Chances are you spend a fair few hours a day in front of your monitor, so it really pays to know how to check its resolution and adjust it. Here we’ll explain what monitor resolution actually is, how to set it up on Windows, macOS and Linux, and how to sort out the most common problems.
What Is Monitor Resolution?
On any monitor, the resolution tells you how many pixels the screen can display. It’s measured across two dimensions — horizontal and vertical, in that order — and written as one multiplied by the other. Full HD, for example, is 1920×1080 pixels.
Why It Matters to Know Your Monitor Resolution
Your resolution figures decide the image quality you’ll have to work or game with, and they also matter when you’re picking new hardware for your PC. It’s worth checking them in these situations:
- Gaming. The higher your monitor resolution, the more your graphics card has to handle in games. So keep in mind what your resolution is and weigh it against the power of your GPU and what the game demands. You can drop the resolution or the frame rate in a game’s settings if the image gets too choppy, or push them up if your GPU can handle it.
- Content creation. You’ll also want to factor in your resolution if you create content, especially with video editing, since it gives you a much truer picture of how your videos will look at their final target resolution. Ideally you’d have a 4K monitor here, so you can cover all kinds of screens.
- Productivity. It might seem like your monitor resolution doesn’t matter much for office work, but it can actually speed things up no end. The higher the resolution, the more room you have on screen to move windows around or work across Excel cells, for instance.
- Troubleshooting. Not every resolution suits every PC. If your screen looks blurry or you notice odd effects in the image, try changing your monitor resolution to see if it clears things up.
- Choosing hardware. If your monitor can display a very high resolution — like 3840×2160, 5120×2880 or even higher — you’ll need a graphics card that can keep up, particularly for gaming or content creation. And the other way round, if you only have an HD monitor, you don’t need such a powerful GPU.
How to Check Your Monitor Resolution in Windows in 3 Steps
Resolution, then, is a key metric for all kinds of PCs, so it really helps to know how to check it in just a few clicks. On both Windows 10 and Windows 11 you can do it easily by following these three steps:
- Right-click on the desktop. Click an empty spot on the desktop, not an icon. A pop-up menu will appear.
- Click Display settings. You’ll find it near the bottom of the pop-up menu.
- Find your resolution under Scale & layout. In this section you’ll see the Display resolution option, which shows your current resolution and also lets you change it.
How to Check Your Monitor Resolution on macOS
Although it’s different from the Windows process, on macOS you can also check your screen resolution in three simple steps. Here’s how:
- Click the Apple menu. It’s in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Choose System Settings. On older versions of macOS it’s called System Preferences.
- Find your display. It’s under the Displays menu in the sidebar. There you can see your current resolution and adjust it if you need to.
How to Check Your Monitor Resolution on Linux
On Linux you can do it two ways — one more visual, the other through the command line. We’ll show you both, though keep in mind that every distro is different, so the instructions may vary a little on yours:
The visual way:
- Go to Settings.
- Go to Monitors (or Displays, depending on your distro).
- Find your resolution in the drop-down menu.
Via the command line:
Just type the command xrandr into the terminal. You’ll then see every monitor connected to your PC, along with the resolutions each one supports and its current resolution, which is marked with an asterisk.
How to Check Your Monitor’s Native Resolution
The steps you’ve just seen show you how to check the resolution your monitor is currently set to, but they also work for finding its native resolution. On Windows and macOS, the native resolution is the one listed as ‘Recommended’ in the list of resolutions you’ll find at Step 3 of the guide above.
Ideally, if you can, always go with your monitor’s native resolution, because it’s the only one where each pixel you see on screen matches a physical pixel on the monitor. If you pick a lower resolution, each on-screen pixel is spread across several physical pixels, so the image comes out a little blurrier.
Common Monitor Resolutions, Explained
A single monitor can display dozens of resolutions if it’s large enough, so you’ll have plenty of flexibility to set it up however you like, but some are more common than others. Here’s what the most frequent ones involve:
- HD (1280×720). Though it’s not used much anymore, the original HD resolution was considered the first high-definition standard in its day. These days, though, you’ll mostly find it on older or low-end PCs.
- Full HD (1920×1080). This is the standard for most mid-range PCs and the one you’ll typically find in any office. It’s perfect for everyday productivity work that isn’t too demanding.
- 2K (2560×1440). Without quite doubling Full HD, 2K sits at an ideal middle point between Full HD and 4K. It gives you more breathing room for productivity tasks, and it also leaves space for gaming or design work.
