Screen Size Smaller or Larger Than Monitor in Windows 10/11

Published by Nyau Wai Hoe - Updated on

If you encounter a screen that appears smaller or larger than your monitor’s displayable size in either Windows 11 or Windows 10, you can explore the following solutions to rectify the issue.

Also see: 16:10 vs 16:9 Aspect Ratio for Gaming: Which is Better?

screen smaller than monitor windows 11/10

Screen smaller or larger than monitor in Windows 11 or 10

Fix 1 – Resize the desktop

The video image is described as “underscan” when it doesn’t fill the entire monitor screen but is surrounded by a border. Conversely, it’s called “overscan” when the video image goes beyond the monitor’s border, causing the edges to disappear off-screen.

These terms are commonly found in various programs that control screen display size, such as Nvidia Control Panel, Intel HD Graphics Control Panel, and AMD Radeon Settings. These programs are often used to correct underscan and overscan issues.

Depending on the graphics card your PC has, you’ll need to open the corresponding driver application to access desktop resizing settings. For Nvidia graphics cards, open Nvidia Control Panel; for AMD cards, open AMD Radeon Settings; and for Intel integrated graphics, open Intel HD Graphics Control Panel.

If you can’t find the driver program, download and install the latest graphics driver update from your card manufacturer’s website:

  • https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
  • https://www.amd.com/en/support

Nvidia Control Panel

For Nvidia users, search for and open “Nvidia Control Panel” from the Windows search bar.

Open Nvidia Control Panel Windows 10/11

In Nvidia Control Panel, expand Display in the left pane, and then select Adjust desktop size and position. In the right pane, click on the Size tab.

screen smaller larger than monitor nvidia resize

Under the setting “Resize the desktop if the display setting did not provide a proper fit,” check the box for Enable desktop resizing, and then click on the Resize button.

Nvidia Resize to fix underscan or overscan

In the Resize box, adjust the width, height, or both until the screen fits your monitor or TV. Click OK to save the changes.

AMD Radeon Software

For AMD users, search for and open “AMD Radeon Software” from the Windows search bar. Alternatively, you can also right-click on your desktop and select AMD Radeon Software.

Open AMD Radeon Software Windows 11/10

In AMD Radeon Settings, click on Display. Under Display Options, move the HDMI Scaling slider (default at 0%) until the image fits the entire screen.

Screen larger than monitor Windows 11/10

If you have an AMD card but can’t find the application, you can download it from https://www.amd.com/en/technologies/radeon-software.

Intel HD Graphics Control Panel

For those using an integrated Intel HD graphics card, open Intel HD Graphics Control Panel. Navigate to Display, then General Settings.

Screen smaller than monitor Intel HD Graphics

Under “Scaling,” select “Maintain Display Scaling” or “Maintain Aspect Ratio” and see if it resolves the issue of the screen being smaller or larger than the monitor. Experiment with other scaling settings if these two options don’t solve the problem.

Fix 2 – Configure monitor on-screen settings

Monitors or TVs may also have on-screen settings that affect image fit. These settings can be accessed by using the physical menu buttons on your monitor.

Look for settings like “Image size,” “Screen adjustment,” or “Picture size,” and adjust them to fix overscan or underscan issues.

Adjust monitor image size screen smaller than monitor

Optionally, you can try resetting your monitor to its factory default settings. Note down any previous adjustments, such as brightness, contrast, or gamma, before resetting so that you can restore them after the reset.

Fix 3 – Change resolution to fit your monitor’s aspect ratio

Some screen resolutions may not fit your monitor due to differences in aspect ratio. If either the horizontal or vertical borders of the screen are not filled or extend off-screen, it may be due to an incompatible screen resolution. Try changing to a screen resolution that is supported by your monitor’s aspect ratio.

You can quickly change the screen resolution in Windows 10/11 by right-clicking on your desktop, selecting “Display Settings,” and then choosing a resolution from the “Display resolution” drop-down menu.

Change screen resolution Windows 11/10

Fix 4 – Change the scaling mode

Changing the scaling mode may also resolve underscan or overscan issues with your monitor. These settings can vary depending on the graphics driver software. Below is an example of the scaling mode settings in Nvidia Control Panel. If you have a different graphics card, look for similar settings in the corresponding graphics driver application.

In Nvidia Control Panel, navigate to Display > Adjust desktop size and position > Scaling.

Nvidia Scaling Mode to fix screen size smaller than monitor Windows 11/10

By default, “Aspect ratio” is selected. You can try other scaling modes to see if they better suit your needs.

Please note that changing the scaling mode may not provide the ultimate solution for overscan or underscan issues, as it may scale and stretch the image, potentially resulting in a loss of picture quality.

Fix 5 – Update graphic card driver

If you have recently installed Windows on your PC and haven’t yet downloaded or updated your graphics driver, be sure to download and install the latest driver update from your graphics card manufacturer’s website.


Nyau Wai Hoe
Nyau Wai Hoe is the Founder and Chief Editor of WindowsDigitals.com. With a degree in software engineering and over 12 years of experience in the tech support industry, Nyau has established himself as an expert in the field, with a primary focus on the Microsoft Windows operating system. As a tech enthusiast, he loves exploring new technologies and leveraging them to solve real-life problems.

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