How to troubleshoot and fix dual monitor display alignment and scaling issues

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to troubleshoot and fix dual monitor display alignment and scaling issues. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

When using multiple monitors, it is common to encounter issues where the mouse cursor "jumps" when moving between screens or where text and icons appear significantly larger on one display than the other. This usually occurs because the operating system's virtual arrangement does not match the physical placement of your monitors, or because the screens have different native resolutions.

Adjusting Monitor Alignment

If your cursor does not move seamlessly from one screen to another, you will need to reorganise the virtual layout of your displays.

For Windows 10 and 11

1. Right-click on an empty space on your desktop and select Display settings.
2. Under the Rearrange your displays section, you will see numbered boxes representing your monitors.
3. Click and drag the boxes to match the physical position of your monitors on your desk.
   • If one monitor is physically higher than the other, drag the box up or down to align the edges.
   • If you have swapped the left and right monitors, drag the boxes to the opposite sides.
4. Click Apply to save the changes.

For macOS

1. Click the Apple Menu and select System Settings (or System Preferences).
2. Navigate to Displays.
3. Click the Arrange... button.
4. Drag the monitor icons to match their physical orientation on your desk.
5. Click Done.

Fixing Scaling and Text Size Issues

Scaling issues occur when you mix a high-resolution monitor (like a 4K screen) with a standard HD monitor, causing windows to look tiny on one and huge on the other.

Adjusting Scale in Windows

1. Right-click the desktop and select Display settings.
2. In the Rearrange your displays section, click on the specific monitor you wish to adjust.
3. Scroll down to Scale & layout.
4. Locate the Scale dropdown menu (usually labelled "Change the size of text, apps, and other items").
5. Select a percentage (e.g., 100%, 125%, or 150%) that makes the text comfortable to read.
6. Repeat this process for the second monitor until the visual size of windows is consistent across both.

Adjusting Resolution in macOS

1. Go to System Settings > Displays.
2. Select the monitor you wish to adjust.
3. Choose Scaled to see a list of available text sizes.
4. Select the option that provides the best balance between screen real estate and readability.

Troubleshooting Common Display Problems

Monitor not detected

If one of your monitors is black or not appearing in the settings menu:

• Ensure the cable is firmly seated in both the monitor and the PC/Laptop.
• Try a different port on your docking station or graphics card.
• Press Windows Key + P on Windows and ensure Extend is selected.
• If you are using external peripherals, ensure your USB hubs or docking stations are powered on.

Flickering or colour inconsistencies

If the colours look different between two identical monitors, check the monitor's built-in physical menu (OSD) to ensure the Colour Profile or Preset (e.g., sRGB, Standard, Movie) is the same on both units. If the screen is flickering, this may be related to the screen brightness adjustment settings or a faulty HDMI/DisplayPort cable.

If you have followed these steps and your displays are still not functioning correctly, please Open a Ticket for further technical analysis.

Still Having Issues?