Fix: Windows 10 2nd Monitor Resolution Zoomed in

Your second monitor may show zoomed-in resolution if its settings (like Overscan) are not properly configured. Moreover, outdated/corrupt installation of the graphics driver may also cause the error at hand. The issue arises when the 2^nd monitor of the user’s system shows the zoomed-in resolution. Some of the users reported the issue after a Windows update.

Before proceeding to fix the resolution on your second monitor, make sure the problematic applications, Windows, drivers (especially, BIOS) of your system are updated to the latest build. Also, check if moving a window from the 1^st monitor to the 2^nd monitor solves the problem. Moreover, check if immediately logging out/in after connecting the 2nd monitor sorts out the problem. Last but not least, make sure the magnifier is not enabled on your system.

Solution 1: Edit the Monitor Settings

You may face the zoomed-in resolution on the second monitor if its settings (especially, if you are using a TV as a monitor) are not properly configured. In this case, making the relevant changes (as discussed below) may solve the problem. But keep in mind that some of these settings may not be available to all users or the instructions slightly differ (you may have to dig deeper to make it work for you).

But before proceeding, check if trying (without any of the display adapters) different ports/cables (HDMI, DVI, VGA, display port, etc.) between the system/monitor sorts out the problem (try to use the internal graphics card of your system). If you are using a 4K display, then make sure to use 4K supported cables.

Disable Overscan in the Monitor/TV Settings

1. Open the TV menu and select Picture.
2. Then open Advanced Video (or HDMI Settings) and select Overscan. On an LG HDTV, you may choose Just Scan (in Picture Menu > Aspect Ratio). On a Samsung TV, you may set Picture Size to No Overscan or set the Picture Mode to Relax (TV Settings > Menu > Picture Mode).  You may also see other variants like Underscan, Pixel, Scaling, etc.

   

3. Now disable the said option and check if the issue is resolved.
4. If not, then check if disabling all the post-processing effects (like Adaptive Contrast) in the TV settings sorts out the zoomed-in problem.

Disable HDMI Full Mode in the Monitor Settings

1. Launch the TV Settings and navigate to Extras.
2. Now search for HDMI Full Mode and enable it.

   

3. Then check if the zoomed-in issue is cleared.

Edit the General TV/Monitor Settings

If the issue persists, then you may try the following one by one to solve the problem:

1. In the TV Settings, check if using auto-size or auto-detect (in the Advanced Screen Resolution setting) sorts out the problem.
2. Check if selecting Panorama in the Aspect Ratio or Screen Resolution of the TV Settings resolves the issue.
3. You may try to decrease the sharpness (less than 10) of the TV to check if the problem is solved.
4. Make sure the cable is plugged in the port labeled HDMI/DVI (not just HDMI) and then check if setting (or renaming) the connection to PC (not presentation) sorts out the problem.

   

5. Check if setting the monitor to Screen Fit (in place of 16:9) resolves the issue.

   

6. Check if your TV (or its remote) has a picture size option, if so, then check if changing the Picture Size (or setting the picture size to No Overscan) solves the problem.
7. Check if your TV has a zoom feature, if so, then disable it.
   

Solution 2: Edit the Display Settings of Your System

The 2^nd monitor may show zoomed-in resolution if the display settings of your system are not properly configured. In this context, editing the relevant display settings (discussed below) of your system may solve the problem. You may also try these edits in the graphics control panel (like Nvidia Control Panel). If you are encountering the zoomed-in issue with some applications, check if launching these applications in the compatibility mode solves the problem.

Change Display Orientation

1. Press the Windows key and select Settings.
2. Now open System and in the Display tab, expand the dropdown of Display Orientation.

   

3. Then choose Portrait (make sure to repeat the same for all the displays) and check if the 2^nd monitor is working fine. If so, then you may revert to the Landscape mode.

   

Edit the Multi-Monitor Settings

1. Open the Display Settings of your system and expand the dropdown of Multiple Displays.
2. Now select Extend These Displays and check if the issue is resolved.

   

3. If not, then check if setting Multiple Displays to Duplicate sorts out the problem.

   

4. If the issue persists, then open Display Settings and under display options (where 1 and 2 are written), click on Detect and check if the issue is fixed.
5. If not, then check if clicking the Identify button clears the glitch.

   

Match the Refresh Rate of the Monitors

1. Open the Display Settings (as discussed above) and scroll down till the end of the window.
2. Now open Advanced Display Settings and check the refresh rate of your display 1.

   

3. Then select the 2^nd display in the Choose Display dropdown and make sure the refresh rate matches the refresh rate of the 1^st. It will be better to use a 60 Hz refresh rate for both displays.

   

4. Now check if the monitor issue is resolved.

If the issue persists, you may apply a similar refresh rate to both displays in the graphics control panel of your system (e.g., Nvidia on Intel HD Graphics Control Panel) and check if that resolves the monitor issue. If you are using a display that is greater than 1080P, then make sure to enable Virtual Super Resolution in the Graphics Control Panel (in AMD Radeon, you may find it under the Display tab).

