Why Is My Display Showing Black Bars on the Sides?
My Screen Resolution · March 9, 2026
What Causes Black Bars on the Sides of Your Screen?
Black bars on the sides of your screen mean the image is not filling the entire display. The picture is being shown at a narrower width than the panel, leaving unused black strips on the left and right.
This happens for one of these reasons:
- Wrong resolution — the output resolution is lower or has a different shape than your monitor expects
- Aspect ratio mismatch — you are sending a 4:3 or 16:10 signal to a 16:9 panel (or similar mismatch)
- GPU scaling set to maintain aspect ratio — the GPU is adding black bars intentionally to avoid stretching
- Overscan or underscan settings — the display or GPU is zooming or shrinking the image
- Display mode misconfiguration — duplicated displays, wrong refresh rate, or incorrect input source
Start by visiting MyScreenResolution.com to check your current resolution and compare it to your monitor's native resolution. If they do not match, that tells you exactly where to begin.
Fix 1: Set the Correct Native Resolution
The most common cause of black bars is running a resolution that does not match your monitor. A 1024 x 768 signal on a 1920 x 1080 screen, for example, cannot fill the panel without stretching, so the GPU pads the unused area with black.
Windows
- Right-click the desktop and select Display settings
- Scroll to Display resolution
- Select the option marked (Recommended) — this is your native resolution
- Click Keep changes
Mac
- Open System Settings > Displays
- Select Default for display to restore the native resolution
- If you need a specific resolution, click Show all resolutions and choose the one that matches your monitor's specifications
Linux
- Open Settings > Displays and select the highest available resolution that matches your monitor
- Or use the terminal:
xrandr --output <display-name> --mode <native-resolution>
If your native resolution is not listed, the most likely cause is a missing or outdated graphics driver. Update the driver and check again.
Fix 2: Fix Aspect Ratio Mismatch
Black bars specifically on the left and right sides almost always point to an aspect ratio mismatch. Your monitor has a widescreen panel but it is receiving a non-widescreen signal.
Here are the most common mismatches that produce side black bars:
| Your Monitor | Resolution Being Sent | What You See |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 (standard widescreen) | 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024, 1600 x 1200 (all 4:3 or 5:4) | Thick black bars on left and right |
| 21:9 (ultrawide) | 1920 x 1080, 2560 x 1440 (16:9) | Black bars on both sides |
| 32:9 (super ultrawide) | 2560 x 1440 (16:9) | Wide black bars on both sides |
| 16:9 | 1920 x 1200, 2560 x 1600 (16:10) | Thin black bars on left and right, or top and bottom |
How to fix it
Choose a resolution that matches your monitor's aspect ratio:
| Monitor Aspect Ratio | Matching Resolutions |
|---|---|
| 16:9 | 1920 x 1080, 2560 x 1440, 3840 x 2160 |
| 16:10 | 1920 x 1200, 2560 x 1600, 3840 x 2400 |
| 21:9 | 2560 x 1080, 3440 x 1440, 3840 x 1600 |
| 32:9 | 3840 x 1080, 5120 x 1440 |
If you are not sure what aspect ratio your monitor uses, check the specs on the manufacturer's website or look at the model number on the back of the display. You can also visit MyScreenResolution.com — if the detected resolution matches one of the ratios above, that is what your monitor expects.
Fix 3: Adjust GPU Scaling Settings
Your GPU controls how a resolution is mapped to the display. If scaling is set to Aspect ratio or No scaling, the GPU will intentionally add black bars rather than stretch a mismatched resolution to fill the screen.
NVIDIA
- Right-click the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel
- Go to Adjust desktop size and position under Display
- Select your display
- Under Scaling, choose one of these:
- Full-screen — stretches the image to fill the panel (may distort if aspect ratio does not match)
- Aspect ratio — maintains proportions, may add black bars
- No scaling — shows the image at its native pixel size, adds black bars if smaller than the panel
- Set Perform scaling on to GPU
- Click Apply
To eliminate black bars, select Full-screen. Be aware that this stretches the image if the aspect ratios do not match — the cleaner fix is to set the correct resolution first.
AMD
- Right-click the desktop and open AMD Radeon Software
- Go to Settings > Display
- Enable GPU Scaling
- Set Scaling Mode to one of:
- Full panel — fills the entire screen (may stretch)
- Preserve aspect ratio — keeps proportions, may show black bars
- Center — no scaling at all, image sits in the middle with black around it
- To remove black bars, select Full panel or fix the resolution to match the monitor
Also check the HDMI Scaling slider if you are connected over HDMI — slide it to the right to expand the image if it is not filling the screen.
Intel
- Open Intel Graphics Command Center from the Start menu
- Go to Display > General
- Under Scale, select:
- Stretch to fill screen — removes black bars but may distort
- Maintain aspect ratio — keeps proportions with possible black bars
- Maintain display scaling — lets the monitor decide
- Select the option that fits your preference and click Apply
Fix 4: Disable Overscan and Underscan
Overscan zooms into the image slightly, cutting off edges. Underscan shrinks the image, creating a visible black border around the entire picture. Both can cause black bars or a picture that does not fit.
On your TV or monitor
If you are using a TV as a monitor, overscan is frequently enabled by default. Open the TV's settings and look for these options:
| Brand | Setting to Look For | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung | Fit to Screen or Picture Size: 16:9 | Settings > Picture > Picture Size Settings |
| LG | Just Scan: On | Settings > Picture > Aspect Ratio |
| Sony | Display Area: Full Pixel | Settings > Display & Sound > Picture |
| Vizio | Normal or Wide | Picture Settings > Aspect Ratio |
| TCL / Roku TV | Picture Size: Direct | Settings > TV Picture Settings |
Set the option to Just Scan, Fit to Screen, Screen Fit, Full Pixel, or 1:1 Pixel Mapping — the exact name varies by brand, but they all disable overscan so every pixel maps directly to the panel.
On NVIDIA GPU
- Open NVIDIA Control Panel
- Go to Adjust desktop size and position
- If you see a Resize option or an Underscan slider, use it to expand the image until it fills the screen edges
- Set Perform scaling on to Display and scaling to No scaling to let the monitor handle it directly
On AMD GPU
- Open AMD Radeon Software > Settings > Display
- Find the HDMI Scaling slider
- Drag it to the right to increase the image size, or to the left to shrink it
- Adjust until the image fills the screen with no black bars and no content cut off
On Intel GPU
- Open Intel Graphics Command Center
- Go to Display > General
- Look for an Underscan percentage option and set it to 0%
Fix 5: Check the Display Mode
Running in the wrong display mode can cause black bars, especially with external monitors, projectors, or multi-monitor setups.
Duplicate vs. Extend mode
When you duplicate displays, both screens are forced to run at the same resolution. If your external monitor has a different native resolution than your laptop, one of them will show black bars.
Windows:
- Press Win + P
- Select Extend instead of Duplicate
- Each display now runs at its own native resolution
Mac:
- Open System Settings > Displays
- Click Arrangement
- Uncheck Mirror Displays so each screen runs independently
Linux:
xrandr --output <external-display> --auto --right-of <primary-display>
Wrong input source on the monitor
Some monitors have multiple inputs (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, DisplayPort, etc.). If the monitor is set to the wrong input, it may display a signal incorrectly or add bars. Use the monitor's OSD (on-screen display) button to select the correct input.
Fix 6: Fix Black Bars in Games
Black bars in games are usually caused by the game running at a resolution or aspect ratio that does not match your monitor.
Step-by-step fix
- Open the game and go to Settings > Display or Graphics
- Set the Resolution to your monitor's native resolution (for example, 1920 x 1080)
- Set the Display Mode to Fullscreen (not Windowed or Borderless Windowed — those can sometimes cause bars)
- Set the Aspect Ratio to Auto or to the ratio matching your monitor (16:9, 21:9, etc.)
