How to reset your Windows 11 display settings

⚡ Fast fix

• Open Display settings. Right-click an empty area of your desktop and select Display settings.
• Reset your scale. Under Scale & layout, click the dropdown arrow next to Scale, and select the value marked Recommended.
• Reset your resolution. Next to Display resolution, click the dropdown arrow and select the recommended value.
• Reset graphics driver settings. Some issues can’t be resolved with a simple display reset and might require a graphics driver restart instead.

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Your computer display lets you interact with everything on your computer, so when it suddenly looks stretched, blurry, or oddly sized, it’s easy to panic. Don’t worry, though. When you have a distorted screen after a Windows™ update or a hardware change, a simple display reset could be all you need.

Whether you’re seeking help to reset your monitor display or set up a dual computer screen, Asurion Experts are here to guide you. We help millions of people fix issues that can make everyday tech less useful than it should, and we’ll walk you through how to reset display settings on Windows 11™.

Reset Windows 11 display settings to default

Reset monitor display settings in Windows 11 with these steps.

Scale back the display to the recommended value

1. Right-click your desktop and select Display settings.
2. Find Scale & layout.
3. Next to Scale, click the dropdown arrow▾ and select the percentage marked Recommended.

Reset monitor settings to the recommended resolution

1. Still under Scale & layout, find Display resolution.
2. Click the dropdown arrow▾.
3. Select the screen resolution value marked Recommended.

This step fixes a blurry or stretched screen if your computer was running a resolution your monitor wasn’t built for.

Set orientation back to Landscape

1. Still under Scale & layout, find Display orientation.
2. Click the dropdown arrow.
3. Select Landscape to get your display screen back to normal.

Match your monitor’s refresh rate

1. Under Display settings, select Advanced display settings.
2. Find Choose a refresh rate and click the dropdown arrow▾.
3. Select a refresh rate that matches your monitor’s rating.

If you’re experiencing eye strain, try monitor settings that are easier on your eyes.

Fix multiple monitor and connection issues

When you’re running a multi-monitor setup, the steps to restore default display settings in Windows 11 may not always work due to different configurations. Here are some quick fixes for common issues when you’re setting up multiple monitors.

A monitor isn’t showing up

If one of your monitors isn’t displaying, the fastest fix is to detect the displays again.

1. Right-click your desktop and select Display settings.
2. Find and click Multiple displays.
3. Next to Detect other display, click Detect.

Your monitors are arranged incorrectly

1. Under Display, find the layout view showing the number of monitor icons.
2. Drag each icon to match your monitor’s arrangement on your desk.
3. Click Apply.

The wrong screen is set as primary

1. Still in your layout view, click the monitor you want to use as your main screen.
2. Check the box for Make this my primary display.
3. Click Apply.

Reset graphics driver settings

If your screen is frozen or flickering, the issue might not be display settings but a graphics driver problem. To quickly restart your graphics driver, press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B. If the display issue started right after the Windows update, consider updating or rolling back the graphics driver.

Update your graphics driver

1. Right-click on the Start button and open Device Manager.
2. Double-click on Display adapters.
3. Right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.

Roll back to the previous driver

1. Open Device Manager and double-click on Display adapters.
2. Right-click your graphics card and select Properties >Driver tab.
3. Select Roll Back Driver.

Still running into related problems beyond the display? Check out solutions for common Windows 11 issues.

Troubleshoot a blank or unsupported display

If you’re seeing a black screen or an error message that reads “unsupported resolution,” there are some troubleshooting steps you can try. Start by confirming that the display cable is firmly plugged into both the monitor and the computer port.

Is your screen unusable? Start your PC in Safe Mode to load Windows with only basic display settings. If your monitor still doesn’t display correctly after all these steps, the issue may be failing hardware. Consider upgrading your graphics card and see if it resolves your display issues.

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FAQ

How do I revert to the old Display settings?

Windows 11 doesn’t save the history of past display settings, so you don’t get a revert button. To reset computer display settings, open Display settings and manually set Scale, Display resolution, and Refresh rate back to what you remember using, or select Recommended options for each.

How do I reset the graphics settings on Windows 11?

Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B.

How do I reset multiple display settings in Windows 11?

Right-click your desktop and open Display settings. Select each connected monitor at the top, then go to Scale & layout and choose the Recommended option for Display resolution and Scale.