Use the Recommended Resolution for Both Monitors

1. Launch the Display Settings of your PC and select your display by selecting 1 or 2.
2. Then expand the Display Resolution dropdown and choose the Recommended one.

   

3. Now repeat the same for the other display and check if the issue is resolved.
4. If not, then check if using a similar resolution for both displays solve the problem.

Edit the Scaling of Your Display

1. Open the Display Settings and choose the problematic display.
2. Now, expand the dropdown of Change the Size of Text, Apps, and Other Items (under Scale and Layout).
3. Then select 100% and immediately, log out of your account.

   

4. Now log back into the account and check if the monitor is working fine. If so, then you may change the scaling of monitors as per your likings.
5. If the issue persists, then open the Display Settings of your system and select your 1^st display.
6. Now open Advanced Scaling Settings and disable Let Windows Try To Fix Apps So They’re Not Blurry.

   

7. Then repeat the same for the 2^nd monitor and reboot your PC to check if the issue is resolved.

Set Your Second Monitor as Main

1. Open the Display Settings of your PC and select the problematic display (by clicking 1 or 2).
2. Then, under the option of Multiple Displays, checkmark the option of Make This My Main Display and reboot your PC.

   

3. Upon reboot, check if the monitor is working fine.

Solution 3: Update/Reinstall the Graphics Driver

You may encounter the issue at hand if the graphics driver of your system is outdated or corrupt. In this scenario, updating (or reinstalling) the PC’s graphics driver may solve the problem.

1. Manually update the graphics driver of your system and check if the resolution issue is resolved.
2. If not, launch a web browser and download the latest version of the graphics driver of your system from the OEM website.
3. Now launch the downloaded driver file as administrator and follow the prompts to complete the set up.
4. Then, reboot your PC and check if the second monitor is working fine.
5. If the issue persists, then right-click on the Windows button (which will launch the Quick Access menu) and choose Device Manager.

   

6. Then expand Display Adapters and right-click on the driver of the 2^nd monitor.
7. Now select Uninstall Device and then confirm to uninstall the device (make sure to checkmark the option of Delete the Driver Software for This Device).

   

8. Then let the driver’s uninstallation complete and reboot your PC.
9. Upon reboot, check if the monitor is working fine (Windows may try to install the default graphics driver).
10. If not, launch the downloaded driver (at step 2) with administrator privileges and then check if the monitor issue is resolved.
11. If the issue persists (and you are using an HDMI cable), then remove the graphics driver of the 2nd monitor (it will be better to use DDU) and power off your system.
12. Now disconnect the 2^nd monitor from the system and connect using another port like the DVI port (if possible).
13. Then power on your system and reinstall the driver.
14. Now check if the monitor is working fine. If so, then you may switch to the HDMI cable (if required).

If the issue persists, then you may try to roll back to an older version of your graphics driver.

Solution 4: Edit the Graphics Control Panel Settings

There are different settings in your graphics control panel (like Nvidia Control Panel) that may trigger the zooming-in on the second monitor. In this case, editing the relevant settings in the Graphics Control Panel may solve the problem.

Enable Desktop Resizing

1. Launch the Graphics Control Panel of your system (for example Nvidia Control Panel) and in the left pane, select Adjust Desktop Size and Position.
2. Now, in the right pane, steer to the Size tab and checkmark the option of Enable Desktop Resizing (make sure the proper display is selected).

   

3. Then click on Resize (you may try different settings) and check if the resolution issue is resolved. The issue may reappear after a graphics driver update, if so, then reapply the setting after the update.
4. If the issue persisted, then check if changing the Scaling option in the “Adjust Desktop Size and Position” setting of the Nvidia Control Panel sorts out the issue.

Set the Picture Size

1. Right-click on your desktop and in the context menu, choose Graphics Properties (or Intel Graphics Settings).
2. Now open Display and select your display.
3. Then select Picture Size and set it to 100%.
   

   

4. Now check if the monitor is working fine.

Disable Overscan in the Graphics Control Panel

1. Launch the graphics control panel of your system (for example, AMD VISION Engine Control Center) and in the left pane, expand My Digital Flat-Panels.
2. Now select Scaling Options (Digital Flat-Panel) and in the right pane, move the slider to 0% to check if the monitor issue is resolved.

   

3. If not, then you may move the slider of Scaling Options to different values to check if that resolves the issue.

Edit the General Settings

1. Check if changing the display resolutions (make sure to use the same resolution for both displays) in the graphics control panel sorts out the problem.
2. If that did not do the trick, then check if using a custom resolution solves the problem.
3. You may also try custom aspect ratio for both displays to solve the problem but make sure it is not 16:9 zoom.
4. If the issue is still there, then you may check if changing scaling in the graphics control panel solves the problem.
5. You may check if setting the refresh rate to 60Hz sorts out the problem.