How to Fix Screen Resolution Problems in Windows 10

Rick Akura
You can solve many screen resolution problems in Windows 10 just by adjusting the resolution or learning more ways to fix the problem here.

"Hello, I have a problem with Windows 10 Screen Resolution here. When my OS is Windows 7, I can access 1024x728 resolution. But when I upgrade my OS to Windows 10, now I cant access 1024x600+ resolution. And I'm Stuck at 800x600 resolution.” 

Many users undergo this Windows 10 screen resolution problem.

Whether you’re working, streaming, or gaming, Windows screen resolution problems can ruin the experience. Fixing the issue usually depends on the cause, which can range from hardware problems to Windows settings. Windows 10 offers a variety of settings to customize your screen resolution to best fit your work situation and monitor type.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common screen resolution problems and how to fix them. We will also touch on what causes these problems and how you can prevent them from happening in the future.

Keep reading to find out more!

Table of Contents 

What causes resolution problems on Windows 10?

There isn’t just one cause that can lead to your device experiencing problems with screen resolution. Much like other Windows 10 errors, a lot of different things can contribute to this issue.

However, the majority of screen resolution difficulties are caused by one of the following factors:

  • Your Windows 10 settings aren’t optimized. It’s possible that you haven’t configured your settings for your monitor. For example, this can cause your resolution to be incorrect, especially on large monitors.
  • You recently connected a new monitor. Whether you’re using a multiple monitor setup or changed your monitor recently, your settings may need to be re-configured. Many users experience problems with resolution after changing devices or adding a new one to the system.
  • Problems with drivers. If your display drivers are missing, outdated, or corrupt, you’re more prone to experience problems with screen resolution. It may cause your resolution to be messed up, uneven, or even pixelated.
  • App-specific issues. While running specific applications on your computer, you may notice that they aren't optimized for the system. This can happen most often with video games. Check what resolution is best suited for each app individually and adjust your settings accordingly.
  • Hardware problems. Unfortunately, your hardware may be damaged or having issues. For example, your monitor or GPU could be experiencing an error that causes the resolution to be messed up on your screen. In this case, you need to thoroughly examine the hardware and repair or replace it.

These are only the common problems for your Windows 10 not detecting your resolution correctly and other similar problems. Your issue could be unique to your system, which means troubleshooting is required. Follow the steps below to have your screen resolution restored!

Solved: Windows 10 screen resolution problems (Stretched resolution and more)

Here's how to fix Windows 10 not detecting your screen resolution correctly, having stretched resolution, and other common problems. These steps can be applied in a variety of situations.

Method 1. Adjust your screen resolution manually

If Windows 10 failed to correctly detect your screen resolution, you can manually adjust it to any resolution compatible with your system. Follow the steps below to do this.

  1. Go to your desktop and right-click on any empty space. From the context menu, choose Display settings to open the Settings app.
    adjust your screen resoltuion
  2. Click on the drop-down menu under the Display resolution header to view all resolutions compatible with your system. Change it to the resolution you want.
    adjust your screen resolution
  3. Your screen resolution will adjust to the selected one before Windows prompts you to commit to the change. If you want the resolution to stay, click on Keep changes. Otherwise, wait 10 seconds or click the Revert button to go back and pick a different resolution.
    keep changes

Method 2. Update your drivers

Updating your drivers is a smart approach to repair a variety of computer difficulties, such as screen resolution issues, flickering screens, and wrong colors.

It could even boost the system's overall performance! Depending on which drivers need to be updated, use one of the guides below.

How to automatically update drivers on Windows

Windows update has a feature that allows you to automatically update outdated drivers. This can help you quickly find and get some of your drivers up-to-date without having to individually check for new versions.

  1. To access the Start menu, click the Windows symbol in the lower left corner of your screen, and then choose Settings. Alternatively, press Windows + I to bring up the menu.
    windows settings
  2. Select the Update & Security tile from the drop-down menu. The majority of your Windows Update settings can be found here.
    windows settings
  3. Go to the Windows Update section, and then click on the View optional updates link if it’s available.
    optonal windows update
  4. Expand the Driver Updates section to see which drivers need to be updated right now. Simply check the boxes next to the drivers you want to update, then click the Download and Install button.
    driver updates
  5. Allow Windows to download and update your outdated drivers before restarting your machine.

How to manually update drivers on Windows

Use the steps below to manually update a driver that may be out of date. Keep in mind that only legitimate sites should be used to download drivers! Some fraudulent websites may try to trick you into downloading malware-infected driver files.

  1. To access the needed utility, press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard and choose Device Manager from the context menu.
    windows settings
  2. Select Update driver from the context menu after right-clicking on a driver you wish to update. You’ll most likely need to update your display adapter driver.
    driver update
  3. Choose how you want to update your driver. You may either let Windows find a driver for you automatically or manually seek a fresh driver file on your machine.

