How to check each connected screen's resolution

Your external monitor looks blurry, or the picture seems too large for the screen. If you have more than one display, it can also be hard to tell which resolution belongs to which screen.

The Screens tool lists each connected screen with its resolution and scale. You can also use a color test on a screen to identify it before changing settings.

Check each screen's resolution

1. Open Screens in the browser on the computer connected to the displays.
2. Look through the screen list. Each entry shows a screen's resolution and scale. Note which screen you want to check.
3. If you are not sure which entry matches which physical display, use the color test on one screen at a time. Watch the monitors to see which one shows the test.
4. Compare the resolution values. Common examples include 1920 × 1080 for Full HD, 2560 × 1440 for QHD, and 3840 × 2160 for 4K.
5. To change a screen's resolution, open your computer's display settings and select that display. The browser tool checks the current display information, but it does not change system settings.

If you connect or disconnect a display while the tool is open, reload the page and check the list again.

What the resolution means

Each screen has a different resolution

This is normal. A laptop screen and an external monitor can have different pixel counts. Check each display separately in the tool, then select the same display in your operating system's settings before changing its resolution.

The resolution matches the monitor's advertised resolution

The screen is using the expected pixel dimensions. If text or icons still look too small or too large, adjust display scaling rather than lowering the resolution. Scaling changes the size of interface elements while keeping the screen's pixel resolution.

The resolution is lower than you expected

The computer may be using a lower setting, or a cable, adapter, dock, or display mode may limit the available choices. Check the display settings for a higher option, especially one marked recommended or default.

A screen is missing from the list

The computer or browser is not reporting that display as connected. Check the cable and adapter, confirm the monitor is turned on and set to the right input, then check the operating system's display settings. A browser can only report screens the system makes available to it.

How to fix the wrong resolution

1. Select the screen you mean to change. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display and select the numbered screen in the diagram. On macOS, open System Settings › Displays and select the display you want to adjust.
2. Choose the recommended resolution. On Windows 11, use Display resolution and choose the option marked Recommended. On macOS, use the resolution choices in System Settings › Displays. If the screen looks sharp at its default setting, you usually do not need to change it.
3. Check whether the screens are mirrored. In Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display, expand Multiple displays, and check the display mode. In macOS, check System Settings › Displays and whether the displays are set to mirror or extend. Mirroring can make both screens use a resolution that works on each one.
4. Adjust scaling if items look the wrong size. In Windows 11, use the Scale setting under Settings › System › Display. On macOS, choose a different appearance or scaled option under System Settings › Displays. Scaling affects the size of text and controls, not the number of physical pixels in the display.
5. Reconnect the display. Turn the monitor off and on, reseat both ends of the cable, and try another port or a cable rated for the display's resolution. If you use a dock or adapter, connect the screen directly to the computer as a test.
6. Restart the computer. This can help the operating system recognize a monitor or adapter that was connected after startup. Then check the display settings and the Screens tool again.

Resolution and scaling are different

Resolution is the number of pixels used to draw the display image, written as width by height. A resolution of 1920 × 1080 means 1,920 pixels across and 1,080 pixels down. Scaling changes how large text, menus, and other interface elements appear. A high-resolution screen can use scaling to keep those elements readable without reducing its resolution.

Also, the resolution reported by a browser is the display mode the computer currently exposes. It is not a measurement of the monitor's physical size, and it may not tell you every resolution the monitor can support. Use the monitor's recommended setting in your system display controls when you want the sharpest image.

When the screen or connection may be faulty

If the monitor does not appear in system settings after you check the input, cable, and adapter, test it with another cable or computer if you can. A monitor that remains missing or shows a distorted picture on multiple devices may need repair. If the monitor works elsewhere but not through a particular dock or adapter, replace or service that part instead.