How to fix a black border or bars on a display
If you see black bars on the sides, top and bottom, or all around a display's image, it's often a mismatch in resolution. This discrepancy can occur for many reasons. For instance, a border can be caused by incorrect drivers or settings. Or, black bars can appear if media is set to be viewed using a specific aspect ratio.
The sections below should help you determine the source of the display's black border or bars and offer suggestions for remedying these issues. To proceed, select your type of display device from the list below and follow the instructions.
Flat-panel display
This section is for desktop and laptop computers with flat-panel, backlit displays (all modern devices fall into this category). If you're using a computer with an LCD (Liquid-Crystal Display), LED (Light-Emitting Diode), or OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display, the steps under the following headings should help explain the black bars or borders you're seeing.
Video driver issue or no video driver installed
Verify you have the latest drivers before troubleshooting any issue related to hardware. See the links below for further instructions.
Aspect ratio
Certain media types are encoded to be displayed at a specific aspect ratio. For example, if you've played a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or Blu-ray disc on a computer, you are likely already familiar with the following situation.
Most movies are filmed with cameras using a 21:9 aspect ratio. However, most of today's widescreen monitors are 16:9. Consequently, viewing a 21:9 movie on these displays shows black bars on the top and bottom because the original image is "wider" than the monitor supports. However, this same movie would fit the screen perfectly on an UltraWide monitor.
Similarly, if you were to view 16:9 content, such as a YouTube video, on an UltraWide monitor, you'd see black bars on the left and right sides. An example of this instance is shown in the image at the start of the page.
Resolution settings
If you see black bars or a border with all content, it's likely that the operating system's settings do not match the native resolution of your display. Essentially, your computer is outputting a pixel count that is different from what your monitor is intended to display.
Most manufacturers have a utility to "stretch" the pixel size, allowing smaller images to take up the full screen. However, this action decreases the quality of the image slightly and is especially noticeable when viewing text. Consequently, instead of stretching the image, we suggest visiting the link below to set the recommended (native) resolution for your device's display.
If you upgrade Windows from an older version to a newer version, the display resolution may revert to a default setting. If you see black borders after upgrading Windows, change your resolution settings again.
DVDs and Blu-rays
Many DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs) and Blu-ray discs support different aspect ratios. Look for options like widescreen, ultrawide, or full screen in the disc's menus to adjust the image to fit your display appropriately.
CRT monitor
While the CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) is obsolete, some users keep these monitors around for posterity or because they're curious about older technologies. If you're experiencing black bars or a border on a CRT monitor, the following sections should give you insight and possible solutions.
Video driver issue or no video driver installed
Verify the video card has the latest drivers before troubleshooting any issue related to hardware. See the links below for further instructions.
Resolution was changed and needs to be adjusted manually
If a CRT's resolution was recently changed, the monitor may not automatically adjust or shift to the correct size. If this occurs, the resolution can be changed back to the original setting, or you may adjust it manually by changing the horizontal or vertical width.
Because each monitor is different, the method for making these changes varies. Consult your monitor's documentation or the manufacturer's website for further instructions. Additional information and example images of these control settings are found on our monitor help page.
Some older 15" CRT monitors naturally have bars and may not feature the ability to adjust the horizontal setting. If this is the case with your model, it's due to the design, and the black bars can't be changed. If you believe this black area is too big, we recommend using or purchasing a different display device.