Method 3. Rollback your display adapter driver

If you recently updated your drivers and the screen resolution became wrong, you may need to undo the latest update. By following the next few steps, you will be able to do this quickly.

  1. To access the needed utility, press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard and choose Device Manager from the context menu.
  2. Expand the Display adapters category, and then right-click on the display adapter you’re using. Select Properties from the context menu.
    driver update
  3. Switch to the Driver tab. If available, click on the Roll Back Driver button.
    display adapters
  4. Windows will now revert to the previously installed version of the driver. After that, you may reboot your computer to see whether the problem with your screen resolution is still there.

Method 4. Check your hardware for problems

Is your monitor connected to the computer? Ensure that your computer's display is properly connected. Examine the cable carefully for any faults, and look for any debris or dust in the connector.

If possible, connect the monitor(s) to a different device to check whether the problem persists. If the same issue is happening on another device, your equipment is most likely defective. You may also check to verify if your graphics card (GPU) is clean and connected correctly by opening up your device.

When dealing with faulty hardware, you have two options: repair it or get a replacement. Get in touch with the retailer you purchased your hardware from to check if you’re eligible for support, repairs, or replacements. 

Method 5. Enable or disable scaling

Windows 10 features a built-in function that allows you to resize your display. This may or may not assist you in resolving screen resolution issues. Experiment with the function to see whether it affects your device in any way.

  1. Go to your desktop and right-click on any empty space. From the context menu, choose Display settings to open the Settings app.
  2. Expand the drop-down menu under Scale and layout. Choose a scaling option you want to use. To disable scaling, simply select 100% (Recommended) from the options.
    scale layout
  3. Alternatively, click on the Advanced scaling settings link. You can access more settings related to display scaling here.
    advanced scallign settings
  4. Toggle the Fix scaling for apps option on or off to check if it helps you fix the problem you’re having. You can also set custom scaling if your system supports it, or delete the current value to reset it.
    advanced scaling settings

Method 6. Check your in-app settings

If you're experiencing problems with your screen resolution, it may be an issue exclusive to the game or application that is currently running. If you've recently installed a new game, application, media player, or something similar, it's possible that the program is misconfigured.

This is especially true if the resolution issues are exclusive to one software. For example, your resolution may become stretched when running a game, but it looks fine otherwise.

To resolve app-specific resolution or display adjustments, go to the app's settings and make adjustments there. Make sure your screen supports the app's recommended resolution by checking the app's requirements on the developer’s website.

An app that requires a higher resolution than your screen can provide cannot be fixed.

Method 7. Use your GPU utility app to adjust resolution

Utility applications are created by some GPU manufacturers to make adjusting your settings and configuration easier. If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, for example, you may utilize the NVIDIA GeForce Experience program. Similarly, AMD customers may make adjustments using AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition.

These utility programs may be able to help you resolve resolution difficulties. Make sure to only download these applications from the official website to avoid getting malware on your device!

Method 8. Boot without Base video

Some users have reported that configuring the boot settings to exclude Base video solves resolution problems.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to bring up the Run utility in a new window.
  2. Type in “msconfig” without the quotation marks and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will launch the System Configuration window.
  3. Switch over to the Boot tab. Make sure that the Base video option is not checked under the boot options section. Once you’ve deselected it, click on the Apply button.
  4. Restart your computer and see if your screen resolution is still wrong after making this adjustment.

Method 9. Update Windows 10

Update your operating system to fix problems with your screen resolution. Check if the problem has been repaired by downloading the most recent version of Windows 10!

  1. Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen to bring up the Start menu. Choose Settings, or use the Windows + I shortcut.
  2. Click on the Update & Security tile. This is where you can find most of your Windows Update settings and choose when to receive updates.
  3. Make sure to stay on the default Windows Update tab. Click on the Check for updates option and wait for Windows to find available updates. If you see any updates displayed, click on the View all optional updates link to see and install them.
  4. When Windows finds a new update, click on the Install option. Wait for Windows to download and apply the necessary updates.

Method 10. Use a restore point

Your system may have stored a restore point prior to the screen resolution issue, or you could’ve created one previously. In this case, you'll be able to restore your system to its previous state. Because it's akin to going back in time before a system error, so this might remedy the problem.

  1. Open the search bar in your taskbar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can also bring it up with the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
  2. Type in System Restore and click on Recovery from the search results. This should be on the top, in the Best match category.
  3. This will take you to the Control Panel. Here, click on the Open System Restore link that can be seen in the Advanced recovery tools section.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore a past point in time. You can select a restore point yourself, or use the recommended one if Windows 10 shows the option. Don’t forget to check what files and applications will be affected!
  5. After choosing the options you’re happy with, click on the Finish button and wait for Windows to restore your computer. You’ll be able to tell whether or not this worked after your computer restarts with the loaded restore point.

Final thoughts

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Tags: Troubleshooting