Screens can pixelate after certain events and happenings within your Windows system. Of course, this is very annoying, which is why I’ve listed the 9 most common fixes to this problem. A pixelated screen makes your screen practically unusable, so hopefully, you find one of these solutions helpful.
The most common reason why your computer screen seems pixelated is that the computer has changed the screen’s resolution after an update. A lower resolution will make your screen seem pixelated. Right-click on your desktop, select “Display settings”, and change it back to your screen’s native resolution. Your screen should now be back to normal.
Now that you know the most common reason why your screen can seem suddenly pixelated, continue reading to find out more solutions to this problem.
1. Update Graphics Card Drivers
Outdated graphics card drivers can cause all sorts of problems for your computer, a pixelated screen absolutely being one of them. If you haven’t updated your graphics card drivers in a while, I recommend you do this.
This can fix your pixelated screen issue. I would not recommend doing this using Windows device manager, however. Use the drivers provided by your manufacturer. Most people have Nvidia graphics cards, and you can download them here.
2. Reinstall Graphics Card Drivers
Another good idea can be to uninstall and then reinstall your graphics card drivers. I recommend doing this using DDU. This program removes your earlier drivers and performs a clean install of your new driver, which most likely will fix previous issues such as a pixelated screen.
Download your new driver from Nvidia and put it on your desktop. After this, download DDU. Reboot your computer into safe mode and run DDU. Follow the steps and install the drivers on your desktop.
Of course, a pixelated screen issue may be due to other issues than software problems. Keep reading if none of the above tips have worked for you.
3. Reseat the Graphics Card
A suddenly pixelated screen can be due to an incorrectly seated graphics card. The solution to this problem is to reseat it inside your computer. If you have no previous experience in handling computer components, I would strongly recommend watching a guide on how to do it.
Another alternative is to hand your computer into a store or have a tech-savvy friend do it. How can you know if your graphics card is improperly seated? Well, your computer will most likely over time get warm, start crashing randomly, and have other problems.
4. Cool the Computer
If your GPU is overheated it can start to malfunction in some ways, and a suddenly pixelated screen isn’t completely far-fetched. Make sure your computer isn’t in a cramped-up space, and check your GPU temperature using this.
Nvidia GPUs run optimally with temperatures of 160-185 Fahrenheit, and if your GPU is hotter than 200 degrees Fahrenheit then there’s a good chance that your GPU is going to start damaging components inside of your computer.
Clean your computer from dust, make sure it isn’t boxed in, and make sure the fans are working. After this, try to use your computer and see if the GPU temperature is lower.
5. Update the Monitor’s Drivers
Update your monitor’s drivers as well, there’s a fair chance that the drivers are in some way incompatible with Windows after an update to the operating system. To update your monitor’s drivers, simply follow the steps below.
- Go into “Device Manager” by typing it in your Windows search bar and clicking the icon
- Double-click on “Monitors”
- Right-click on the device that shows up and select “Update drivers”
If your monitor has old, incompatible drivers, then this should fix the issue.
6. Update the Operating System
Also, make sure that your Windows operating system is up to snuff! Your version of Windows may have a bug that’s fixed if you update your system. Perform a system update by following the steps below.
- Go to “Settings” in Windows
- Click on “Updates & Security”
- Select “Windows Update”
- Select “Check for updates”
7. Check Your DPI Scaling Settings
Your DPI scaling settings may be incorrect and cause your screen to seem blurry or pixelated. If this is the cause then the issue is easily fixed by following the steps below.
- Press your Windows key + I
- Choose “System”
- Select “Display” on the left-hand side of your screen.
- Select “Advanced scaling settings”.
- Under “Fix scaling for apps”, select “Let Windows try to fix apps, so they’re not blurry”
- Reboot the computer
8. Replace Damaged Cables
HDMI or DP cables get worn out over time. If the cables have been damaged then this can cause connectivity and quality issues to your monitor. Make sure that your video transmission cable and your power cord are not damaged.
If they are damaged then I would recommend replacing them, because the damaged cable is probably the reason for your screen being pixelated.
Power cords are largely universal for electric devices, which means that you can try another one to see if that solves your problem. DP cables are a bit rare, but if you’re using an HDMI cable for video transmission, then try another one you have at home to see if it solves your monitor issue.
9. Correct the Advanced Display Settings
You can switch your screen refresh rate using the advanced display settings on your computer. Your screen might be opting in for a refresh rate that it can’t handle and as a result, your screen gets pixelated.
To check and change your refresh rate, follow the steps below
- Right-click the desktop
- Go into “Display settings”
- Scroll down and click on “Advanced display settings”
- Click “Display adapter properties for Display 1”
- In the new windows, select “Monitor” at the top
if you’re unsure of what the refresh rate of your screen is, Google the model of your screen. It should be able to handle its promised refresh rate. Most screens have either 60Hz or 144Hz. If your screen has lowered its refresh rate after an update, the screen can feel laggy.
If the screen is set on a higher refresh rate than it can handle, this can present problems with a pixelated screen. Simply put, make sure your refresh rate is correct for the screen that you’re using!