- Apply changes and restart the game if needed
If the game does not support your resolution
Some older games only support 4:3 resolutions (800 x 600, 1024 x 768). In that case:
- Accept the black bars — this is the correct behavior, as stretching a 4:3 game to 16:9 distorts the image
- Force GPU scaling to Full-screen in your GPU control panel (see Fix 3) if you prefer a stretched image over black bars
- Use a community widescreen patch — many older games have fan-made patches that add widescreen support. Search for your game title plus "widescreen fix"
Ultrawide monitors in games
Many games do not natively support 21:9 or 32:9 resolutions. When a game only outputs 16:9 on a 21:9 monitor, you get black bars on the sides. Solutions:
- Check the game's settings for an ultrawide resolution option
- Look for community mods or tools like Flawless Widescreen that force ultrawide support
- Set the GPU scaling to Full-screen if you want the image stretched (not recommended — it distorts)
Fix 7: Fix Black Bars in Videos
Black bars in video players are common and usually not a problem — they indicate that the video's aspect ratio does not match your screen.
Why videos show black bars
| Video Aspect Ratio | Your Screen | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2.39:1 (cinematic widescreen) | 16:9 | Black bars on top and bottom (letterboxing) |
| 4:3 (old TV/video format) | 16:9 | Black bars on left and right (pillarboxing) |
| 16:9 | 16:9 | No black bars |
| 16:9 | 21:9 (ultrawide) | Black bars on left and right |
What you can do
- Letterboxing (top and bottom bars on widescreen videos): This is intentional. The video was filmed in a wider ratio than 16:9. You can use the "zoom" or "fill" option in your video player to crop and fill the screen, but this cuts off part of the image.
- Pillarboxing (side bars on 4:3 videos): The video is narrower than your screen. Most players let you stretch or zoom, but this distorts the picture. The bars are the correct behavior.
- In YouTube or streaming apps: Some apps have a "pinch to zoom" or "fill screen" option. On VLC, press the C key to cycle through crop modes.
For most video content, black bars are expected and not something to fix — they exist to preserve the original framing of the footage.
Fix 8: Update or Reinstall Your Graphics Driver
An outdated or corrupted graphics driver can cause your system to fall back to a generic resolution that does not match your monitor, resulting in black bars.
Windows
- Press Win + X and select Device Manager
- Expand Display adapters
- Right-click your GPU and select Update driver > Search automatically
- If no update is found, download the latest driver manually:
- NVIDIA: nvidia.com — download GeForce Experience or the standalone driver
- AMD: amd.com/support — download Radeon Software
- Intel: intel.com/support — use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant
- Restart after installing
Mac
Update macOS through System Settings > General > Software Update. Apple bundles GPU drivers with macOS updates.
Linux
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
Or for NVIDIA specifically:
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version>
After updating, check your display settings — the correct native resolution should now appear, and black bars should be gone.
Quick Troubleshooting Checklist
Run through this list in order. Most black bar issues are resolved within the first four steps:
| Step | What to Check | How |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Is the resolution set to native? | Visit MyScreenResolution.com and compare to your monitor's specs |
| 2 | Does the aspect ratio match? | A 4:3 resolution on a 16:9 screen always causes side bars |
| 3 | Is GPU scaling set to Full-screen? | Check NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Software, or Intel Graphics Command Center |
| 4 | Is overscan/underscan disabled? | Check your TV or monitor OSD settings, plus HDMI scaling in the GPU control panel |
| 5 | Is the display in Extend mode (not Duplicate)? | Press Win + P on Windows or check display arrangement on Mac |
| 6 | Is the graphics driver up to date? | Device Manager > Display adapters > Update driver |
| 7 | Is the cable sufficient for the resolution? | HDMI 2.0+ or DisplayPort 1.2+ for 1440p and above |
| 8 | Is the monitor set to the correct input? | Check the OSD menu for the active input source |
If the black bars only appear in specific games or videos, skip the system-level fixes and go directly to Fix 6 or Fix 7.
For more display troubleshooting, see our guides on how to check your screen resolution and screen resolution not fitting screen.
Conclusion
Black bars on the sides of your screen are caused by a mismatch between the signal your computer sends and what your monitor expects. In most cases, the fix is straightforward: set your display to its native resolution, make sure the aspect ratio matches your monitor, and check your GPU scaling settings. If you are using a TV, disable overscan. If the bars only show up in games or videos, adjust the in-app display settings or accept the bars as the correct way to display content with a different aspect ratio. Work through the checklist above and the bars will be gone in minutes.