In this guide I’m going to explain the steps you need to follow to adjust the sharpness of your monitor in Windows 11. Although the system doesn’t include a specific tool for this task, it does come with a series of settings that will allow you to improve the display of your screen, making elements appear sharper. Don’t miss it!
Adjust the sharpness on the monitor using the panel’s own settings
The first thing I recommend is that you go to the settings of the monitor itself. Generally, these are accessible through the physical buttons on the panel . If you are not sure what the steps are to access the screen settings, the best thing to do is to read the manual and look for the access method proposed by the manufacturer. You can also take a look at the icons printed on the monitor.
The variety of settings, modes, and configurations varies dramatically between monitors on the market . Again, I advise you to refer to the manufacturer’s manual to find out exactly which parameters you will be able to change.
In my case, I have a 32-inch AOC monitor . I’ve been looking around, and I haven’t found any specific settings to improve sharpness. What I have found are several settings to improve the display quality in-game , modify the panel’s color values, and others. Although none of them are specifically designed to adjust sharpness on the monitor, they can be helpful in further improving the displayed image.
Adjust sharpness on your monitor with Windows 11
In addition to monitor settings, Windows 11 has a number of parameters that will allow you to improve the sharpness of your screen. Let’s take a look at them.
Enable ClearType feature
There is a control panel setting that will help you improve the display of text. It’s a fairly simple way to adjust the sharpness on your monitor. The bad news is that it’s usually enabled by default . So it’s probably already working to make interface text look sharp. The good news is that you can calibrate this feature to suit the unique characteristics of your display.
The feature in question is called ClearType , and it’s available in Settings > Personalization > Fonts > Adjust ClearType text . It’s the same place you’ll be able to install fonts in Windows 11 , but now it’ll serve as a shortcut to this feature.
In the main ClearType window you can check if it is enabled.
Next, click Next . This will make Windows check that the monitor is using the correct resolution based on the panel’s specifications. Confirming this setting is crucial, as using the wrong resolution will make everything look much worse. Click Next when you get confirmation.
From here, Windows will ask you which of the two samples looks better on your monitor. During a few steps, you will have to select the one that seems sharper to you.
In total, you need to complete five steps to calibrate the ClearType feature. This is undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to adjust the sharpness on your monitor using software. When you’re done, press Finish and restart your computer.
Scale interface elements and choose the appropriate resolution
If you’ve followed the steps above, you’ll have confirmed that your monitor is using its native resolution. However, you’re right to choose an alternative resolution if it improves display sharpness.
Go to Settings and then click on System > Display . There you should configure the Scale and Resolution options . In the case of the former, the scale, Windows is not always right when recommending a value. In my case, the recommended value was 200%, which is not feasible because it makes all elements look excessively large. Reducing the scale is usually a good way to adjust the sharpness on the monitor or, at least, make some elements look better.
On the other hand, if we talk about resolution, in this case the value recommended by the system is usually the right one . However, you don’t lose anything by trying other resolutions, since if something doesn’t look right, you can always revert the settings.
Some apps aren’t looking sharp – what’s the solution?
In Windows 11, it’s not uncommon for some apps to not look quite sharp . If the rest of the interface is displayed correctly, you shouldn’t blame the monitor. Usually, this happens for one of the following reasons:
- You have changed the screen resolution . Some programs, especially classic ones, do not always adapt well to a change in this value.
- You have connected an external monitor . When you connect your PC to an external monitor, what is happening is that the system resolution is adapted to the new panel. In this case, it is also quite normal for certain programs to not look sharp.
- The program has a bug . This is another possibility. If the application has a bug or is not prepared for high-resolution panels, it may display incorrectly.
In most cases, the most effective solution is to restart your computer . This will force your computer to reload all interface-related system resources and allow you to enjoy maximum clarity in all applications.
Have you managed to adjust the sharpness on your monitor by following the steps I mentioned here? Let me know your opinion below. See you in the comments!