Change your screen resolution
Applies to Windows 7
Screen resolution refers to the clarity of the text and images displayed on your screen. At higher resolutions, such as 1600 x 1200 pixels, items appear sharper. They also appear smaller so more items can fit on the screen. At lower resolutions, such as 800 x 600 pixels, fewer items fit on the screen, but they appear larger.
The resolution you can use depends on the resolutions your monitor supports. CRT monitors generally display a resolution of 800 × 600 or 1024 × 768 pixels and can work well at different resolutions. LCD monitors, also called flat-panel displays, and laptop screens often support higher resolutions and work best at a specific resolution.
The larger the monitor, usually the higher the resolution it supports. Whether you can increase your screen resolution depends on the size and capability of your monitor and the type of video card you have.
Text and images are sharper but smaller at higher screen resolutions.
Text and images are larger but often less sharp at lower screen resolutions.
To change your screen resolution
1. Open Screen Resolution by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, and then, under Appearance and Personalization, clicking Adjust screen resolution.
2. Click the drop-down list next to Resolution, move the slider to the resolution you want, and then click Apply.
3. Click Keep to use the new resolution, or click Revert to go back to the previous resolution.
Screen Resolution in Control Panel shows the recommended resolution for your monitor.