- 4K (3840×2160). This is the ideal resolution for designers, content creators and gamers who love top graphics in their games. The catch is that these monitors cost more, and the GPU to go with them will too.
Resolution vs Screen Size: Why Pixel Density Matters
The relationship between resolution and screen size is measured in PPI — pixels per inch — and it matters because it determines the image quality you’ll get. Typical figures sit somewhere between 70 and 180 PPI, though they can go lower or higher. Ideally you’d aim for at least 100 PPI for a sharp-looking screen, though of course, if you can reach higher PPI figures, you’ll get better image quality.
How to Change Your Monitor Resolution
The step-by-step guide above already lets you change your monitor resolution on Windows, macOS and Linux easily enough. The steps are almost the same, so here’s a quick recap:
On Windows:
- Right-click an empty spot on the desktop.
- Choose Display settings.
- Under Display resolution, pick the resolution you want.
On macOS:
- Click the Apple menu.
- Choose System Settings.
- Change your resolution under the Displays menu.
On Linux:
- Go to Settings.
- Click Monitors.
- Pick your resolution from the drop-down menu under Resolution.
Common Resolution Problems, and How to Fix Them
Finding the right resolution isn’t always easy, and now and then you may run into resolution problems you’ll need to sort out before your PC works normally again. Every case is different, but some of the most common are:
- Blurry text. This usually happens when your current resolution isn’t your monitor’s native one, as we saw earlier. Try setting your resolution to match the ‘Recommended’ one for your monitor.
- Missing resolution options. Usually, if your operating system is using a generic display driver, you’ll be short on resolution options or your screen won’t look right. Try updating the drivers and give it another go.
- Incorrect scaling. More than a resolution problem, this is a scaling one, which you can change in the display customisation options on both Windows and macOS. Try keeping it at 100%.
- Out-of-date drivers. Your monitor needs a bit of software — the drivers — to work properly on Windows, macOS and Linux alike. If yours are old, download and install the latest ones from the manufacturer’s website.
- Multi-monitor problems. This isn’t a resolution problem but a multi-monitor setup one. Your GPU might not support several monitors, or they might be set up incorrectly.
How to Choose the Best Monitor Resolution for You
By now you’ve got the main points of monitor resolution down, but there’s still the question of how to choose the right one for you. You’ve probably got an idea already: earlier we looked at a few example resolutions and showed you what each is mainly used for. So:
- For an entry-level PC. If money’s really tight, you can go with a monitor at 1280×720, though that’s the bare minimum for basic browsing and office tasks.
- For office work. If you do everyday office work or you’re a student, your best bet is a 1920×1080 resolution. Monitors at this resolution are still affordable, and you’ll have more than enough room to work.
- For gaming. Here it comes down largely to your GPU. For a basic experience, 1920×1080 is enough. If you’ve got the money for it, aim for 4K at 3840×2160. As a middle ground, there’s 2K at 2560×1440.
- For content creation. For video editing, the ideal resolution is definitely at least 3840×2160, and the same goes for graphic design. That said, if you don’t have the money for it, you can go with something lower.
How much you can spend will shape your setup quite a bit, especially now that prices for some components have shot up on the market. That’s why more and more users are turning to GEEKOM mini PCs, which give you compact desktop solutions with top performance at a genuinely competitive price.
FAQs
How do I know if my resolution is 1080p or 1440p?
Follow our tutorial above and check your monitor resolution. 1080p is written as 1920×1080, and 1440p as 2560×1440.
What screen resolution is 1920×1080?
This resolution is what’s known as Full HD, and it’s also the most common on office and mid-range PCs. It’s more than enough for day-to-day tasks, though it falls a little short for more demanding gaming, design and content creation.
What resolution is 2560×1440?
2560×1440 is known as 2K. It sits somewhere between Full HD and 4K, though it’s still closer to Full HD. It’ll do the job if you use your PC for office work and design tasks that aren’t too demanding.
Why does my monitor look blurry even at the recommended resolution?
Check whether the scaling in your monitor settings isn’t optimised, whether you haven’t updated your monitor drivers, or even whether the HDMI cable is loose. Check your graphics card drivers too and update them.
Optimise Your Monitor Resolution
Checking and adjusting your monitor resolution is genuinely simple on all the major operating systems, and we’ve shown you how in this article. Set the right resolution for your system by following our tutorial, and think about whether you need a hardware upgrade to run higher resolutions. Head to GEEKOM and take a look at our mini PCs if you’re after a high-performance PC at a great price!
