There is no doubt that having a second monitor will greatly simplify your work with your computer. For both work and play, there’s nothing better than being able to keep social media or Reddit on the second screen – or even watch Netflix while you work.
But what if you don’t have a second monitor? If you have a spare HDTV with HDMI input, you can plug it directly into your computer and use it like a monitor.
However, if you have done so, you may have encountered a frustrating problem, and rest assured that you are not alone. Even if the TV is set to the correct resolution, the picture on the screen may be cut off.
The infamous “Overscan”
This problem has one main reason – a feature built into many televisions known as “rescanning”. If you notice that part of the screen is cut off and you can’t access the taskbar or the edges of the screen, it’s pretty outdated technology to blame.
If we go back in time for a moment and talk about TVs that existed long before LCDs or plasma screens, content creators faced one major problem: a lack of standardized hardware that made it nearly impossible to design shows and movies that would look great on all screens. The solution was the Overscan function, which cut off the edges and showed only those parts of the screen that were considered important.
Overscan is a relic of a bygone era that is no longer needed, but sadly still a part of many HDTVs. This can create resolution issues when setting up your screen for use as a secondary display, so let’s discuss how to fix this problem and make your TV the best monitor it can be.
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Fix TV Resolution: TV Settings
It is difficult to give specific guidance on how to turn off overscan on your TV as it will vary considerably depending on the make and model. In most cases, you will need an option in the Image menu that will allow you to adjust the aspect ratio or even just turn off the oversized area of ??the image.
In most cases, the aspect ratio will be roughly 16: 9 resolution. You will want to change this to an option that says Fit to Screen, Just Scan, or something like that. If you don’t see these options, you might want to refer to your TV manual (or just try good old trial and error). Alternatively, you can simply Google the make and model of your TV and use the words “customize non-screen area”.
In some cases, despite your best efforts, you may not be able to display the image correctly. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take in Windows and Mac settings that might fix the problem for you.
Fix TV Resolution: Mac Settings
If you’re on a Mac and / or are using a device such as an Apple TV, you can check out this Apple Support article for all the details on setting non-working or under-scanning for OS X and tvOS.
Fix TV Resolution: Windows Settings
Fixing the TV resolution in Windows settings is a little tricky, but it shouldn’t be too hard by following these steps. Keep in mind that this guide focuses on Nvidia’s Control Panel, but those using Intel processors shouldn’t have much difficulty following it.
However, those with AMD hardware might be a little disappointed as there is no easy solution to overscanning in their settings.
So, first right click on your desktop and select Nvidia Control Panel.
A window should appear with a menu on the left similar to the one shown below. Select “Adjust Desktop Size and Position”.
On the right side of the menu, you will see a set of settings. Click on the second monitor (your TV) and make sure the settings are similar to the ones we set. Just be aware that your resolution and refresh rate may differ depending on the brand of your TV.
Go to the “Size” tab, set the settings similar to the settings in the image, and click “Resize “.
At this point, a screen similar to the one shown below should appear. Just drag the sliders until the corner indicators are positioned correctly. This will adjust your monitor’s resolution (perhaps aside from the original resolution), but it’s a great option if you can’t turn off overscan on your TV.
We hope this process has given you all the tools you need to make your HDTV work as a secondary monitor. Enjoy streamlining your workflow, or even messing around with YouTube while you work or play, now that you’ve managed to fix your TV resolution.
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