How to change desktop resolution on your computer
Desktop resolution is the number of pixels your monitor displays horizontally and vertically — for example, 1920 by 1080. You change it through your operating system's display settings, not through the monitor itself. The steps differ between Windows, macOS, and Linux, but all three let you pick from a list of resolutions your monitor supports.
Most computers automatically detect your monitor and offer several resolution options. Changing resolution takes less than a minute and takes effect when ready. If the new resolution makes text too small or too large, you can adjust the scaling separately, or switch back to your previous setting just as quickly.
Key Takeaways
- Resolution changes happen in your operating system settings, not on the monitor — Windows uses Display Settings, macOS uses System Settings, and Linux uses Display Settings in your desktop environment.
- Your monitor and graphics card determine which resolutions are available; you can only choose from what your hardware supports.
- Changing resolution takes effect when ready, and you can revert to the previous setting within seconds if the new one does not suit you.
- If text becomes too small after raising resolution, adjust scaling (Windows and macOS) or use your desktop environment's zoom settings (Linux) rather than lowering resolution.
- Refresh rate — how many times per second the image updates — is a separate setting from resolution and matters more for gaming and video work.
How to change resolution in Windows 10 and Windows 11
Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select Display settings from the menu. If that option does not appear, open the Settings app, go to System, then select Display.
Scroll down to the Display resolution section. You will see a dropdown menu showing your current resolution. Click it to see all available options. Select the resolution you want, then click Keep changes when Windows asks whether to keep the new setting. If the screen becomes unreadable or you change your mind, Windows will revert automatically after 15 seconds.
If you want to adjust how large text and icons appear without changing resolution, stay in Display Settings and look for Scale or Scaling. Windows offers preset percentages like 100%, 125%, and 150%. This is useful when a higher resolution makes everything too small to read comfortably.
How to change resolution on a Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Go to Displays.
You will see a Resolution section with options like "Default for display," "Scaled," or specific pixel dimensions. Click Scaled to see all available resolutions your monitor supports. Select the one you want — the change takes effect when ready. If you want to undo it, return to Displays and pick a different option.
On newer Macs with Apple Silicon chips, the resolution options may be labeled differently — you might see "More Space" or "Default" instead of pixel counts. "More Space" is the equivalent of a higher resolution and makes everything smaller; "Default" is the standard setting. Choose whichever matches your preference for text and icon size.
How to change resolution in Linux
The steps depend on which desktop environment you use — GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, or another. Most distributions use GNOME or KDE by default.
In GNOME (Ubuntu, Fedora, and others): Click the system menu in the top-right corner, select Settings, go to Displays, and look for the Resolution dropdown. Select your preferred resolution and close the window — the change applies when ready.
In KDE Plasma (Kubuntu, openSUSE, and others): Open System Settings, go to Display and Monitor, then Displays. Find the Resolution dropdown, pick your setting, and click explore. You may be asked to confirm the change.
If your desktop environment does not have a graphical display settings tool, you can edit your display configuration file directly, but that requires command-line knowledge. Most users will find the graphical tool in their system settings.
Understanding which resolutions your monitor supports
Your monitor and graphics card work together to determine which resolutions are available. A 1080p monitor (1920 by 1080) will not display 4K (3840 by 2160) even if your graphics card could produce it. Conversely, an older graphics card may not support the highest resolutions a newer monitor can handle.
When you open your display settings, you see only the resolutions your specific combination of monitor and graphics card can produce. If you want a resolution that is not listed, you have two options: upgrade your monitor, or upgrade your graphics card. Most of the time, the monitor is the limiting factor.
The resolution you choose should match what your monitor is designed for. A 27-inch monitor typically works best at 2560 by 1440 (2K) or 3840 by 2160 (4K). A 24-inch monitor usually looks sharpest at 1920 by 1080 (1080p). Using a resolution much lower than the monitor's native resolution can make text and images look blurry.
Resolution versus refresh rate
Resolution is how many pixels appear on screen. Refresh rate is how many times per second the image updates, measured in hertz (Hz). A 60 Hz monitor refreshes 60 times per second; a 144 Hz monitor refreshes 144 times per second.
Resolution and refresh rate are separate settings. You can have a high resolution with a low refresh rate, or a low resolution with a high refresh rate. For everyday work like email and web browsing, 60 Hz at your monitor's native resolution is fine. For gaming or video editing, a higher refresh rate (120 Hz or more) can make motion smoother, but that is a separate choice from resolution.
In Windows, you can change refresh rate in Display Settings by clicking Advanced display settings and looking for Refresh rate. On Mac and Linux, refresh rate is usually set automatically and cannot be changed through the graphical interface without advanced configuration.
What to do if your resolution looks wrong
If you change resolution and everything becomes too small to read, you have two fixes. First, try lowering the resolution back to what it was before — your operating system will remember your previous setting. Second, if you want to keep the higher resolution, use scaling instead: increase the text and icon size in your display settings without lowering the pixel count. This keeps the sharpness of the higher resolution while making everything larger.
If the screen looks blurry after changing resolution, you are probably using a resolution lower than your monitor's native resolution. Your monitor has to stretch the image to fill the screen, which causes blurriness. Switch back to the resolution your monitor was designed for — usually the highest one in the list.
If you change resolution and the image does not fill the entire screen (black bars appear on the sides), check your monitor's menu for an aspect ratio or scaling setting. Some monitors have their own display settings that can override what your computer sends. Your monitor's manual or on-screen menu will show you how to adjust this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a custom resolution that is not in the list?
On Windows, you can try using your graphics card's control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings) to create a custom resolution, but this rarely works well and can cause display problems. On Mac and Linux, custom resolutions require command-line configuration. For most users, sticking to the resolutions your operating system offers is the safest approach.
Will changing resolution damage my monitor?
No. Your monitor can only display resolutions it physically supports. If you try to force an unsupported resolution, your monitor will either refuse it or display a corrupted image, but it will not be damaged. Your operating system will not let you pick a resolution your monitor cannot handle.
Why does my resolution keep changing back?
Windows sometimes reverts resolution changes if a driver update occurs or if you connect a different monitor. Check your graphics card driver — NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel all release driver updates that can reset display settings. Reinstalling or updating your graphics driver usually fixes this.
Is higher resolution always better?
Higher resolution gives you more screen space and sharper text, but it also makes everything smaller. If you raise resolution and text becomes hard to read, use scaling to enlarge it rather than lowering resolution. The best resolution is the one where text is comfortable to read and you have enough screen space for your work.
What resolution should I use for gaming?
That depends on your graphics card and how fast you want the game to run. A powerful graphics card can handle high resolution with high frame rates; a weaker one may need lower resolution to maintain smooth gameplay. Start with your monitor's native resolution and adjust downward only if the game feels slow or stutters.