To change the resolution in Windows 10 to 1920 × 1080, right-click the desktop and choose Display settings. Under Display resolution, pick 1920 × 1080 (it’s usually marked Recommended on Full HD screens), then click Keep changes. If 1920 × 1080 isn’t in the list, your graphics driver is missing or outdated, your monitor or cable doesn’t support it, or Windows is using the wrong display. The fixes are below.
How to set the resolution to 1920 × 1080
- Right-click an empty area of the desktop and choose Display settings. Or go to Settings > System > Display.
- If you have more than one monitor, click the one you want to change at the top.
- Open the Display resolution menu.
- Choose 1920 × 1080.
- Click Keep changes within 15 seconds, or Windows switches back.
If text looks too small afterward, change Scale (above the resolution setting) to 125%. Scaling makes things bigger without lowering sharpness.
If 1920 × 1080 isn’t listed
1. Update or install the graphics driver
If Windows is using Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, you’ll only see a few low resolutions.
- Right-click Start > Device Manager and expand Display adapters.
- If you see Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, right-click it and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
- Better yet, download the driver from your PC maker or your graphics card maker (Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA) and install it. Restart.
2. Check your monitor and cable
- Make sure the monitor supports 1920 × 1080. Look at its model on the maker’s website.
- Old VGA cables and some adapters limit resolution. Use HDMI or DisplayPort if possible.
- Connect directly to the PC instead of through a dock, splitter, or KVM switch to test.
3. Choose from all modes
- In Display settings, click Advanced display settings.
- Click Display adapter properties for Display 1.
- Click List All Modes, choose 1920 by 1080 with the refresh rate you want (usually 60 Hertz), and click OK.
4. Create a custom resolution (advanced)
If your monitor supports 1920 × 1080 but Windows doesn’t offer it, NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Software, and Intel Graphics Command Center can add a custom resolution. Only use settings your monitor supports, since unsupported ones can show a blank screen. If that happens, wait 15 seconds for Windows to revert.
Troubleshooting
- Screen looks blurry at 1920 × 1080. Make sure it’s the monitor’s native resolution, and run Adjust ClearType text from the Start menu.
- Black borders on a TV. Turn off overscan on the TV (often called “Just Scan” or “Screen Fit”), or adjust scaling in your graphics driver’s settings.
- Resolution resets after restart. Reinstall the graphics driver, and turn off any “display optimization” in your PC maker’s software.
Related: Fix a blurry screen in Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1920 × 1080 the same as 1080p or Full HD?
Yes. All three mean 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall.
Can a laptop with a 1366 × 768 screen use 1920 × 1080?
Not on the built-in screen. The panel’s maximum is 1366 × 768. An external 1080p monitor can run at 1920 × 1080.
Does this work on Windows 11?
Yes. Go to Settings > System > Display > Display resolution.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.