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Windows 11 Display Settings: Change Screen Layout, Color, and Appearance

Change Windows 11 screen layout, brightness, refresh rate, HDR, and desktop appearance using the right Settings controls.
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Most Windows 11 screen and layout controls are in Settings > System > Display; desktop themes and interface colors are under Settings > Personalization. The exact options depend on the selected display, its capabilities, and the PC’s drivers. If you use multiple screens, select the numbered display you want to change before adjusting its settings.

Change screen size, resolution, or orientation

  1. Open Start > Settings > System > Display.
  2. If more than one display is connected, select the numbered display you want to adjust.
  3. Under Scale & layout, choose a scale to change the size of text and apps.
  4. Choose a setting under Display resolution or Display orientation.

Windows marks a recommended scale and resolution when available; these are sensible starting points. A resolution below the screen’s native resolution can make text less sharp. Depending on the screen, the image may also appear small, centered with borders, or stretched. If a change makes the display difficult to use, return to Display settings and select the recommended option.

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Adjust brightness and Night light

Brightness

Check the brightness slider in the taskbar’s quick settings or open Settings > System > Display. Windows shows the control only when the PC and display expose it. Some laptops can also adapt brightness automatically to room lighting or on-screen content, but availability varies.

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If you are using a desktop monitor and Windows has no brightness slider, use the monitor’s physical buttons or on-screen menu.

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Night light

Open Settings > System > Display, then turn on Night light. Use its strength control to adjust the effect, and set a schedule for sunset to sunrise or custom hours if those options are available. If the toggle is missing or grayed out, the display driver may not support the feature. On an HDR display, Night light can cause unwanted color effects; lower its strength or turn it off if colors become difficult to read.

Set light or dark mode, accent color, and theme

Choose interface colors

Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors to choose light or dark mode and an accent color. Some apps have their own appearance setting, so an app may keep a different mode from Windows.

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Apply or customize a theme

Open Settings > Personalization > Themes to choose a built-in theme or browse themes in the Microsoft Store. A theme can combine desktop backgrounds, window colors, sounds, and other elements. You can also customize the background, color, sounds, and mouse cursor separately.

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Choose a refresh rate

  1. Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
  2. Select the display you want to configure, if more than one is connected.
  3. Choose one of the refresh rates listed for that screen.

The available rates depend on the display and connection, and selecting a rate can also change the available resolution. Supported Windows 11 laptops and tablets may offer Dynamic Refresh Rate, which adapts the rate to activity and may help extend battery life. A higher or different rate is not automatically better for gaming: whether a manual change helps depends on the display’s variable-refresh-rate support and the game.

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Configure HDR and color management

Check HDR settings

For an HDR-capable screen, select it under Settings > System > Display and inspect the HDR controls. HDR requires a compatible PC and display. The appearance of HDR and standard dynamic range (SDR) content varies with the display, the content, and the settings, so adjust the balance for what you watch and your viewing conditions rather than relying on one universal setting.

Microsoft’s HDR guidance states criteria for a built-in display that include 1080p resolution and a recommended maximum brightness of 300 nits or more. Those criteria are not a guarantee of picture quality and are not a universal buying recommendation.

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Manage profiles and calibration

Windows color-management settings let you add or remove color profiles, set a default profile for a connected display, access calibration, and enable automatic color management on supported displays. For supported Windows 11 HDR display workflows, Microsoft also provides the Windows HDR Calibration app. These built-in controls are available without a separate calibration tool; specialized external calibration equipment is an optional consideration when you have a specific color-accuracy need.

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Why a display option may be missing

  • Brightness slider: The display or driver may not expose brightness control to Windows. For an external monitor, use its controls.
  • Night light: A missing or unavailable toggle can be related to display-driver support.
  • Refresh rate: Windows lists rates supported by the selected screen; another display may offer different choices.
  • HDR or color management: These controls require compatible hardware, and some features appear only for supported displays.
  • Unexpected changes on a multi-monitor setup: Check that you selected the intended numbered display before changing its settings.

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