How to Change the Screen Resolution on Your Android

PDF download Download Article
Change the display size to suit your preferences
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to change the size of your screen resolution on Android phones and tablets. Some Android devices allow you to change the screen resolution in the Display menu in Settings. If your Android model does not, most Android devices allow you to change the pixel density in the Developer Options menu.

Change Your Android Screen Resolution

  • Go to Settings > Display > Screen Resolution. Here, you can select a new resolution like HD, FHD, or WQHD (if available).
  • If there is no Screen Resolution option, adjust the display size in Settings > Display > Font size and style.
  • To change the pixel density, enable Developer Mode, then enter your preferred values.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Changing the Resolution

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap the gear icon in the resulting menu. On some Android models, you can change the screen resolution in your Settings menu.
    • Keep in mind this will not work on all Android phones and tablets.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-2-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-2-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/70\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-2-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-2-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's next to an icon that resembles a sun in the Settings menu.
    • If you don't see the Display option in your Settings menu, tap the icon that resembles a magnifying glass in the upper-right corner and type "Display" in the search bar to search for the Display settings.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/dc\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-3-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-3-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/dc\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-3-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-3-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's in the middle of the Display menu.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-4-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-4-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d3\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-4-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-4-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    HD is the lowest resolution at around 1280 x 720 pixels. FHD is a mid-range resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels. WQHD is the highest screen resolution at 2560×1440 pixels.
    • Resolutions may vary depending on the make and model of your phone or tablet. More pixels means higher resolution.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/25\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-5-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-5-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This applies your new screen resolution settings.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Changing the Display Size

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/35\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-6-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-6-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/35\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-6-Version-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-6-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap the gear icon in the resulting menu.
    • If you can't change the resolution manually, you can adjust the display size on your Android to make text and icons larger or smaller.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-7-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-7-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-7-Version-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-7-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Alternatively, if you're using stock Android or a Google Pixel, tap Display Size to find your display size settings. [1]
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-8-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-8-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-8-Version-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-8-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Moving the slider to the right makes the text and other items larger, and dragging it to the left makes it smaller. [2]
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Changing the Pixel Density

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-6-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-6-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-6-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-6-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Tap the Settings app icon, which resembles a colored gear, to do so.
    • You can also swipe down from the top of the screen and then tap the gear icon in the resulting drop-down menu.
    • Changing the pixel density (DPI) does not change the resolution on your Android. It just changes how many pixels-per-inch are used. However, this can make words, text, and icons appear bigger or smaller.
    • The option to change the pixel density or access developer options may not be available on all Android phone models.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-7-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-7-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-7-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-7-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find this at the bottom of the Settings menu.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-8-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-8-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1c\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-8-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-8-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's near the bottom of the "About phone" menu.
    • If you don't see this option, tap the icon that resembles a magnifying glass in the upper-right corner. Type "Build Model" in the search bar.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/45\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-9-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-9-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/45\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-9-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-9-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This unlocks the Developer options menu item. You can use Developer option to change your Android's pixel density. You should see a "You are now a developer!" message pop up once developer mode has been enabled.
    • Warning: Messing with developer options without knowing what you are messing with can affect your phone's performance and cause other issues. It is recommended that you back up your Android phone before messing with developer options in case you need to reset your Android device.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-10-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-10-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-10-Version-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-10-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Doing so will take you back to the Settings page.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-11-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-11-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-11-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-11-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This option should be near the About phone option at the bottom of the phone.
    • On some Android phones, you may need to scroll up or down to find this option.
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-12-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-12-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-12-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-12-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find this option near the bottom of the page. [3]
    • This option is near the bottom of the Developer Options page, so you may have to scroll down for quite a while before you reach it.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-13-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-13-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-13-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-13-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Tap the text field in the middle of the pop-up window, then type in your preferred pixel density.
    • Android DPI can be as low as 120 or as high as 640 (this may vary from model to model). The larger the number, the smaller the on-screen items (text, icons, etc.) will appear.
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-14-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-14-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-14-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Change-the-Screen-Resolution-on-Your-Android-Step-14-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's at the bottom of the pop-up window. Doing so will adjust your Android's pixel density.
    10. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    This completely ruined my S7. Now I can't turn it off or factory reset. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    You have to connect the device to a computer and use ADB Shell to change the resolution back to original. Messing with Android system files can and most likely will brick your device. Always think about that before changing anything.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 27 Helpful 58
  • Question
    The command prompt isn't recognized, any ideas why? I'm not technically minded.
    Community Answer
    You can try restarting and resetting your device. If this doesn't work, youwh may have to take it to an expert and have them look at it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 19 Helpful 4
  • Question
    What should I do if 'Adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program, or batch file?
    Sean Curran
    Community Answer
    On Windows, you need to enter .\ before you run a program from command prompt or Powershell. In this case, you need to enter ".\adb shell" and it will start the connection with the device. You should have a new prompt where you can enter the rest of the command from above.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 24 Helpful 9
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • You can change your phone's DPI with a handful of apps, but your Android must be rooted for these apps to work.
        Thanks
      • You may notice distortion on your Android's on-screen keyboard after changing the resolution. You can install a keyboard that scales with DPI (such as GBoard ) to fix this issue.
        Thanks
      • While you can scale your phone's resolution up or down to increase or decrease the size of things on the screen, you can't increase your Android's resolution to a higher definition (e.g., 720p to 1080p) since the Android's physical screen itself dictates the definition.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Sometimes, changing your resolution will cause compatibility issues when using the Google Play store to download apps. If you encounter this issue, you can change your resolution back to the original settings, download the app, and then change the resolution again.
        Thanks
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add Widgets on Android
      How to
      Find Your Phone Number on Android
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      The Ultimate Guide to Hiding Caller ID on Android
      How to Add an App Back to Home Screen: Tips for Finding Apps
      How to
      Increase Your Android Device’s Maximum Volume Steps
      3 Ways to Unlock an Android Tablet
      How to
      Turn Off Your Android Phone Without the Power Button
      How to
      Disable Parental Controls on Android
      How to Combine Photos on Android: 3 Ways to Create Collages and Grids
      Unzip Files on Android for Free with Files by Google
      How to
      Switch to Portrait or Landscape Mode on Android
      How to
      Connect Android Phone to Computer
      How to Add & Use Discord Soundboard Sounds: Step-by-Step Tutorial
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/11183305?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10001572/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVIFFvdedYU

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Settings .
      2. Tap About phone .
      3. Tap Build number 7 times.
      4. Tap the back button.
      5. Tap Developer options .
      6. Tap Smallest width .
      7. Enter a new width.
      8. Tap OK .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 723,127 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement