A lot of computer users have issues with a dual monitor set-up, where the second monitor becomes blurry. This is of course very unfortunate, as it not only can be annoying but also cause issues with usability.
That’s why I’ve listed the 10 most common solutions to this issue. Hopefully, after reading this, you can use your two screens without having to deal with this issue anymore. So, what’s the reason why your second monitor is blurry?
The most common reason why your second computer monitor seems blurry is that the scaling settings are wrong, as the Windows operating system sometimes has a hard time configuring this automatically. To fix the issue, go into your display settings on your computer and set the scaling to 100% for each screen individually.
Now that you are aware of the most common reason for your screen to be blurry, remember that there are many potential reasons why your screen can become blurry. Keep reading to find out more solutions.
10 Ways To Fix A Blurry Second Screen
Below I have listed common fixes for a blurry second screen. The fixes aren’t listed in any particular order, and some are more straightforward than others. Hopefully, after this, you will be able to use your dual monitor setup with crisp screen quality on both monitors.
1. Restart Your Computer
The first thing to do when presented with issues such as this one is to restart your computer. Restarting your computer will terminate any temporary bugs and errors that may have led to your second monitor seeming blurry.
Of course, there is a good chance that you’ve already tried this, but let’s be thorough and go through all the possible solutions. If you tried restarting your computer and it didn’t work, keep reading to find out more solutions.
2. Fix The Scaling Settings
If your scaling settings are different for each monitor, then one can seem blurred. Let’s make sure that you have the correct scaling settings in Windows. Follow the steps below to apply the correct settings.
- Right-click on your desktop
- Click “Display Settings”
- Under “Scale and layout”, set the percentage to 100%
- Make sure to do this for both monitors
Now that you have matched the scaling settings for both monitors, the operating system will try to make everything equally sized across both screens. This can also help correct blurriness on your second monitor.
3. Check Color Settings
Try to match all of the color settings for each monitor. This might fix the issue for you. To do this, follow the steps below.
- Go into the Control Panel by typing “Control Panel” in the Windows search bar and clicking the icon
- Go into Appearance and Personalization
- Click on Display
- Click on Change display settings
- Click on Advanced settings
- Select the Adapter tab
- Click List All Modes
- Pick a mode that matches your screens resolution
When on the topic of color settings, make sure to configure your monitor from its own settings as well. There’s usually a button under the monitor that gives you access to a menu where you can adjust various settings.
4. Adjust Resolution For Both Screens
Make sure that the resolution for both monitors is the same. A lower resolution will seem blurry if compared to a higher one. To check your screen resolutions, follow the steps below.
- Right-click on your desktop
- Select Display settings, then click on Screen resolution
- Click on Personalize (or “Properties”)
- Pick a higher resolution setting if possible
Check the resolution for both of your screens and make sure that they match. In an optimal situation, you have something like 1920 x 1080 pixels on both of your screens.
5. Configure The Monitor
As I mentioned in short above, make sure you configure your monitor to its fullest potential. This not only goes for the color settings. Most monitors have buttons under the screen. Locate your configuration button and configure the monitor.
A lot of monitors have ways for you to let it try to auto-configure. If there is such an option on your monitor, let it auto-configure and wait.
If you need to configure monitor settings manually, look for things such as sharpness, if you have a gaming monitor you can look for things such as pixel overdrive. There are usually a lot of settings here to choose from. Experiment with them and see what works for you!
6. Change DPI Settings For a Program
Some people have issues regarding certain apps looking blurry. If this is the case for you, try to adjust some settings with the app in question to fix this.
First, you need to find the executable of the app. Do this by right-clicking the shortcut that you usually open the app with, then click properties, and finally, select “Open file location”. After this, follow the steps below.
- Now that you are inside the installation folder of the app, right-click the program that you want to configure. Look to the right side of the list of files and select the one that says “Program”
- Right-click the executable file, then select “Troubleshoot compatibility”
- Select “Troubleshoot program”
- In the menu after this, select “The program opens but doesn’t display correctly” and click next
- Select “Program doesn’t display properly when large-scale font settings are selected”
- Click next, then save the settings
This can also help you if you experience blurry text on your second monitor.
7. Let Windows Try To Fix It Automatically
There’s a setting that should be on for all computer users, generally. It lets Windows try to fix apps so they aren’t blurry. If your computer for some reason doesn’t have this setting enabled, then you should turn it on. To do this, follow the steps below.
- Type “Advanced scaling settings” in the Windows search bar
- Click “Fix scaling for apps”
- Turn on “Let Windows try to fix apps so they aren’t blurry”
If this setting was on for you, you can try to turn it off to see if that fixes the issue. I know I said that people generally should have it turned on, but Windows settings are really buggy sometimes and as a result, they sometimes work the other way around.
8. Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated graphics card drivers can cause all sorts of problems for your computer, a blurry second screen being one of them. If you haven’t updated your graphics card drivers in a while, I recommend you do this.
This can fix your pixelated screen issue. I would not recommend doing this using Windows device manager. Instead, you should use the drivers provided by your manufacturer. Most people have Nvidia graphics cards, and you can download them here.
9. Control Cables
Video transmission cables are the cables that transmit the image so you can see what’s happening on your screen. It’s important that these cables aren’t damaged. Check for marks, creases, and things like this on your cable.
If any of these things are present, consider switching them out for new cables. Alternatively, try using your video transmission cable in another monitor and see if that also becomes blurry.
Luckily, video transmission cables are usually very cheap to replace. If you do replace yours, buy an HDMI 2 cable or newer.
10. Try A Different Kind Of Video Transmission Cable
Trying another video transmission cable is also a good idea. For example, if you’re using an HDMI cable, try instead using a DP cable and vice versa. If your video transmission cable has two different types on either end, for example, DVI and HDMI, use a cable with HDMI on both ends instead.
If you have multiple HDMI ports that go to your graphics card, switch them around to see if any of the ports are at fault. Similarly, if your monitor has multiple HDMI or DVI outputs, switch them around.