Compatibility issue between DwmLutGUI and the new NVIDIA drivers

[ArtCore35]

Hello,
I recently reinstalled Windows 11 (version 23H2) specifically to use DwmLutGUI. After the installation, I experienced issues with NVIDIA, so I used DDU to uninstall the NVIDIA drivers and reinstall a recent version. Since then, DwmLutGUI has stopped working, while NVIDIA now works perfectly. Before this reinstallation and update, when NVIDIA wasn’t functioning properly, DwmLutGUI worked without any issues.

Do you have any idea what might be causing this issue or how to resolve this conflict?
Thank you in advance for your help.

Edit :

I managed to resolve the issue using a specific method:

I downloaded the "dwm_lut-master" version (dated 3 years ago). With this version, the app opened, but there was still a DLL issue.

After exploring and testing several versions, I found a specific version for Windows 11 24H2.

I moved the content of this version into the following folder:
dwm_lut-master -> DwmLutGUI -> DwmLutGUI

Since this modification, everything works perfectly!

[RickyWong19922005]

Can you make an after mixed version?
I have tried your method but still not work on windows 11 24H2

[brozikcz]

@ArtCore35 could you provide what exactly dll you did use? 🙏

[ArtCore35]

Hi, personally, I went with this version : https://github.com/lauralex/dwm_lut
And then this one : https://github.com/lauralex/dwm_lut/releases/download/v3.9.6/Release.zip

I copied the files from v3.9.6(release.zip) and pasted them into the previously downloaded folder (dwm_lut.zip).
I'm not saying it will work for you, though—it didn’t work for a friend of mine, but it did for another.

Otherwise, I'll share the version I have that works for me.

@RickyWong19922005 Maybe by using the 24h2 version (https://github.com/lauralex/dwm_lut/releases/download/v4.0.2/Release24h2.zip) instead of v3.9.6, it might work, but I’m not sure… worth a try.

dwm_lut-master.zip

[CrHasher]

Hello tried your solution and did not work at all, my bet is you had a bad config and because you moved the exe to a new directory the config was recreated in that directory. All in all this is not a fix IMO, and there is nothing in that directory that could explain the difference in behavior other than a missing config file before first starting dwmlut.

With this said I forgot to test what happens if I delete the old existing config and already rolled back my windows to make dwmlut work. Sad days for people who depend on this thing to satisfy their color OCD like me.

[lirtm]

Right.
Well, I take it the project was abandoned like the previous one before 22H2.
It's a shame, but whatever. It's like I'm used to what's there already.
Looking forward to better days or analogues of the app.

[CrHasher]

Right. Well, I take it the project was abandoned like the previous one before 22H2. It's a shame, but whatever. It's like I'm used to what's there already. Looking forward to better days or analogues of the app.

Sure hope it's not the case I can't imagine not using this gem of an app. So far I avoided the update but that won't last long so :((((((((

[RevC2]

Right. Well, I take it the project was abandoned like the previous one before 22H2. It's a shame, but whatever. It's like I'm used to what's there already. Looking forward to better days or analogues of the app.

Sure hope it's not the case I can't imagine not using this gem of an app. So far I avoided the update but that won't last long so :((((((((

I'm still speechless on how it's so hard to manage monitor calibration and color profiles in 2025. What this small app does should be the standard in any OS in the world. I've spent the last 6 months having various monitors all perfectly calibrated on OS level, not fancy per program system which is confusing as hell... Yet, now I'm back into the caves 'cause the upgrades broke this app. I'm so pissed with MS.

[CrHasher]

Right. Well, I take it the project was abandoned like the previous one before 22H2. It's a shame, but whatever. It's like I'm used to what's there already. Looking forward to better days or analogues of the app.

Sure hope it's not the case I can't imagine not using this gem of an app. So far I avoided the update but that won't last long so :((((((((

I'm still speechless on how it's so hard to manage monitor calibration and color profiles in 2025. What this small app does should be the standard in any OS in the world. I've spent the last 6 months having various monitors all perfectly calibrated on OS level, not fancy per program system which is confusing as hell... Yet, now I'm back into the caves 'cause the upgrades broke this app. I'm so pissed with MS.

Because it works with older drivers (that's what you can find on other threads) there is some new standard that was implemented is my guess and something in that chain broke dwm-lut MS+Nvidia. My guess is a different code-path gets executed with new drivers, but that's a wild guess.

