viper4Android)
Lets you tweak gamma curves, color balance, saturation, and temperature. Has screen calibration tools and AMOLED-optimized modes.
Screen Balance
Fine tune colors with sliders for red, green, blue, white balance, gamma, and more. Save custom profiles.
Screen Calibration
Goes through a calibration routine to detect colors and adjust balance. Also has tools to test color accuracy.
These apps work by creating custom color profiles at the system level for greater control vs. Samsung’s out-of-box options.
Check for Defective Hardware
In rare cases, a defective display or GPU (graphics processing unit) could cause incorrect color output. Some signs of hardware defects:
- Colors show properly at low brightness but issues appear at max brightness.
- Crashing/freezing when changing display settings.
- Vertical lines/banding in color.
- Distorted/warped colors on certain parts of the screen.
If you notice those issues, contact Samsung support about possible warranty coverage for a replacement device.
Conclusion
Display color issues on Samsung phones have a few possible causes. Start by checking display settings and toggling color modes. Narrow down if it’s a system-wide or app-specific problem. For hardware issues, inspect for screen damage, connection problems, or defects. Resetting and factory calibrating are last resorts. Consider third party apps for greater color customization if the built-in display options don’t cut it. With some diligent troubleshooting, you should be able to find the right fix to get accurate colors on your Samsung phone.
