Monitors & displays

Image doesn't fill the whole screen (overscan/underscan)

A picture with black bars around it or cut off at the edges is usually a scaling or overscan setting mismatch between the graphics card and the display.

Difficulty
Easy
Time
10–20 minutes
DIY cost
$0

Symptoms

  • Black bars around the edge of the screen
  • Image appears zoomed in with edges cut off
  • Issue appears mainly over HDMI, especially with a TV used as a monitor
  • Desktop icons near the edges are partly hidden

Likely causes

  • CommonTV's overscan setting cropping the image (when using a TV as a monitor)Many TVs apply a slight zoom by default meant for broadcast content, which cuts off PC desktop edges.
  • CommonGraphics driver scaling set incorrectlyNVIDIA and AMD control panels have their own scaling settings that can conflict with the display's own scaling.
  • PossibleWrong resolution selected relative to native resolutionA slightly mismatched resolution can produce black bars or cropped edges.
  • PossibleAspect ratio mismatchUsing a resolution with a different aspect ratio than the panel's native ratio causes black bars.

What to do

  1. If using a TV as a monitor, go into the TV's picture settings and look for 'Overscan,' 'Screen Fit,' 'Just Scan,' or 'PC Mode,' and select the option that shows 100% of the image.
  2. In the NVIDIA or AMD control panel, find the scaling settings and set 'Scaling performed by' to 'Display' rather than GPU, or adjust the underscan/overscan slider if present.
  3. Confirm Display Settings is using the exact native resolution and correct aspect ratio for the screen.
  4. Try switching the HDMI port on the TV to one labeled for PC or gaming use, since some TVs treat different ports differently for overscan.
  5. Restart the computer after changing overscan or scaling settings to ensure they fully apply.
  6. If using an adapter (like DisplayPort to HDMI), test a direct HDMI-to-HDMI connection to rule out the adapter causing scaling issues.

Tools and parts

  • None

When to call a pro

This is a settings issue rather than a hardware fault; if using a genuine PC monitor rather than a TV, overscan is rare and points more strongly to a scaling setting in the graphics driver.

Safety

Generally low risk

Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.

Related guides

Operator provides AI-generated troubleshooting information. It can be wrong. For safety-critical, electrical, gas, structural, medical, automotive safety, or other high-risk problems, consult a qualified professional.