- Outdated or corrupt graphics drivers can prevent you from changing display resolution on Windows 11.
- Running system maintenance tools and SFC scans can help resolve underlying system problems that affect display resolution.
Basic Fixes:
- Restart the computer: Rebooting is effective because minor bugs may trigger the problem, and a reboot often kills the problematic services or processes.
- Reinstall monitor drivers: Outdated monitor drivers may trigger the problem, and reinstalling them may fix it .
- Change resolution via graphics control panel: As a workaround, you should try changing display resolution via the NVIDIA Control Panel or Intel Graphics Command Center.
Fix 1: Update or Reinstall the Graphics Driver
On Windows computers, the graphics driver aids communication between the graphics card and the operating system. When it is outdated, you may notice certain flaws with graphical components, which may be why you cannot change the display resolution. Follow the steps below to update the driver.
Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and click Device Manager .
Step 2: Expand the Display adapters category, right-click your driver, and click Update driver .
Step 3: Click Search automatically for updates .
Alternatively, you may reinstall the driver if it is corrupted.
Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and click Device Manager .
Step 2: Expand the Display adapters category, right-click your driver, and click Uninstall device .
Step 3: Confirm your choice.
Step 4: Restart the computer, reopen the Device Manager , and click the icon for Scan for hardware changes . Once done, the system should automatically prompt you to install the required drivers.
Fix 2: Adjust the Display Scale
If you have selected a mismatch scale for your Windows 11 display resolution, you may encounter a few problems. In this case, your only option will be to set the scale to the recommended settings from Display Settings before changing the resolution.
Step 1: Click the magnifying lens on your Taskbar, type display settings , and click the Display Settings application.
Step 2: In the Scale & layout section, click the Scale dropdown menu and select any option that has Recommended .
Step 3: Try changing the display resolution again.
Fix 3: Change Display Refresh Rate
When you change the refresh rate, you may fix compatibility issues that trigger the problem or bypass conflicts. Follow these steps.
Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Step 2: Select System on the left pane and click Display on the right.
Step 3: Click on Advanced Display .
Step 4: Select a new refresh rate from the Choose a refresh rate dropdown.
Fix 4: Run the System Maintenance Troubleshooter
The system maintenance troubleshooter can scan your computer for various problems and fix or recommend solutions. When an underlying system issue impacts the display drivers or settings, this troubleshooter resolves it.
Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type cmd , and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
Step 2: Type the command below and hit Enter to launch the System Maintenance troubleshooter.
msdt.exe -id MaintenanceDiagnostic
Step 3: Click Next and follow the wizard to complete the process.
Fix 5: Run the SFC Scan
On Windows 11, the System File Checker (SFC) utility scans for damaged or corrupted system files. This tool is powerful enough to fix damage or repair the files when needed. If system file corruption makes changing the display resolution on Windows 11 impossible, an SFC scan will fix it.
Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type cmd , and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
Step 2: Type the command below and hit Enter to start the SFC scan.
sfc /scannow
Step 3: Follow any instructions on the Command Prompt and restart your computer when the scan is complete.
