How to Fix Monitor Overscan

Monitor overscan occurs when the display extends beyond the physical borders of the monitor, resulting in parts of the image being cut off. This can be frustrating, as it can prevent you from seeing important information or details in your content. Fortunately, there are several ways to fix monitor overscan.

Here’s how to fix monitor overscan on Windows

1. Use your graphics card control panel: Many graphics cards come with a control panel that allows you to adjust various display settings. To fix overscan using your graphics card control panel, right-click on the desktop and select the control panel for your graphics card. Look for an option called “scaling,” “overscan,” or “underscan,” and adjust the settings until the display fits within the borders of the monitor.
2. Use the Windows display settings: Windows also has settings that you can use to fix overscan. Right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings.” Scroll down to the “Scale and layout” section and click “Advanced scaling settings.” Tap on the switch for “Let Windows try to fix apps so they’re not blurry,” and then click “Custom scaling” at the bottom. Adjust the scaling percentage until the display fits within the borders of the monitor.
3. Adjust the monitor settings: Some monitors have settings that allow you to adjust the display. Check the monitor’s user manual to see if it has any settings related to overscan or underscan. These settings may be accessed through buttons on the monitor itself or an on-screen menu.
4. Update your graphics card drivers: If your graphics card drivers are outdated, it can cause issues with the display, including overscan. Make sure your graphics card drivers are up to date by visiting the graphics card manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest drivers for your specific card.

Here’s how to fix monitor overscan on Mac

1. Use the macOS display settings: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select “System Preferences.” Click on “Displays” and then select the “Scaled” option. Choose a resolution that fits within the borders of the monitor.
2. Adjust the monitor settings: Some monitors have settings that allow you to adjust the display. Check the monitor’s user manual to see if it has any settings related to overscan or underscan. These settings may be accessed through buttons on the monitor itself or an on-screen menu.
3. Update your graphics card drivers: If your graphics card drivers are outdated, it can cause issues with the display, including overscan. Make sure your graphics card drivers are up to date by visiting the graphics card manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest drivers for your specific card.

Here’s how to fix monitor overscan on Linux:

1. Use the xrandr command: Open a terminal window and type “xrandr” to display information about your display settings. Look for the name of your display (e.g., “DP-1”) and the current resolution—type “xrandr –output DP-1 –set underscan on” to enable underscan. Adjust the underscan value by typing “xrandr –output DP-1 –set underscan X,” where “X” is between 0 and 100.
2. Adjust the monitor settings: Some monitors have settings that allow you to adjust the display. Check the monitor’s user manual to see if it has any settings related to overscan or underscan. These settings may be accessed through buttons on the monitor itself or an on-screen menu.

Update your graphics card drivers: If your graphics card drivers are outdated, it can cause issues with the display, including overscan. Make sure your graphics card drivers are up to date by visiting the graphics card manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest drivers for your specific card.

It’s important to note that not all monitors can display a full image without overscan. This is especially true for older monitors and TVs. Sometimes, the overscan may be necessary to compensate for the monitor’s limitations.

In addition, some content may be specifically designed to take advantage of overscan. For example, some video games may display important information in the overscan area. In these cases, adjusting the overscan settings may result in important information being cut off.

If you need help with whether or not to adjust the overscan settings on your monitor, it’s a good idea to consult the user manual or contact the manufacturer for guidance.

Summary

There are several ways to fix monitor overscan, depending on your operating system and graphics card. These include adjusting the settings on the monitor itself, using the graphics card control panel or operating system display settings, and updating graphics card drivers. However, it’s important to be aware that overscan may be necessary in some cases and that adjusting the overscan settings may cut off important information in some content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)