To adjust the screen size on a second monitor in Windows 11, select Start > Settings > System > Display, select the second monitor in the section that shows your displays, and then set Display resolution and Scale to the options marked (Recommended). Resolution fixes a picture that is stretched, blurry or surrounded by black bars. Scale fixes text and apps that are too small or too large.
Applies to: Windows 11 with an external monitor, TV or projector connected. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 6, 2026.
Resolution, scale and text size: which one to change
Windows 11 keeps separate settings for each connected display, so the second monitor does not have to match your laptop screen or main monitor. Three settings change how big things look, and each one solves a different problem.
| What you see on the second monitor | Setting to change | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Picture is stretched, fuzzy, small and centered, or has black edges | Display resolution | Settings > System > Display |
| Picture is sharp, but text, icons and apps are too small or too large | Scale | Settings > System > Display, under Scale & layout |
| Only the text is hard to read | Text size | Settings > Accessibility > Text size |
| Picture is sideways or upside down | Display orientation | Settings > System > Display |
Resolution is the number of pixels Windows sends to the monitor. Every monitor has a native resolution, which is the one Windows marks as (Recommended). Microsoft notes that a monitor can run at a lower resolution than its native one, but text will not look as sharp and the picture might be small, centered on the screen, edged with black, or stretched. Scale leaves the resolution alone and simply draws text and apps larger or smaller. For that reason, set the resolution first and the scale second.
Before you start
- Connect the second monitor, turn it on, and make sure the cable is firmly seated at both ends.
- Press Windows logo key + P and check that Extend is selected. This mode gives each screen its own part of the desktop. In Duplicate mode, both screens show the same picture.
- If you are not sure which screen Windows counts as the second one, select Start > Settings > System > Display > Identify. A number appears on each screen.
Adjust the screen size on the second monitor
- Select Start > Settings > System > Display. The top of the page has a section that shows your displays as numbered boxes.
- Select the box for the second monitor. This step matters most: every change you make below applies only to the display that is selected here.
- Find the Display resolution row, select the list, and choose the option marked (Recommended). The second monitor redraws at the new resolution. If Windows asks you to confirm the change, accept it only when the picture looks right.
- Scroll to the Scale & layout section and select Scale. Choose a larger percentage to make text and apps bigger, or a smaller one to fit more on the screen. Microsoft says it is typically best to choose the option marked (Recommended), so start there and move one step at a time.
- Drag a window onto the second monitor and check it. The picture should fill the screen without black edges, and text should be sharp and comfortable to read.
Most things change size right away. According to Microsoft, you may need to sign out and back in before some apps pick up a new scale setting.
Make only the text bigger
If the layout is fine and only the words are too small, change the text size instead of the scale. This setting is not tied to one monitor. Microsoft describes it as scaling up the size of all text.
- Press Windows logo key + U, or select Start > Settings > Accessibility.
- Select Text size.
- Drag the Text size slider to the right. The sample text grows as you drag.
- Select Apply when the sample is easy to read.
Rotate the second monitor or change its refresh rate
Two more settings affect how the picture fits the screen.
- Orientation: With the second monitor selected in Settings > System > Display, choose an option from the list next to Display orientation. Use this for a monitor that is mounted vertically. You also need to physically rotate the screen to match.
- Refresh rate: Select Start > Settings > System > Display > Advanced display, then pick a rate from the refresh rate list. Rates with an asterisk (*) do not support your current resolution. Selecting one of them makes Windows change the resolution, which can undo the size you just set.
Line up the two screens
When two monitors have different sizes or resolutions, the mouse pointer can seem to jump as it crosses from one to the other. In Settings > System > Display, drag the numbered display boxes so they match how the monitors sit on your desk, and then select Apply. For the full setup process, see our guide on how to set up multiple monitors in Windows 11.
How to undo a change
Go back to Settings > System > Display, select the second monitor again, and choose the options marked (Recommended) for both Scale and Display resolution. To undo a text size change, return to Accessibility > Text size, drag the slider back to the left, and select Apply.
Troubleshooting
The second monitor is not shown in Display settings
Select Start > Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays > Detect. If nothing appears, Microsoft suggests disconnecting docks, dongles and adapters, checking that the cable is secure, trying a different cable, and trying a different video port on the PC.
Changes are applied to the wrong screen
The wrong display box was selected. Use Identify to see the numbers, select the correct box, and repeat the steps.
Both screens change together
Press Windows logo key + P and select Extend. Also note that a display splitter sends the same signal to every screen plugged into it. Microsoft states that you cannot use a splitter to extend your desktop to more than one external monitor, so those screens cannot be set up separately.
The resolution changes by itself or the right resolution is missing
Microsoft notes that unexpected resolution changes can mean the graphics driver needs an update. Install any pending Windows updates first. You can also open Device Manager, expand Display adapters, right-click your display adapter, and select Update driver. If the problem began right after a driver update, open the adapter’s Properties, go to the Driver tab, and select Roll Back Driver.
The screen is black or frozen after a change
Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver. If that does not help, select Start > Power > Restart.
The picture is cut off at the edges on a TV
If the resolution is already set to the recommended option and the edges of the desktop are still hidden, the TV itself is enlarging the picture. Look in the TV’s own picture menu for a screen-fit, aspect-ratio or overscan option. The name varies by manufacturer, so check the TV’s manual.
A setting is locked on a work or school PC
Your organization may manage display or driver settings. Contact your IT administrator instead of trying to change them yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Can two monitors use different scale settings in Windows 11?
Yes. Scale and resolution are set for whichever display is selected at the top of Settings > System > Display. Select each monitor in turn and choose its own values.
Why does my second monitor look blurry?
The most common cause is a resolution lower than the monitor’s native one. Select the second monitor and set Display resolution to the option marked (Recommended). If some apps still look soft after a scale change, sign out and sign back in.
Should I change the resolution or the scale to make things bigger?
Change the scale. Lowering the resolution also makes things bigger, but it makes text less sharp. Keep the recommended resolution and raise Scale instead.
Why is everything so small on my new high-resolution monitor?
A high-resolution screen packs more pixels into the same space, so items drawn at a low scale look tiny. Select that monitor and choose a higher Scale percentage, starting with the recommended one.
Does changing the second monitor affect my main screen?
Not for resolution, scale or orientation, as long as the second monitor is the one selected. The Text size slider under Accessibility is different: it changes text everywhere.
Once the second monitor looks right, Microsoft’s page on changing your screen resolution and layout in Windows is the reference to return to if a Windows update moves any of these settings.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.