Everything looks huge or stretched after an update
My screen resolution changed by itself and looks stretched. How do I set it back?
Written by The CommonFixes team · fact checked by CommonFixes review desk
Last updated
Short answer
An update replaced your graphics driver with a generic Microsoft one that does not know your monitor, so Windows falls back to a safe low resolution. The quickest thing to try first: set the recommended resolution — Right click the desktop, Display settings, and choose the resolution marked Recommended. Also set Scale back to 100 percent or 125 percent. Most people are done in about 5 minutes.
Full walkthrough below: 4 steps for Windows, rated easy.
Sounds like this
- •Icons are oversized
- •Black bars on the sides
- •Text looks fuzzy and wide
Why it happens
An update replaced your graphics driver with a generic Microsoft one that does not know your monitor, so Windows falls back to a safe low resolution.
Work through these in order
0% done- 1
Set the recommended resolution
Right click the desktop, Display settings, and choose the resolution marked Recommended. Also set Scale back to 100 percent or 125 percent.
- 2
Reinstall the real graphics driver
Download the driver straight from Intel, NVIDIA or AMD for your exact model and install it. Do not rely on Windows Update for this one.
- 3
Check the cable
A loose or damaged HDMI or DisplayPort cable makes the monitor report the wrong capabilities. Reseat both ends or try another cable.
- 4
Set the refresh rate
In Display settings, Advanced display, pick the highest refresh rate your monitor supports so motion looks smooth again.
If none of that worked
If the recommended resolution is missing entirely, the driver did not install. Boot into Safe Mode, uninstall the display adapter in Device Manager with Delete the driver software ticked, restart and install again.
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The CommonFixes team
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