How to Fix a Monitor that keeps changing Resolution (STEPS)

Why does my monitor keep changing resolution?

The main reason why a computer monitor keeps changing resolution is due to outdated device drivers, incorrect MSConfig settings or incorrect Windows Display settings.

 

• Outdated Device Drivers
• Msconfig Settings
• Outdated Windows Settings
• Hardware Issues

 

Outdated Device Drivers

Generally, operating systems use device drivers to send and receive instructions to and from the hardware. If the device drivers, particularly your system’s display drivers, are outdated, it can lead to this issue.

 

Msconfig Settings

System Configuration Utility or Msconfig is a tool you can use to configure how your device will start and what services and programs will load when Windows starts. If the Msconfig tool is set to switch back to the low resolution of the display after sleep, it can cause the resolution changing issue.

 

Outdated Windows Settings

Regular updates will keep your device error-free if you are using Windows 10 or 11. An outdated Windows version can lead to multiple errors, including a change in the screen resolution.

 

Hardware Issues

If none of the above causes are present, hardware issues might lead to this problem. You can either run a troubleshooter to solve it or call the customer support team of your device and let them assist you.

 

How do I stop my monitor resolution from changing?

You can stop your monitor resolution from changing by updating display drivers, changing Msconfig settings, updating Windows settings, and running a hardware troubleshooter.

 

 

Update Display Drivers

Updating display drivers can help you resolve the display low-resolution issue. Here’s a method that you can try to update the display drivers successfully:

1. To begin with, you need to open the Run window. (Keyboard shortcut: Win+R).
2. Type devmgmt.mscin the editor and press Enter. The Device Manager window will open. The Device Manager window will show you the installed hardware components and the device drivers installed in your device.

 

3. Select Displayfrom the available hardware listed.
4. Open the Devicesection and right-click on it.
5. From the context menu, Update Driver.

 

Change Msconfig Settings

You can change msconfig settings to alter the preset resolution of your display. Follow this method below to do it:

1. Open the Runwindow by pressing Win+Rkeys.
2. Open the System Configuration window by typing MSConfigin the editor.
3. Press Enterand click the Boottab.
4. Uncheck the Basevideo option.
5. Click Apply, OKand reboot your device.

 

Update Windows Settings

• You need to update the Windows settings to fix the low-resolution issue. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to Settingsand open Update & Security. This section will show you all the pending updates for your device.
2. According to the instructions, you need to update your Windows operating system to fix this issue.

 

Run Hardware Troubleshooter

You can run a hardware troubleshooter if none of the above methods help you to change the display resolution.

1. Open the Runwindow using the Win+Rkeys.
2. Type %systemroot%\system32\msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnosticin the dialog box and press Enterto open the troubleshooter. You will get some instructions to solve the error, and the problem might get fixed after following the instructions.

 

How do I stop windows 10 from changing resolution?

To stop Windows 10 from changing resolution, you can update display drivers, turn OFF the screensaver, clean boot Windows, do a system resource and run SFC scans.

 

Update Display Drivers:

You can try updating display drivers to fix the display low-resolution problem. Here’s how you can do it:

1. To start with, open the Runwindow. (Keyboard shortcut: Win+R).
2. In the editor, you need to type devmgmt.mscand press Enter. It’ll open Device Manager. You can see the installed hardware components and the device drivers installed.
3. From the available hardware listed, select Display.
4. Open the Devicesection and right-click on it.
5. Update the driver from the context menu, and the process ends here.

 

Turn OFF the Screensaver:

Wrongly set screensaver can affect the display configuration. Try the following steps to reduce the settings of your screensaver:

1. Open Settingsand click on Personalization.
2. Launch Lock Screenfrom the menu on the left panel.

Click on Screen saver settings from the right panel menu. Find the misconfigured setting to fix the screensaver errors.

 

Clean Boot Windows:

The problem may occur due to some malfunctioning Windows components that you need to identify and fix. Here’s how you can clean boot Windows to solve this problem:

1. Open the Run(Win+Rkeyboard shortcut) and type MSConfig in the dialogue box.
2. As the System Configuration window opens, select the radio button beside Selective Startup.
3. Clean up the Load StartupItems.
4. Click the Servicetab and click on Hide All Microsoft Services.
5. Click Disable alland OK.
6. Reboot your device to complete this method.

