Display Resolution Settings Greyed Out in Windows 11 (7 ways to restore it)

If the screen resolution settings options is greyed out and cannot be clicked, this guide will show you why this problem occurs and how to fix it.

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The display resolution setting allows you to adjust the clarity, sharpness, and size of the content on your screen. Change or Adjust Display Resolution on Windows 11 is a simple process, it can be done from settings -> system -> Display, next to display resolution. But sometimes you may notice the display resolution greyed out in the Display options page in the Settings app. Users report Unable to Change Display Resolution after Windows 11 update, “Resolution setting is grayed out in Display Settings”. Here in this article explorer, why Windows 11 display resolution is greyed out and potential solutions help you Fix the issue and restore your ability to customize your display experience.

Windows 11 display resolution Greyed out

There are multiple reasons why you may not able to change the screen resolution in Windows 11, Incompatible or outdated graphics drivers are common. System file corruption could also be the cause of this issue. Again Incorrect user account permissions, Hardware limitations of your PC or it’s because Display settings are restricted by a group policy that’s why you can’t change the resolution as the option is greyed out.

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To fix such problem on Windows 11, you need to update or reinstall the Graphics driver, and check for and install the latest Windows update. Again adjusting power settings, identifying software conflicts, and ensuring hardware connectivity help you overcome the greyed-out display resolution settings on your computer.

Update Graphics Drivers

If you notice the display resolution greyed out after the Windows 11 update, Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can prevent you from modifying the display resolution. Updating your graphics drivers is a good first step to troubleshoot this issue.

  • Press Windows key + X select Device Manager, and display all devices and peripherals connected to your computer,
  • Locate and expand the “Display adapters” category to see your graphics card.
  • Right-click on your graphics card and select “Update driver” from the context menu. This will open the Update Driver Software window.
  • Select Search automatically for updated driver software option to allow Windows to search for the latest driver software online and install it automatically if available.
  • Or you can select the second option Browse my computer for drivers to manually select and install a driver file that you have downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

update graphics driver

  • After the driver installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.
  • Now check if the display resolution settings are still greyed out or if the issue has been resolved.

Reinstall the Graphics card driver

Also, Uninstalling and reinstalling the display drivers can resolve driver conflicts and restore access to display resolution settings. You can Visit the manufacturer’s website for your graphics card and download the latest drivers compatible with Windows 11. For example, go to the NVIDIA Driver download page and download the latest graphics driver for your device.

To Determine your graphics card manufacturer and model.

Press the Windows key + R, type dxdiag and click ok, Move to the Display tab. Look for details about your graphics card in the displayed window.

check graphics card

Download Graphics card driver for Windows 11

  • Now Visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer. Common manufacturers include NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel.
  • Locate the “Drivers” or “Support” section on the website. Look for a section related to driver downloads or support for your specific graphics card model.
  • Enter the required details and download the latest graphics driver on your PC.

NVIDIA driver download

Reinstall the Graphics driver

  • Again open Device Manager, locate the Graphics driver and select the uninstall option from the context menu,
  • Click uninstall again if prompt for confirmation, and reboot your computer

Uninstall Graphic Driver

  • Now locate the run the driver installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the updated drivers.
  • After the installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Update windows 11

Keeping your Windows 11 installation up to date is crucial, it brings the latest bug fixes and improvements. Updating Windows 11 to the latest version can sometimes help fix issues with display resolution settings being greyed out. The optional Windows updates bring the latest driver updates and compatibility fixes.

  • Press Windows key + I to open the settings app on your PC
  • Go to Windows Update then hit the Check for Updates button,
  • If pending updates there, allow them to download and install on your computer

Download Windows 11 update

  • Once done, click on advanced options then optional updates,

If optional updates are pending there, checkmark on it and select download and install. This process may take some time, depending on the size of the updates.

Optional update audio driver

Once done you need to reboot your computer to apply the changes. You can either restart immediately or choose a more convenient time.
Now check if the issue with the display resolution settings being greyed out is resolved.

