What you can change on your monitor

Your monitor has physical buttons or a menu system that control brightness, contrast, color temperature, and input source — separate from your computer's display settings. These controls live on the monitor itself, usually on the bottom bezel or the back, and they adjust how the screen looks without changing what your computer sends to it.

Most monitors have an on-screen display menu, often called the OSD, that you access by pressing a button labeled Menu, Select, or with an icon that looks like three horizontal lines. Once you open it, you navigate with arrow buttons and confirm choices with a Select or OK button. Some newer monitors also have touch controls or let you adjust settings through software on your computer.

The settings you can change vary by monitor model. Budget monitors might only have brightness and contrast. Mid-range and higher-end monitors often include color temperature, input selection, picture modes, response time, and refresh rate settings. Gaming monitors add options like overdrive and black equalizer. Check your monitor's manual to see what your specific model offers — you can usually find it by searching the brand and model number plus "manual" online.

Key Takeaways

  • Monitor controls are physical buttons or menus on the monitor itself, separate from your computer's settings, and they adjust brightness, contrast, color, and input source.
  • Most monitors use an on-screen menu accessed by pressing a button on the bottom or back, then navigating with arrow keys and confirming with Select or OK.
  • Brightness and contrast are the most common adjustments; color temperature, input source, and picture modes are available on most mid-range and higher monitors.
  • Your monitor's manual lists exactly which settings are available on your model and explains what each one does.
  • If you cannot find the manual, search your monitor's brand and model number online — manufacturers usually post them on their support pages.

Finding and opening the monitor menu

Look at the bottom bezel of your monitor, usually centered or slightly to one side. You should see a row of physical buttons. One of them is labeled Menu, Select, or has a three-line icon (sometimes called a hamburger menu). Press that button to open the on-screen display menu.

If you do not see buttons on the bottom, check the back of the monitor near the power cable, or look for a touch-sensitive area on the bottom bezel that responds to your finger. Some monitors have a single joystick button that you push in different directions to navigate and press to select.

Once the menu appears on your screen, use the arrow buttons (usually labeled with up, down, left, right arrows) to move between options. Press the Select, OK, or Enter button to open a submenu or change a setting. Press the Menu button again or look for an Exit option to close the menu and return to your normal display.

Adjusting brightness and contrast

Brightness controls how light or dark the entire screen appears. Contrast controls the difference between the brightest whites and darkest blacks on your screen. Both are usually in the main menu under names like "Picture," "Display," or "Image."

A good starting point for brightness is to set it so you can comfortably read text without eye strain in your normal room lighting. If your room is very bright, you may need higher brightness; if it is dim, lower brightness reduces glare. Contrast is often best left near the middle of its range — too high makes colors look harsh, too low makes them look washed out.

If you work with photos, video, or design, you may want to calibrate these more carefully. Many monitors have preset picture modes like "Standard," "Vivid," or "sRGB" that adjust brightness and contrast together for specific uses. Try these presets first before manually adjusting individual settings.

Changing color temperature and picture modes

Color temperature controls whether your screen looks warmer (more yellow and red) or cooler (more blue and white). Warmer settings are easier on your eyes during evening use; cooler settings are standard for daytime work and photo editing. Most monitors offer presets like "Warm," "Standard," and "Cool," or a numeric scale where lower numbers are warmer and higher numbers are cooler.

Picture modes are preset combinations of brightness, contrast, and color that are tuned for different uses. Common modes include Standard (balanced for general use), Vivid (higher contrast and saturation for movies and games), sRGB (accurate color for photo and video work), and Movie (warm color temperature for watching films). If you do not know which to choose, Standard is a safe default.

Some monitors let you save custom settings under a user profile. If you switch between tasks — gaming in the evening, photo work during the day — you can create separate profiles and switch between them without manually adjusting each setting.

Selecting the correct input source

If your monitor has multiple input ports (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, or older VGA and DVI), you may need to tell it which one to use. This is especially important if you have multiple devices connected to the same monitor or if you recently plugged in a new cable.

Open the monitor menu and look for an option called "Input," "Source," "Input Select," or "HDMI." Navigate to it and you should see a list of available ports. Select the one your cable is plugged into. The monitor will switch to that input and display your computer's signal.

If you have only one cable connected and the monitor is not showing a picture, check that the correct input is selected. Many monitors default to the first input port, but if your cable is in a different port, you need to manually switch. If you still see no picture after selecting the right input, the cable may be loose or damaged — try unplugging and reseating it firmly on both ends.

Using software to adjust monitor settings

Some monitors, particularly newer gaming and professional models, come with software you can install on your computer to adjust settings without using the physical menu. This software usually lets you change brightness, contrast, color temperature, and picture modes from your desktop, and some let you create profiles that switch automatically based on what program you are using.

To find this software, search your monitor's brand and model number plus "software" or "driver" on the manufacturer's website. read and install it, then look for an icon in your system tray or applications menu. The software interface varies widely — some are straightforward sliders, others are detailed control panels — so refer to the software's help section if you are unsure what a setting does.

Software control is optional and not necessary for basic adjustments. If you prefer to use only the physical buttons on your monitor, that works just as well. Software is most useful if you frequently switch between different picture modes or if your monitor's physical menu is difficult to navigate.

Troubleshooting common display problems

If your screen looks too dark, too bright, washed out, or has an odd color tint, start by checking brightness and contrast. Increase brightness if the screen is too dark; decrease it if it is too bright. If colors look wrong, try switching to a different picture mode or adjusting color temperature.

If you cannot see the menu at all, make sure the monitor is powered on — look for a power light on the front or back. If it is on but you see no picture, check that your cable is firmly connected on both ends and that the correct input source is selected. If the menu appears but is hard to read, brightness is likely too low — use the brightness button to increase it before opening the menu.

If you accidentally changed a setting and cannot undo it, most monitors have a "Reset" option in the menu that returns all settings to factory defaults. This is usually under "Setup," "System," or "Advanced." After resetting, you can adjust brightness and contrast again to your preference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the buttons on my monitor?

Most monitors have buttons on the bottom bezel, usually centered or slightly to one side. Some have them on the back near the power cable. Look for a button labeled Menu, Select, or with a three-line icon. If you cannot find physical buttons, your monitor may have a touch-sensitive area on the bottom bezel or a joystick button.

How do I know which input source to select?

Look at the cable connecting your monitor to your computer. It will be labeled HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, or an older type like VGA or DVI. Open the monitor menu, find the Input or Source option, and select the matching port. If you are unsure which cable you used, try each input one at a time until your computer's display appears.

Can I adjust my monitor settings from my computer instead of using the buttons?

Some monitors come with software that lets you adjust settings from your computer, but not all. Check your monitor's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if software is available for your model. If not, you can adjust brightness and contrast through your computer's operating system, though this is less precise than using the monitor's own controls.

What should I set brightness and contrast to?

Brightness should be high enough that you can read text comfortably without eye strain in your normal room lighting. Contrast is often best left near the middle of its range. If you work with photos or video, try the monitor's preset picture modes like sRGB or Standard before manually adjusting these settings.

I changed a setting and now my screen looks wrong. How do I fix it?

Open the monitor menu and look for a Reset, Restore, or Factory Reset option, usually under Setup or Advanced. Select it to return all settings to their defaults. After resetting, adjust brightness and contrast back to your preference. If you cannot find the reset option, check your monitor's manual.