 

Do a System Resource:

If the above two methods aren’t working, you need to do a System Resource. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Backup all your files and click on Update & Securitythat you’ll find in the Settingsapp.
2. Select Recoveryfrom the left side panel.
3. Select the Get started option under the Reset this PCsection.

 

Run SFC Scan

Windows can malfunction due to a broken system component. In this case, you need to scan the broken files by using the SFC and DISM tools. Here’s the method to follow:

1. Open the Run window by pressing Win+Rkeys.
2. Type cmdand press the Ctrl+Shift+Enterkeys.
3. Type the syntax is DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealthfor the scan.
4. Once the scan finishes, reboot your system.

 

How do I stop windows 11 from changing resolution?

To stop Windows 11 from changing resolution, you can update display drivers, update Windows settings and run a hardware troubleshooter.

 

Update Display Drivers

You can try updating display drivers to stop Windows 11 from changing resolution. Here’s a method that you can try:

1. Open the Runwindow (Keyboard shortcut: Win+R) and type devmgmt.mscin the editor.
2. Press Enterand the Device Manager window will open. It’ll show you the installed hardware components and the device drivers installed.
3. Select Displayfrom the available hardware listed and open the Devicesection.
4. Right-click on it and update the driver from the context menu.

 

Update Windows Settings

Updating Windows settings can help you fix this issue. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to Settings>Update & Security. Here, you can see all the pending updates for your device.
2. Follow the instructions to update your Windows operating system.

 

Run Hardware Troubleshooter

Running a hardware troubleshooter is needed if none of the above methods help you. Here’s how you can do it.

1. Open the Runwindow (Win+Rkeys).
2. Type %systemroot%\system32\msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnosticin the editor.
3. Press Enterto open the troubleshooter.
4. Follow the instructions to solve the error.

 

How to reset screen resolution to default windows 10?

Here’s how you can reset screen resolution to default Windows 10:

1. Click the Startbutton and choose Settings.
2. Click on System>Advanced display settings.
3. Select the desired resolution. Recommended resolution is the most suitable for your display, which I’ll also suggest.

 

How to reset screen resolution to default windows 11?

How to reset the screen resolution to default settings in Windows 11:

1. Click on Start>Settings.
2. On the Systemtab, click on Display.
3. Click the Display resolution drop-down list.
4. Choose your alternate resolution setting.
5. Click on the Keep Changesoption.

 

How do I fix over scaling on my monitor?

To fix over scaling on your monitor, you can try the methods below:

• You can try unplugging the HDMI cable from your monitor and plugging it back.
• Try changing the display resolution by following the steps mentioned in the above answer.
• You can update Windows by following the above steps.
• You can also run a display driver update as I’ve explained above.

 

Windows 10 display scaling below 100

You can try changing the DPI scaling level to scale Windows 10 display below 100.

1. Open the Runwindow by pressing the Win+Rkeys.
2. Type Regedit in the editor and press Enter to open the registry editor.
3. In the left panel, expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
4. Click Control Panel followed by Desktop. 
5. Search for Win8DpiScalingin the right panel and set the value to 1.
6. Close the Registry Editor. 
7. Reboot your device and the display scaling will change.

 

Windows 4k scaling issues

If you’re using Windows 10 or 11, follow the below method to fix the 4k scaling issues.

1. Go to your device’s settings.
2. Click on System and then Display.
3. In the Scale and layoutsection on the right, select the desired scaling from the Change the size of text, apps, and other items dropdownlist.

 

Windows 10 fix scaling for apps on or off

In some devices, such as version 1903, the option for scaling for apps comes by default, and there’s no way you can change it. On other devices, you can follow the steps below to change it:

1. Go to Startand search for Fix apps that are blurry.
2. In the Fix scaling for appssection, slide the Let Windows try to fix apps, so they’re not blurrytoggle button to ON or OFF position depending on what has already been set.