How to Change the Resolution in Windows 8

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 20, 2020

Windows automatically sets your screen resolution to a recommended size based on your monitor. However, you can make adjustments to your screen resolution as needed by making a few simple changes to your display settings. Finding your native resolution is a great way to get the most out of your monitor's display capabilities.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Settings (Touch Friendly)

1
Click on the start button.The Windows button is in the bottom left corner of your screen.
2
Type in settings.
3
An icon with a gear called PC settings will appear in your search. Click or tap on it.
4
Select PC & devices then Display. You will see a resolution slide bar on the right-hand side..
5
Click or tap across the slider to find your recommended setting. The word "Recommended" will appear once you scroll to the corresponding resolution. This is your monitor's native resolution.
- Often times, your resolution is already set to the recommended size. In this case, you won't need to make anymore adjustments and can exit out of the settings window.
6
Click Apply. A preview will appear.
- If you don't like the resolution in the preview, select Revert to pick another resolution from the list.
7
Press Keep Changes if you've found a good resolution. Your changes will be kept.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Control Panel

1
Navigate to the start screen. Click on the "Windows" icon at the bottom left of your screen. It has the Windows logo on it.
2
Type in "Control Panel." Windows will begin to search for the "Control Panel" app as you type.
3
Click on "Control Panel." A new window will appear. Navigate to the "Appearance and Personalization" category. It appears as a computer screen with some paint swatches.
4
Click "Adjust screen resolution." A new window will appear.
5
Click on the drop-down menu next to "Resolution." A menu will appear showing you all of your available screen resolutions.
6
Choose your desired resolution. Drag the scroll bar up or down to choose the resolution you want to use.
- It's best to set your monitor to its "native resolution," or the resolution that it was designed for. If you don't know your monitor's native resolution, find it by following Method 2 of this article.
7
Click on "Apply." You will be given a preview of your selected resolution.
- If you don't like the resolution in the preview, select "Revert" to pick another resolution from the list.
8
Click on "Keep Changes." Your changes will be applied.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I change my resolution back to what I had in Windows 7 if it automatically switched to a different one in Windows 8?

Community Answer

On your desktop, right-click, and then click "Display Settings." This will redirect you to an app where you can change the resolution of your PC, under the heading, "Resolution."
Question

My resolution is set on 1366 x 768, but at bottom, says that it is lower than 1200 x 900. What is wrong?

Community Answer

1366 x 768 is a lower resolution than 1200 x 900; despite the width being greater, the overall pixel area in your resolution is 1,049,088, whereas in 1200 x 900, it's 1,080,000.