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How to Change the Display Settings on Your Computer
Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
Display SettingsComputerWindowsMacUser InterfaceCustomizationPerformanceDevice ManagementHardwareAccessibility
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Changing the display settings on your computer is an essential skill. Whether you want to adjust brightness, change the resolution, or configure multiple monitors, knowing how to do these things will improve your computer experience. In the following sections, we will guide you step by step on how to make these changes on both Windows and macOS systems.
Changing display settings on a Windows computer
Windows lets you easily adjust a variety of display settings. Below are some steps you can follow.
Accessing the display settings
1. Right-click on your desktop background.
2. From the context menu that appears, click “Display Settings.”
Alternatively, you can access the display settings through the Control Panel:
1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click the “System” category.
3. Select “Display” from the left-hand menu.
Adjusting the screen resolution
Screen resolution means the clarity of the text and images displayed on your screen. Higher resolution means more pixels and clearer images. Here's how to change it:
1. In the Display settings window, scroll down to the “Resolution” section.
2. Click the dropdown menu to view the available resolutions.
3. Choose the resolution you prefer.
4. Click “Apply” to change your resolution.
5. Confirm the changes if prompted.
Adjusting brightness and color
Brightness and color settings can affect your comfort when using the computer for long periods of time. Adjust these settings as follows:
1. In the display settings window, find the “Brightness and color” section.
2. Use the slider to adjust the brightness as per your convenience.
3. To change the color settings, click "Color settings" (or "Advanced display settings" in older versions).
4. Adjust the color calibration based on your preference.
Configuring multiple displays
If you have more than one monitor, you can extend or duplicate your displays. Follow these steps:
1. In the Display settings window, scroll down to the “Multiple displays” section.
2. Click the dropdown menu and choose how you want your display to work: “Duplicate,” “Extend,” “Show on only 1,” or “Show on only 2.”
3. Adjust the screen arrangement by dragging and dropping the display icons at the top of the window.
4. Click “Apply” to save your settings.
Advanced display settings
For more advanced users, you may want to change additional settings like the refresh rate or color depth:
1. Scroll to the "Advanced display settings" link at the bottom of the Display settings window.
2. Click on it to access more options.
3. Adjust the refresh rate if necessary, which can make the animations smoother.
Changing display settings on a macOS computer
macOS also offers several display settings that can be adjusted to improve your viewing experience.
Accessing the display settings
Follow these simple steps:
1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
3. Click “Display.”
Adjusting the screen resolution
1. In the Display window, go to the "Display" tab.
2. You will see “Default for Display” and “Scaled” options.
3. Select "Scaled" to view the available resolutions.
4. Click on your preferred resolution.
5. Your screen will adjust automatically; confirm the change when prompted.
Adjusting brightness
To adjust brightness on your Mac:
1. In the Display window, go to the "Display" tab.
2. Use the “Brightness” slider to make adjustments.
You can also adjust the brightness using keyboard shortcuts, usually the F1 and F2 keys.
Color settings
macOS also allows you to calibrate your display color:
1. In the Display window, go to the "Color" tab.
2. Click “Calibrate” to open the Display Calibrator Assistant.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to correct your display's color settings.
Configuring multiple displays
If you have more than one monitor:
1. In the Display window, go to the "Arrangement" tab.
2. You will see images of your screen. Drag and drop them to match your physical setup.
3. Check the box labeled “Mirror Displays” if you want the same image on both screens.
Night shift
macOS includes a feature called Night Shift that changes the color temperature of your display to reduce eye strain at night:
1. In the Display window, go to the “Night Shift” tab.
2. You can schedule Night Shift to turn on automatically from sunset to sunrise or at a custom time.
3. Use the slider to adjust the color temperature.
General settings for all computers
Regardless of which operating system you're using, some adjustments generally apply:
Text scaling
Text scaling is useful if text appears too small or too large on your screen.
- On Windows, you can find text scaling options in the display settings under the "Scale and layout" section. You may need to sign out and sign back in for the changes to take effect.
- On macOS, you can find text scaling under the "Display" section of System Preferences. Select the resolution option that changes the text size.
App-specific display settings
Some applications provide built-in display settings:
- For example, many web browsers have zoom options. Ctrl + Plus (or Cmd + Plus on a Mac) can be used to zoom in, and Ctrl + Minus can be used to zoom out.
- Video player apps often include settings to adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation.
Power settings to help your display
Most operating systems provide power settings that affect your display:
- On Windows, go to Settings → System → Power & Sleep. Here, you can adjust the settings for screen timeout and sleep.
- On macOS, go to System Preferences → Energy Saver. Adjust the settings to control display sleep time and other power-saving options.
Accessibility settings
If you have vision difficulties, both Windows and macOS provide accessibility settings to help:
- On Windows, go to Settings → Ease of Access. Here, you can adjust several settings, including text size, contrast, and screen magnifier.
- On macOS, go to System Preferences → Accessibility. You'll find options to increase contrast, reduce speed, and adjust cursor size.
Considerations and best practices
When adjusting display settings, consider the following best practices:
Adjust for comfort
Sitting in front of a screen for long periods of time can put strain on your eyes. Adjust the brightness, color temperature, and text size to reduce eye strain.
Keep your drivers updated
For best performance, make sure your graphics drivers are up-to-date. Most operating systems will update these automatically, but you can also check manually (e.g., via Device Manager on Windows).
Test changes before applying them permanently
Most systems will ask you to confirm changes to display settings before making them permanent. Use this opportunity to check if the new settings are to your satisfaction.
Review settings regularly
As software updates and your needs change, periodically revisit and review your display settings. This ensures that you are getting the best possible experience from your computer.
Adjusting and fine-tuning your display settings can greatly improve your computing experience. Whether you're working, playing games, or watching videos, the right settings can make a huge difference. Follow the steps above and don't be afraid to experiment to find what works best for you.
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