How To Fix Zoomed Display After Upgrading to Ubuntu 18.04

After upgrading to Ubuntu 18.04, some users have reported an issue where their display appears zoomed in. This can be a frustrating problem, but fortunately, there are several possible solutions that can help fix this issue. In this article, we will walk you through these solutions step-by-step.

Solution 1: Disable Zoom in Universal Access Settings

The first and most straightforward solution is to check your Universal Access settings.

1. Open the Settings application from your applications menu.
2. Navigate to the Universal Access tab.
3. Look for the Zoom option and ensure it is disabled.

If the Zoom option was enabled, disabling it should resolve your issue. If it was already disabled or disabling it did not fix the problem, proceed to the next solution.

Solution 2: Install or Update Graphics Drivers

The zoomed display issue can sometimes be caused by outdated or incompatible graphics drivers. To check your graphics drivers:

1. Open Software & Updates from your applications menu.
2. Navigate to the Additional Drivers tab.
3. Here, you will see a list of proprietary drivers for your hardware. Look for the graphics driver that corresponds to your graphics card. For example, if you have an NVIDIA graphics card, look for the NVIDIA driver.
4. Select the driver and click Apply Changes.

After installing the driver, reboot your computer. If your display is still zoomed in, proceed to the next solution.

Solution 3: Adjust Resolution and Display Scaling

Another possible solution is to adjust your display settings. This can be done through the Displays settings in your Settings application.

1. Open the Settings application.
2. Navigate to the Displays tab.
3. Check if your resolution is set to the highest available option. If it is not, set it to the highest option.
4. If your resolution is already at the highest option, try adjusting the Scale setting. This setting adjusts the size of text and windows. A lower scale setting will make everything smaller, which can help if your display is zoomed in.

If adjusting your display settings did not fix the problem, proceed to the next solution.

Solution 4: Update Monitor Configuration

If you have recently connected a new external monitor to your computer, it might not be detected properly, leading to a zoomed display. You can update your monitor configuration using the xrandr command.

1. Open a terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.
2. Type xrandr --auto and press Enter.

The xrandr --auto command automatically sets the best resolution for all connected displays. If your display is still zoomed in after running this command, proceed to the next solution.

Solution 5: Check GPU Driver Compatibility

If none of the above solutions worked, the problem might be with your GPU driver. You can check for the required drivers for your GPU using the ubuntu-drivers devices command.

1. Open a terminal.
2. Type ubuntu-drivers devices and press Enter.
3. Look for the line that says driver : nvidia-xxx. The xxx is the version of the NVIDIA driver that is recommended for your GPU.
4. Install the recommended driver by typing sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall or sudo apt install nvidia-xxx (replace “xxx” with the driver version) and pressing Enter.

After installing the driver, reboot your computer.

These are the most common solutions to the zoomed display issue after upgrading to Ubuntu 18.04. If none of these solutions worked for you, consider seeking further assistance from the Ubuntu community or relevant forums and support channels. Remember, the specific solution may vary depending on the specific hardware and software configuration of your system.