A common issue Windows 10/11 users face is the display resolution greyed out problem, which prevents them from changing their screen resolution.
This may be irritating, specially for users who rely on unique resolutions for responsibilities like photo layout or video enhancing. Fortunately, there are several methods to troubleshoot and resolve this problem.
Why Is My Display Resolution Grayed Out?
This problem frequently happens after a Windows replace, specially if there may be a struggle between the new system configuration and old drivers. Other reasons can also include corrupted drivers, gadget system faults, or malware. The true news is that this hassle doesn’t affect the functionality of Windows, however it may be inconvenient.
How to Adjust the Screen Resolution
It’s not hard to change your screen resolution in Windows 10/11. Go ahead and right-click on the desktop, click on Display Settings, under options change the Display Resolution, select your preferred resolution, and then click OK. There you’ll get a preview of your new resolution so you can either keep it or press the revert button for a restoration of the previous resolution.
Some users experience the problem where the screen resolution options are greyed out, the drop-down option becomes unresponsive or crashes, and sometimes it even reverts back to the original settings after managing to change the resolution successfully.
Solutions for Fixing Grayed Out Display Resolution
To rule out these factors from the equation, try these basic troubleshooting steps first:
- Restart your computer. If you have just completed installing an update, you need to restart your computer for the changes to apply.
- Clean up your system. Unnecessary files can clog your system, resulting in a whole slew of errors and performance issues. You can use a reliable PC cleanup tool to remove junk files from your PC completely, for example Outbyte PC Repair.
- Scan your computer for malware. It is essential to get rid of any infected files. As an example, you could use this reliable antivirus software.
- Install all available updates. Press Win + S and search for Windows Update. And then, click the Check for updates.
After performing all these steps, restart your computer once again and check if you can now change your screen resolution. If not, try your luck with the methods below:
1. Update Your Display Driver
Outdated or corrupted drivers are a frequent cause of resolution issues. To fix this:
- Open Device Manager from the Start menu.
- Expand Display Adapters, right-click your display driver, and select Uninstall.
- Restart your computer to allow Windows to reinstall the correct driver automatically. If it doesn’t, manually download the latest version from the manufacturer’s website.
If you want a hassle-free way to update drivers, consider using Outbyte Driver Updater to ensure that your drivers are always current.
2. Enable GPU Scaling
GPU scaling is a process where images are resized such that it fits properly on the display screen. You can do this via your graphics control panel based on your graphics card: Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA:
- For Intel: Open Intel HD Graphics through the taskbar, click on Display and check Maintain Display Scaling.
- For AMD: Open the Radeon control panel. Under GPU Scaling click the On option.
- NVIDIA: Under Adjust Desktop Size and Position, select the appropriate scaling mode.
3. Reset Your PC
If the above fixes do not work, then resetting your PC will fix the deeper system problems while not deleting any of your personal files:
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Reset this PC option click Get started then follow the instructions.
4. Check the Display Driver
Use the proper display driver. If you migrated to this installation from an older version of Windows, there may be a default driver on that is not compatible with your hardware.
Do so by opening Device Manager and if your Display Adapter is under “Display Adapters”, then it isn’t installed. Otherwise, do the following to install the proper driver:
5. Install the Latest Windows Updates
First, make sure your system is updated. Microsoft regularly publishes patches for these types of issues.
Press the Key + I to open Settings and go to Update & Security >> Windows Update.
Click on the Check for updates button. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process. Restart your computer after that.
6. Get Your Display Checked
If you feel that the problem is not with the graphics card, then you might want to have your device checked by a technician. The problem can be with the display itself, especially if there is any sort of physical damage. Under these circumstances, driver updates or modifications in settings will not work.
7. Check External Connections
The screen can’t function correctly without close cooperation among the graphics card, display, and connecting cable. Defective settings in any of these areas may be the reason why your screen resolution settings are greyed out.
Note that older graphic cards or cables may not support higher resolutions like UHD. All you do is ensure they are compatible with the display in question.
8. Review App Settings
Some applications or games auto-adjust the resolution of your screen to smooth out the operation of the program. This could interfere with your settings. Investigate the display options of the app in question for any interference with the settings.
More Help for Your PC:
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FAQs
Why is my display resolution greyed out on Windows 11?
It is largely due to the drivers, which are either outdated or incompatible, or there is a conflict with the latest update of Windows.
Does the greyed-out monitor resolution get fixed for the second monitor too?
Yes, it does resolve updating display drivers and checking through graphics settings for more than one monitor.
Why does my display resolution revert after I change it?
This is in most cases due to faulty drivers or scaling settings of the GPU. Simply reinstalling your drivers and adjusting the settings of scaling will help.
Reset my PC will erase my personal files?
This will not happen if during the Reset option you select Keep my files. In this case, your personal data will be left intact while the programs installed will get deleted.
