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How to Change Screen Resolution in Windows 11 and Windows 10

Change a monitor’s resolution in Windows 11 or 10, choose the recommended mode, and adjust scale or text size when you want larger content.
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To change screen resolution in Windows 11 or Windows 10, open Settings > System > Display, select the screen you want to adjust, then choose a mode under Display resolution. Start with the option marked Recommended.

Change resolution in Windows 11

  1. Open Start > Settings > System > Display.
  2. If more than one screen is connected, select the display you want to change.
  3. Under Scale & layout, open Display resolution and choose a mode. The Recommended option is the normal starting point. Microsoft’s display settings guide covers both Windows versions.

Change resolution in Windows 10

  1. Open Start > Settings > System > Display.
  2. Under Rearrange your displays, select the monitor you want to adjust if you have multiple screens.
  3. Scroll to Scale and layout, open Display resolution, and choose a mode. Microsoft recommends starting with the option marked Recommended.

Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. The PC continues to work, but Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for it; this does not prevent changing the display resolution.

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Choose the right resolution

Use the option Windows marks Recommended unless you have a specific reason to select another available mode. A monitor can support resolutions below its native resolution, but the image may look less sharp; it may also appear smaller, centered with black borders, or stretched, according to Microsoft.

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Make text and apps larger without lowering resolution

Resolution controls the pixel mode used by the display; it is not the same as the size of interface elements. If you want text and apps to look larger while keeping the current resolution, change Scale in Display settings. For larger text specifically, Windows also offers an Accessibility Text size control. See Microsoft’s accessibility guidance.

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Change resolution on a second monitor

In Display settings, select the screen before changing its resolution; the choice applies to the selected display. If you are unsure which numbered screen is which, select Identify to show its number on the corresponding monitor. Microsoft’s multi-monitor guide also explains how to detect, connect, and arrange screens.

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If the resolution is missing or changes unexpectedly

  • Check the selected screen: On a multi-monitor setup, confirm that you selected the monitor you intend to change.
  • Check for graphics driver updates: Open Settings > Windows Update and check for updates. Microsoft recommends checking for graphics driver updates when resolution changes unexpectedly, but an update is not guaranteed to restore every missing option.
  • Consider the connected display and hardware: The modes Windows offers depend on the screen and system hardware. Microsoft does not identify one fix that resolves every case of a missing resolution.

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