Enable GPU scaling

The GPU scaling allows the graphics card to scale the display resolution to fit the screen. For few users, Enabling GPU scaling help resolve the issue of display resolution settings being greyed out in certain cases.

For NVIDIA Graphics card users:

  • Open the NVIDIA control panel and navigate Adjust Desktop Size and Position from the left menu.
  • Select your scaling mode: Full Screen, Aspect Ratio, or No Scaling.
  • Choose GPU in the drop-down under Perform scaling on, Save your settings and restart your system.

Enable GPU scaling

For Intel HD Graphics users:

  • Click on Intel HD Graphics located in the Notification Area of the Taskbar to open the control panel
  • Click Display, then Click Maintain Display Scaling, then click the Apply
  • Restart your device for the changes to take effect.

For AMD Radeon Graphics card users:

  • Open your AMD Radeon control panel from the Taskbar.
  • Click Display, Look for GPU Scaling, and turn it on.
  • Restart your Windows 10/11 PC.

Check User Account Permissions

Ensure that you are logged in with an account that has administrative privileges. Standard user accounts may not have permission to modify display settings. Switch to an administrator account or contact your system administrator to grant the necessary permissions.

  • Click on the Start button and open the Settings app.
  • Go to the “Accounts” section and select “Family & other users” from the left panel.
  • Check the account type associated with your user account.

If it is a standard user account, switch to an administrator account or contact your system administrator to grant the necessary permissions.

Check Hardware Limitations

If the above solutions didn’t help, you need to ensure that your monitor and graphics card support the desired resolution. Some hardware configurations may have limitations on available screen resolutions. If the desired resolution is not supported, you may need to choose an alternative resolution that is compatible with your hardware.

  • Right-click on the desktop and select “Display settings”.
  • Scroll down to the “Scale and layout” section and click on the drop-down menu under “Display resolution”.
  • Check if the desired resolution is listed. If not, try choosing an alternative resolution that is compatible with your hardware.

Check Group Policies

Again If your PC is part of a network domain or managed by an IT department, group policies might be restricting access to display settings. In such case, you need to Contact your system administrator to verify if any policies are affecting your ability to change screen resolution.

  • Press the Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc and click ok to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
  • In the left panel, navigate to “Computer Configuration” > “Administrative Templates” > “Control Panel” > “Display”.
  • Look for any policies that might be restricting display settings.
  • If you find any relevant policies, double-click on them and set them to “Not Configured” or “Disabled”.
  • Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Restart your computer and check if the display resolution settings are accessible.

Sometimes third-party software conflict prevents change display resolution on Windows 11, clean boot your system and see if changing the resolution in that system state works. Again corrupted system files may prevent the system function normally and freeze change screen resolution. Run the system file checker scan all protected system files, and replace corrupted files with a cached copy that is located in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) with short answers:

Why are my display resolution settings greyed out?

  • This can happen due to several reasons, such as incompatible graphics drivers, incorrect hardware connections, or a system error.

How can I fix greyed out display resolution settings?

  • You can start by updating your graphics drivers, ensuring the monitor is properly connected, and checking for any conflicting third-party applications.

Is it possible that my graphics driver is causing the issue? 

  • Yes, outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can lead to greyed out resolution settings. Updating them often resolves the problem.

What if I can’t update my graphics driver due to compatibility issues?

  • In such cases, you might need to manually uninstall the current driver and then install the compatible version from the manufacturer’s website.

Could a hardware issue be causing the greyed out settings?

  • Yes, faulty hardware components like a damaged graphics card or loose connections can result in greyed out display resolution settings.

Can third-party applications conflict with display settings?

  • Yes, certain third-party applications, especially those related to graphics or display management, can sometimes interfere with resolution settings.

When should I consider seeking professional help for this issue?

  • If you’ve tried the basic troubleshooting steps and the problem persists, it’s advisable to consult a technician or the manufacturer’s support for further assistance.

Also read:

Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer
With over 7 years of experience in the IT industry, I have experience in IT support, helpdesk, sysadmin, network admin, and cloud computing. Certified in Microsoft Technologies (MCTS and MCSA) and also Cisco Certified Professional in Routing and Switching.

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