Open your device's Display Settings and select the native resolution of your monitor.
For example:
- Full HD monitor → 1920 × 1080
- 4K monitor → 3840 × 2160
Using the monitor's native resolution generally provides the clearest and most accurate image.
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How to Fix a Stretched, Distorted, or Black-Bordered Monitor Display
If your monitor screen looks stretched, squished, distorted, or has black bars on the sides or top and bottom, the issue is usually caused by a mismatch between the monitor's resolution, aspect ratio, or display scaling settings.
Common Causes
| Cause | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Resolution mismatch | If your device is not set to the monitor's native resolution, images may appear stretched or squished. |
| Aspect ratio mismatch | Content with a different aspect ratio from your monitor may display with black bars on the sides or top and bottom. For example, 16:9 content on a 21:9 monitor. |
| Scaling settings | Your operating system or graphics card may stretch or shrink the image to fit the screen, which can affect how the content appears. |
Steps
- 1
- 2
Check your monitor's on-screen display (OSD) menu for display mode or aspect ratio settings.
Depending on the monitor model, options may include:
- Full
- Aspect
- 1:1
Select the setting that matches how you want the content to be displayed.
- 3
If the issue persists, check the display scaling settings on your device or graphics card.
- Windows: Check your display and graphics settings.
- Mac: Check your display settings.
- Gaming consoles: Check the output resolution and screen-fit settings.
Why Are There Black Bars?
Black bars are not necessarily a fault with the monitor. They can appear when the content's aspect ratio does not match the monitor's screen dimensions.
For example, when 16:9 content is displayed on a 21:9 monitor, black bars may appear on the sides. These bars help preserve the original aspect ratio and prevent the image from being stretched or distorted.
Tip: For the best image quality, use your monitor's native resolution and a matching aspect ratio whenever possible.
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