Symptoms
- Screen looks stretched or too large/small
- Resolution options are limited in Display settings
- Text and icons appear blurry
- External monitor resolution is wrong
Likely causes
- CommonGeneric/open-source driver instead of proper GPU driverDefault drivers may not support the monitor's native resolution properly.
- CommonMonitor's EDID information not read correctlyThe system may not know the monitor's true supported resolutions, especially over certain adapters.
- PossibleWrong cable or adapter limiting resolution/refresh rateSome adapters cap resolution below what both devices support.
- PossibleScaling settings misconfiguredDisplay scaling percentage can make things look blurry even at correct resolution.
What to do
- Open Settings > Displays and check what resolution is currently selected versus your monitor's native resolution.
- Manually select the monitor's native resolution if it's listed but not applied.
- Check for and install proprietary graphics drivers (NVIDIA or AMD) through your distribution's driver manager.
- Try a different cable, ideally DisplayPort or HDMI rather than an adapter chain, and test.
- Run 'xrandr' in a terminal (on X11 systems) to see available and detected resolutions and manually set one if needed.
- Adjust the scaling percentage in Display settings if text looks blurry rather than the wrong size.
Tools and parts
- Terminal access
When to call a pro
If the correct driver and cable are in place and the resolution is still wrong, a Linux specialist can dig into configuration files.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.