How to fix greyed out display resolution in Windows 11

[system]

When you can’t change your display resolution in Windows 11 because the option is greyed out, it can be frustrating. This issue often stems from outdated or corrupt graphics drivers, but system file problems, Windows updates, or missing Visual C++ libraries can also be culprits. Here are several effective methods to resolve this issue.

Method 1: Update graphics driver and switch to Microsoft Basic Display Adapter

This method is often the most effective solution as it directly addresses the most common cause of the problem.

1. Right-click the Start button and select ‘Device Manager’.

2. Expand the ‘Display adapters’ category.

3. Right-click your graphics driver and choose ‘Update driver’.

4. Select ‘Search automatically for drivers’ to let Windows find and install the best driver.

5. Alternatively, choose ‘Browse my computer for drivers’ then ‘Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer’.

6. Choose ‘Microsoft Basic Display Adapter’ and click ‘Next’.

7. After installation, restart your computer and check if you can now adjust the display resolution.

Method 2: Adjust display scale

An incorrect display scale can sometimes prevent resolution changes.

1. Open Start menu, type “display settings” and select it.

2. In Display Settings, under ‘Scale & layout’, choose a recommended option from the ‘Scale’ dropdown menu.

3. Try changing the display resolution after adjusting the scale.

Method 3: Modify display refresh rate

Changing the refresh rate can sometimes resolve compatibility issues affecting resolution settings.

1. Press Win + I to open Settings, then click ‘System’.

2. Select ‘Display’.

3. Click ‘Advanced Display’.

4. Choose a different refresh rate from the dropdown menu.

Method 4: Run System Maintenance Troubleshooter

This built-in tool can identify and fix various system issues, including display problems.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

2. Type msdt.exe -id MaintenanceDiagnostic and press Enter.

3. Click ‘Next’ in the troubleshooter window.

4. Allow the troubleshooter to complete its scan and apply fixes.

Method 5: Perform System File Checker scan

The SFC scan can detect and repair corrupted system files that might be causing the resolution issue.

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

3. Wait for the scan to complete, then restart your computer.

Method 6: Uninstall recent Windows updates

Sometimes, Windows updates can introduce bugs affecting display settings.

1. Open Settings and navigate to ‘Windows Update’.

2. Click ‘Update history’.

3. Select ‘Uninstall updates’.

4. Choose the updates you want to remove and click ‘Uninstall’.

Method 7: Set custom resolution (Intel graphics)

For systems with Intel graphics, you can use Intel Graphics Command Center to set a custom resolution.

1. Open Intel Graphics Command Center from the Start menu or taskbar.
2. Go to the ‘Display’ tab and locate Display General Settings.
3. Click ‘Custom’ next to Resolution and set your desired resolution.

Method 8: Repair or reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ programs

Missing or corrupted Visual C++ libraries can cause various system issues.

1. Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.

2. Uninstall all Microsoft Visual C++ programs.

3. Download and install the latest Visual C++ libraries from Microsoft’s website.
4. Restart your PC and check the display resolution setting.

Method 9: Perform a clean boot

A clean boot can help identify if a third-party service is causing the issue.

1. Type msconfig.msc in the Start menu and run as administrator.

2. In System Configuration, go to ‘Services’ tab and check ‘Hide all Microsoft services’.

3. Click ‘Startup’ tab, then ‘Open Task Manager’.

4. Disable all startup items in Task Manager.

5. Reboot your PC and check if the issue persists.

Method 10: Use System Restore

If you have a restore point from before the issue started, you can use it to revert your system.

1. Type “system restore” in Start menu and click ‘Recovery’.

2. Click ‘Open System Restore’.

3. Click ‘Next’ in the System Restore window.

4. Choose a restore point and click ‘Next’.

5. Click ‘Finish’ to start the restoration process.

Method 11: Reset your PC

As a last resort, resetting your PC can solve persistent issues.

1. Go to Settings > System > Recovery.

2. Click ‘Reset PC’.

3. Choose ‘Remove everything’ for a clean reset.

4. Select ‘Local reinstall’ or ‘Cloud download’ based on your preference.

5. Follow the prompts to complete the reset process.

Additional tips

• Ensure your system has all important Windows updates installed.
• Download the latest graphics drivers directly from your PC manufacturer’s website.
• Try running graphics driver installers in compatibility mode for older Windows versions.
• Perform a virus scan to rule out malware interference.
• If the issue started after installing a specific program, try uninstalling it.