How to Change Your Monitor Resolution on Windows, Mac, and Linux

How to change monitor resolution on your computer

Monitor resolution is the number of pixels your screen displays horizontally and vertically — for example, 1920 × 1080 means 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall. Changing it makes everything on your screen larger or smaller. On Windows, you access this through Display Settings. On Mac, it's in System Preferences under Displays. On Linux, the method varies by desktop environment, but most use a Settings or Display panel. The steps take less than a minute, and you can change it back immediately if you don't like the result.

Your monitor has a native resolution — the one it was designed for — that usually looks sharpest. You can run your monitor at other resolutions, but the image may look blurry or stretched. If you're unsure what your monitor's native resolution is, search for your monitor model online or check the manual.

Key Takeaways

Windows users open Settings, select System, then Display, and choose a resolution from the dropdown menu under "Display resolution".
Mac users go to System Preferences, click Displays, and select a resolution from the list — newer Macs may show "Scaled" options instead of pixel counts.
Linux users typically find resolution settings in their desktop environment's Settings app, though the exact location depends on whether you use GNOME, KDE, or another environment.
Your monitor has a native resolution that usually looks sharpest, though any resolution your monitor supports will work.
If your screen looks blurry or text is hard to read after changing resolution, you can revert to your previous setting in the same menu within seconds.

Changing resolution on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Open the Start menu and type "display settings" into the search box, then press Enter. The Display Settings window will open. Scroll down until you see "Display resolution" — it shows your current resolution as a dropdown menu. Click the dropdown and you'll see a list of resolutions your monitor supports. Select the one you want and click "Keep changes" when prompted. Windows will show the new resolution for 15 seconds; if you don't click "Keep changes" again, it reverts automatically.

If you don't see the resolution you want in the list, your graphics driver may need updating. Right-click on your desktop, look for an option like "Graphics Settings" or "NVIDIA Control Panel" (depending on your graphics card), and check for driver updates there. If you're using an external monitor connected to a laptop, make sure you're adjusting the correct display — the Display Settings window shows all connected monitors, and you may need to scroll down to find the external one.

Changing resolution on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Preferences" (on older Macs) or "System Settings" (on newer ones). Click "Displays" in the sidebar. On Intel-based Macs, you'll see a list of resolutions; click the one you want. On Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3), the menu shows "Scaled" options with descriptions like "More Space" or "Larger Text" instead of pixel counts — these are preset resolution and scaling combinations. Select whichever makes text and icons the size you prefer.

If you're using an external monitor, it appears as a separate item in the Displays settings. Click it to adjust that monitor's resolution independently. Mac automatically detects your monitor's native resolution and marks it as "Default" — this is usually the sharpest option, though you can choose others if you prefer larger or smaller text.

Changing resolution on Linux

The exact steps depend on your desktop environment. On GNOME (used by Ubuntu and Fedora), click the system menu in the top-right corner, select "Settings," then click "Displays" in the sidebar. You'll see a dropdown for "Resolution" — select the one you want and close the window. Changes apply immediately. On KDE Plasma (used by Kubuntu and openSUSE), go to System Settings, click "Startup and Shutdown," then "Display and Monitor," and adjust the resolution there.

If your desktop environment doesn't have a graphical settings tool, you can change resolution from the terminal using the xrandr command, but this requires typing commands and is less common for everyday use. If you're unsure which desktop environment you're running, open a terminal and type echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP — the output will tell you. Most Linux distributions default to GNOME or KDE, so starting there is usually correct.

Understanding native resolution and scaling

Every monitor has a native resolution — the number of pixels it was physically built to display. Running your monitor at its native resolution produces the sharpest image because each pixel on your screen corresponds to exactly one pixel of data from your computer. For a 24-inch monitor, native resolution is often 1920 × 1080. For a 27-inch monitor, it's often 2560 × 1440. You can find your monitor's native resolution in its manual or by searching the model number online.

You can run your monitor at other resolutions, but the computer has to either shrink the image (leaving black borders) or stretch it (making it blurry). Some systems use scaling to make text and icons larger without changing the underlying resolution — this is common on high-resolution displays where native resolution would make everything too small to read comfortably. On Mac and Windows, scaling is often automatic; on Linux, you may need to adjust it separately in Display Settings.

What to do if the resolution looks wrong

If text appears blurry, pixelated, or too small after changing resolution, go back to the same Display Settings menu and try a different resolution. Blurriness usually means you're running the monitor at a non-native resolution. Pixelation usually means the resolution is too low for your monitor size. Text that's too small means the resolution is too high — try stepping down one or two notches.

If you change resolution and your screen goes black or shows "No Signal," don't panic. Wait 15 seconds and your computer will revert to the previous resolution automatically (this is the safety feature built into Windows and Mac). If that doesn't happen, restart your computer — it will boot back into your last working resolution. On Linux, if the screen goes black, press Ctrl+Alt+F2 to open a terminal, log in, and run xrandr --auto to reset to the default resolution.

External monitors and multiple displays

If you're using an external monitor connected to a laptop or desktop, your computer may detect it as a separate display. In Display Settings (Windows or Mac) or Displays (Linux), you'll see both your built-in screen and the external monitor listed separately. You can set a different resolution for each one independently. Make sure you're adjusting the correct monitor — click or select the one you want to change before adjusting its resolution.

If your external monitor isn't showing up in Display Settings, check that the cable is fully connected and try unplugging and replugging it. On Windows, you can also press Windows Key + P to open the display projection menu and select "Extend" to make sure the monitor is recognized. On Mac, hold Option and click the Displays menu to see additional options for detecting external monitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What resolution should I use?

Use your monitor's native resolution for the sharpest image. If text is too small to read comfortably, increase the scaling or zoom level in your operating system rather than lowering the resolution. If you're unsure what your monitor's native resolution is, search for your monitor model online or check the manual.

Can changing resolution damage my monitor?

No. Your monitor can only display resolutions it physically supports, and your operating system won't let you select an unsupported one. Running a monitor at a non-native resolution may look blurry, but it won't harm the hardware.

Why does my resolution keep changing back?

On Windows, this usually means your graphics driver is outdated or corrupted. Update your graphics driver through Device Manager or the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). On Mac, restart your computer — sometimes a restart is needed for resolution changes to stick. On Linux, check that your display settings are being saved; some desktop environments require you to click "Apply" before closing the settings window.

My monitor supports a resolution that isn't showing in the list — how do I use it?

On Windows, update your graphics driver. On Mac, check System Preferences to see if a "Scaled" option provides what you need. On Linux, you can use the xrandr command to set a custom resolution, though this requires terminal knowledge. If the resolution still doesn't appear after updating drivers, your monitor cable may not support it — try a different cable or connection type.

Is there a difference between resolution and refresh rate?

Yes. Resolution is the number of pixels (1920 × 1080). Refresh rate is how many times per second the screen redraws (usually 60 Hz). They're separate settings. Resolution affects image sharpness; refresh rate affects smoothness during motion. Most people don't need to change refresh rate, but gamers sometimes increase it for smoother gameplay.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.