[casef]

I mean, while having a fully color-calibrated OS would be nice (and this app is/was great for that, even if it came with a not-so-insignificant performance drop), I don't really see what the big issue is, especially now when MS introduced their Auto Color Management, which clamps wide-gamut monitors to sRGB system-wide, offering the solution to by far the biggest issue there was (even though it's still better to use something like novideo_sRGB for it's additional features). And for the programs that need proper full color management, the old system works perfectly fine (I don't see what's "confusing as hell" about setting a system-wide ICC profile, which any good color-managed application should automatically default to).

[RevC2]

I mean, while having a fully color-calibrated OS would be nice (and this app is/was great for that, even if it came with a not-so-insignificant performance drop), I don't really see what the big issue is, especially now when MS introduced their Auto Color Management, which clamps wide-gamut monitors to sRGB system-wide, offering the solution to by far the biggest issue there was (even though it's still better to use something like novideo_sRGB for it's additional features). And for the programs that need proper full color management, the old system works perfectly fine (I don't see what's "confusing as hell" about setting a system-wide ICC profile, which any good color-managed application should automatically default to).

Well as a 3D artist having to work with a dozen and maybe more very specific softwares it's "hard" because for each and every program you must be somewhat aware how color correction is threated. When it works it's ok for sure, but sometimes it's very hard, like Substance Painter which is industry standard yet it doesn't offer an out of the box solution for sRGB preview or at least the one it has just doesn't work for me as intended (both calibrated monitors, sRGB profile selected in SP, yet the textures are all over the place even from one monitor to the other). I still fail to load a ICC file for my monitor in SP because a very specific format is needed so I must spend time to study various software which convert ICC files. That's what I meant for "it's hard" (still haven't found a way). This app by working at OS level (to simplify) made my monitors identical and both translates perfectly to my references beside how the various apps are supposed to work.

Add to all of these that one of my monitors is a Huion screen tablet with 130% sRGB coverage which is nice if you don't care about color translation, but I was totally surprised when I found out that the 99% sRGB preset in the screen settings is grayed out by Huion which fails to these day to give a reason when asked through tech support.

Last but no least, I was waiting for the new auto color management in Windows but still to this day is nowhere to be found on my system even if I upgraded to the very last patch. BTW if you guys know any reason why ACM doesn't show up on my system could be helpful

[CrHasher]

I found a link I have to study let's see if I find some relevant info: https://github.com/dantmnf/MHC2
Have a look if you have time.

[CrHasher]

Went ahead and updated Windows to 24H2 and this is what I came up with:

• Converted the icc profile with a command: MHC2Gen sdr-acm --calibrate-transfer "original.icm" "new-acm.icm"
• Disabled DisplayCAL profile loader (disabled task scheduler tasks)
• Disabled dwm-lut auto-start (depends on how you did it this is something only you know how to disable, I personally was using a script and Scheduled Tasks)
• Re-enable Windows Profile loader in Scheduled Tasks if its disabled "\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsColorSystem\Calibration Loader" for the profile to be loaded automatically after logout or reboot.
• Enable Windows Color Management by using checkbox "Use Windows display calibration" in Win+R -> colorcpl, plus add newly created profile as default make sure to set the "Use my settings for this device" checkbox.
• In nvidia driver "Change resolution" Apply the following settings set to "Use default color settings"

I use mpv as my media player and now I use a lut file that was originally used in dwm-lut for color correction, I can see a visible change when I play back video doing this, not sure all is the same as it was with dwm-lut just yet, but it looks like it
I use something like this:

vo=gpu-next # Without this lut won't work at all
icc-profile-auto=no # Set this to 'yes' in case your lut is not a full calib and does not have vcgt backed in, my bet is if you used it in dwm-lut its a full calib so you need to set this to 'no'
icc-intent=0 # Not relevant unless icc-profile-auto=yes
target-lut="~~/lut/3DLUT-Rec709-Gamma_2_2.cube" # Make sure the file can be located correctly

I hate this whole mess but I'm testing it out to see if I can use this setup instead of dwm-lut.

Hope this info helps you in any shape or form.

EDIT:

• I've set my Mac to sRGB and tested this setup side by side and apparently color calibration works and video looks the same on Windows and Mac.
• You can use MHC2Gen sdr-csc option if you want to clip to strict sRGB, on some monitors this looks less saturated, I personally like that it makes things like skin look more natural, but its personal preference.

[max32332]

Thank you CrHasher for you contribution i am too in the same boat and your info was very helpful .