To change the screen resolution in Windows 10, right-click an empty part of the desktop, choose Display settings, and pick a new value from the Display resolution list under Scale and layout. Choose the option marked (Recommended) for the sharpest picture, then click Keep changes.
Windows 11 uses the same Settings > System > Display page with slightly different labels, so it has its own short section below. If text and icons are sharp but too small, you want Scale, not a lower resolution. That’s covered further down too.
Windows 10 stopped getting free security updates on October 14, 2025, but these display settings still work the same way.
What Screen Resolution Means
Resolution is the number of pixels Windows draws on the screen, written as width by height, such as 1920 x 1080. Every monitor and laptop panel has a native resolution, the exact pixel grid it was built with. Windows marks that one as (Recommended).
Picking a lower resolution makes everything bigger, but the monitor has to stretch the smaller image to fill its panel, so text turns soft or blurry. You can also end up with black bars around the picture. That’s why the better fix for small text is usually Scale.
Change Screen Resolution in Windows 10
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose Display settings. You can also open Start > Settings > System > Display. The Display page opens.
- If you have more than one monitor, click the numbered box for the screen you want to change at the top of the page. Click Identify if you aren’t sure which box is which; a large number appears on each screen.
- Scroll down to Scale and layout.
- Click the drop-down under Display resolution and choose a value. Start with the one marked (Recommended).
- The screen goes dark for a second, then shows the new resolution with a prompt asking Keep these display settings?
- Click Keep changes if the picture looks right, or Revert to go back. If you can’t read the screen at all, don’t click anything. Windows switches back to the old resolution on its own after about 15 seconds.
Change Screen Resolution in Windows 11
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings, or right-click the desktop and choose Display settings.
- Select System > Display.
- If several monitors are connected, click the one you want at the top of the page. Use Identify to match each box to a physical screen.
- Under Scale & layout, open the Display resolution list and choose a value. Microsoft recommends the option marked (Recommended).
- Click Keep changes if the new picture fits and looks sharp, or Revert to undo it. Like Windows 10, it reverts automatically if you do nothing.
Microsoft’s screen resolution and layout guide has tabs for both Windows versions if your screen looks different.
Make Text and Apps Bigger With Scale Instead
If the recommended resolution looks crisp but everything is tiny, keep that resolution and change the scale.
- Windows 10: On the Display page, open the list under Change the size of text, apps, and other items and choose a larger percentage, such as 125% or 150%.
- Windows 11: Under Scale & layout, open Scale and pick a larger percentage.
Text and menus grow right away while the picture stays sharp. A few older apps may look blurry until you close and reopen them.
Pick the Right Setting for What You See
| What you see | What to change |
|---|---|
| Sharp text, but too small | Keep the recommended resolution and raise Scale |
| Blurry text everywhere | Set Display resolution back to (Recommended) |
| Stretched picture or black bars at the edges | Use the recommended resolution, then check the monitor’s own aspect settings |
| Taskbar or edges cut off on a TV | Turn off overscan on the TV (see troubleshooting) |
| Only one website looks too big | Change that browser’s zoom, not Windows |
Changing Resolution on a Second Monitor
Each screen keeps its own resolution and scale when you use Extend mode, so you can run a laptop panel and an external monitor at different settings. Always click the right numbered box before changing anything. If the second screen isn’t showing up at all, our guide to setting up multiple monitors in Windows covers connecting and detecting it first.
Troubleshooting
The recommended resolution is missing or the list is grayed out
- Check the connection. Old cables, adapters, and some docks can’t carry a high resolution. Try connecting the monitor directly with a different cable.
- Update the graphics driver. If the list is short or locked, Windows may be using a basic display driver. Run Windows Update (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update in Windows 10, Settings > Windows Update in Windows 11), or get the driver from your PC or graphics card maker.
- Check the refresh rate. Some connections can only handle a high resolution at a lower refresh rate. In Windows 11, look under Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
The screen went black or you can’t read it
Wait about 15 seconds without clicking, and Windows reverts the change. If the screen still won’t come back, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B to restart the graphics driver. The screen flashes and you hear a beep.
If that doesn’t work, start Windows with a basic display mode. Hold Shift while clicking Restart from the power menu, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, and press the key for Enable low-resolution video. Once Windows loads, go back to Display settings and choose the recommended resolution. Microsoft explains this mode in its Windows Startup Settings guide.
The edges of the desktop are cut off on a TV
TVs often enlarge the incoming picture (called overscan), which hides the taskbar and window edges. Look in the TV’s picture menu for a setting such as Screen Fit, Just Scan, Full Pixel, or 1:1 and turn it on for that HDMI input.
The resolution keeps changing back
This usually happens after reconnecting a dock, waking the PC, or running a full-screen game that sets its own resolution. Update the graphics driver first. If all your display settings are a mess, our guide to resetting display settings in Windows walks through starting over.
Frequently Asked Questions
What resolution should I use?
Use the one marked (Recommended). That’s your screen’s native resolution, and it gives the sharpest text and images. Adjust Scale if things look too small.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to change screen resolution?
No. Windows has no built-in shortcut for resolution. The fastest route is right-clicking the desktop and choosing Display settings.
Do I need to restart after changing the resolution?
No. The change takes effect as soon as you click Keep changes. Some apps may need to be reopened after a scale change.
Why can’t I pick a resolution higher than the recommended one?
Windows only lists resolutions the monitor and connection report as supported. The recommended value is usually the highest your screen can actually show.
How do I undo a resolution I already kept?
Go back to Display settings, select the same monitor, and choose your old value or the (Recommended) option from Display resolution.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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