How to verify each screen before a trading workstation

Before you arrange charts, order windows, and watchlists, check that your computer sees every monitor and that each one is showing the expected picture. A screen can light up while still using the wrong resolution, sitting in the wrong desktop position, or displaying an obvious color problem.

The Screens tool lists connected screens with their resolution and scale, and lets you run a color test on any of them. Use it alongside your computer's display settings to check each physical monitor in turn.

Check every screen

1. Open the Screens tool. Compare the screens it lists with the monitors connected to your workstation.
2. Open your computer's display settings. On Windows 11, go to Settings › System › Display. On a Mac, go to System Settings › Displays. Check that the desktop arrangement matches the physical positions of your monitors.
3. In the Screens tool, run the color test on each screen separately. Look at the corresponding physical monitor as you switch between them, so you know which listing matches which display.
4. Move a window across the full desktop, including the edges where monitors meet. Check that it moves in the expected direction and that no screen is missing from the arrangement.

Write down each monitor's expected resolution and scale before changing anything. If the computer is managed by your workplace, check with your IT team before changing display settings that may be part of a standard setup.

What the results mean

Every screen appears with the expected settings

Your computer detects each connected display, and its reported resolution and scale match what you expect. This is a good starting point, but it does not prove that the trading platform is using the right window layout or that the panel is calibrated. Open the apps you use and confirm they appear on the intended monitors.

A screen is missing

The operating system or browser is not exposing one of the displays to the test. Check that the monitor is powered on and set to the input used by its cable. Then check the operating system's display settings. A dock, adapter, or graphics output may also be preventing the computer from detecting it.

The resolution or scale is unexpected

The screen is detected, but its desktop may look blurry, cramped, or unusually large. Compare the reported values with the monitor's specifications and the settings in your operating system. Some Macs show a scaled desktop resolution rather than the panel's physical pixel count, so a value that looks lower is not automatically a fault.

The color test looks uneven or has obvious defects

A missing color, strong tint, dark patch, or flicker can point to a monitor setting, cable, graphics output, or panel problem. Repeat the test on that screen, then check whether the same issue appears in the monitor's own menu or with another device. The color test is a visual check, not a measurement of professional color accuracy.

The screens pass, but a trading app looks wrong

The displays may be working while the app uses an old window position, a different scale, or a saved layout from another monitor setup. Reposition the app windows and save the layout again. If one monitor's resolution changed, check whether the app's charts and text reflow correctly.

How to fix a screen that is not right

1. Check power and input. Make sure the monitor is on and set to the input matching its connection, such as HDMI or DisplayPort. A monitor can show a blank screen if it is listening to a different input.
2. Reseat the cable. Unplug and reconnect both ends of the display cable. If you use a dock or adapter, connect the monitor directly to the computer if possible, then test again. Try one cable or connection change at a time.
3. Check the desktop arrangement. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display, select Identify to match screen numbers to physical monitors, and arrange the display rectangles to match your desk. On a Mac, open System Settings › Displays and arrange the display tiles to match their positions.
4. Choose the intended resolution and scale. In Windows 11, select the monitor in Settings › System › Display, then check Display resolution and Scale. On a Mac, choose the display in System Settings › Displays and review the available resolution options. Use the recommended setting unless your workstation instructions specify another one.
5. Restart the display connection. Turn the monitor off and on, or restart the computer after saving your work. If the screen still fails to appear, check for approved graphics or dock updates through your workplace's normal support process.

For more detail on reported display dimensions, see how to check each connected screen's resolution. If the desktop arrangement changed after a graphics update, check the dual-monitor layout as well.

When the monitor or cable may be faulty

If the same flicker, tint, or blank area follows a monitor when you connect it to another computer, the issue is likely with the monitor or its power supply. If the problem follows one cable or adapter instead, replace that part. For a screen still under warranty, document the symptom and contact the manufacturer or your workplace's IT team before opening the monitor.

What this check cannot confirm

A browser can report the screens the operating system makes available, but it cannot certify that every pixel is accurate or that a monitor is suitable for color-critical work. A color test can reveal obvious visual problems, not measure calibration. It also cannot confirm that a trading service, chart feed, or saved application layout is correct. Check those inside the applications you rely on, and do not treat a screen test as confirmation that an order or account setting is correct.