How to Create Custom Resolutions on Windows 7, 8 or 10

Windows provides you with a preset list of standard screen resolutions for your display based on your graphics card or GPU and monitor hardware. You can easily change the screen resolution of of your display by switching to any of the presets provided by Windows. But what if you want to you a screen resolution that isn’t included in what has been given you?

Custom resolutions give you the flexibility to add virtually any screen resolution and refresh rate for your display. If you want to use a unique resolution that isn’t available in Windows preset list of resolutions, this guide will show you ways you can add any mode.

Note that not all computer manufacturers have custom modes enabled for their drivers, and older graphic drivers may not enable this feature. In this article, I’ll show you how to modify your screen resolution on Intel, AMD or NVIDIA graphics card using their native control software or a 3rd party software for those who don’t still don’t have the ability to customize their screen resolutions.

Method 1: Set a Custom Resolution on an Intel Based Graphics Card

Before you continue, you need to check if your computer supports the custom graphics feature. This is described in the first three steps of this method. If you don’t meet this criteria, proceed to the 3rd method. The views might also be different on your computer, just follow closely and you’ll get it.

1. Verify from here if you have the latest Intel Graphics Driver
2. Open the Intel Graphics Driver properties windows by pressing Ctrl + Alt + F12 or right-clicking on the Windows desktop and selecting Graphics If prompted to select an application mode, select Advanced Mode and click OK.
3. Under the Display tab, check if there is Custom Resolutions/Custom Modes and select it. If you’re prompted with a warning, click yes to continue.

The Custom Resolution/Modes feature was removed from the Intel HD Graphics Control Panel. You can still access it from C:\Windows\System32\CustomModeApp.exe

4. Under “Basic Settings”, specify your preferred width, height and refresh rate in the boxes provided (e.g. 2400 x 1024).
5. Click on Add and then Yes when prompted with a confirmation dialog.
6. Click OK if you’re satisfied with the current resolution. To remove the custom resolution, click on Remove next to the custom resolution under “Remove Custom Resolution”.

Method 2: Set a Custom Resolution on a NVIDIA Based Graphics Card

This method may vary with the version of graphics driver and graphics card but the concept remains the same. Also, make sure you have the latest NVIDIA Graphics Drivers.

1. Go to the NVIDIA Display Properties by right-clicking on the Windows desktop on selecting NVIDIA Display.
2. Under the Display category, select Change Resolution. Select the icon which represents the display you wish to affect and then click Customize. On the next window, click Create Custom Resolution. If this is the first time, accessing this feature, you will have to accept the End User Licence Agreement.
3. Fill in the fields with your preferred values for the display. Here, you can change the Horizontal pixels (width), Vertical lines (height), Refresh rate, Color depth, and Scan type. Click the Test button for the display to check of the custom mode is supported. If it doesn’t test will fail and you cannot set a new custom resolution.
4. You can go back to the Change Resolution page to select from your custom resolutions.

Method 3: Set a Custom Resolution on an AMD Based Graphics Card

1. Right-click on your Windows desktop and select AMD Catalyst Control Center. Go to Information > Software. Copy the 2D driver file path, you will need it later.
2. Press Ctrl + R, type “regedit” and click OK.
3. Go to the registry path as specified in the 2D driver file path
4. In the “0000” folder, find a registry entry called DALNonStandardModesBCD1. Right-click and select edit and then enter the following values in order:
   • The width of the resolution. E.g 1440 or 0780
   • The height of the resolution. Eg. 1880 or 0240
   • Type four zeros
   • The refresh rate of your monitor. E.g. 0120 for 120Hz or 0060 for 60Hz.

If any of your values does not have up four digits, you have to proceed the values with 0.

5. Click on OK and restart your computer. After this, you should be able to choose your custom resolution from the AMD Catalyst Control Center.

Method 4: Set a Custom Resolution Using a Custom Software

This method works PC’s running Windows Vista above with AMD/ATI or NVIDIA graphics card. Intel GPUs and laptops are partially supported with this test driver: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download-center/home.html

1. Download the Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) and extract the zip.
2. Run CRU.exe
3. Choose your display from the drop-down list at the top of the window.
4. Under “Standard Resolutions”, click on Add.
5. A “Standard Resolution” window will appear with a preset resolution. Click on it and select Custom Resolution at the bottom of the list. Enter the width, the height and the refresh rate of the screen in the available fields and click
6. In the CRU folder, run restart.exe or restart64.exe for 64 bit systems to restart the graphics driver.
7. Set the custom resolution from the display settings for your computer.