Display · No. 13
What Is My Screen Resolution
This tool reads your display details the moment the page loads and updates them live as you resize the window or rotate your device. Use it to confirm your resolution, pixel density, and viewport for design work, bug reports, or a quick spec check.
What screen resolution actually means
People say resolution when they mean a few different things, and this tool shows all of them side by side. The screen size in CSS pixels is what your browser treats as the display width and height. The estimated physical resolution multiplies that by the device pixel ratio to approximate the real pixel grid, which is the number you see on a spec sheet like 1920 by 1080 or 2560 by 1440.
The CSS viewport is the space your web page can actually draw into right now. It is smaller than the screen because it excludes browser toolbars, the address bar, and scrollbars, and it shrinks when you make the window smaller. This is the number that matters most when a layout looks wrong at a certain size.
The device pixel ratio, or DPR, tells you how many physical pixels sit behind one CSS pixel. A DPR of 1 means a classic one to one display, while 2 or 3 is common on high density laptop and phone screens where text looks sharper. Color depth reports the bits per pixel your browser exposes, and orientation shows whether the display is currently landscape or portrait.
How to read your results and change your resolution
If the physical resolution here looks lower than your monitor should support, your operating system is probably set below native. On Windows 11, open Settings, go to System, then Display, and set Display resolution to the value marked Recommended. If text and icons feel too small or too large at that resolution, adjust the Scale setting on the same screen rather than dropping the resolution.
On macOS, open System Settings, choose Displays, and pick a scaled option or select Default for display to return to the sharpest setting. On phones and tablets you cannot change the panel resolution, but the reported numbers still confirm the hardware your device advertises.
A viewport that seems too narrow usually means the browser window is not maximized, or you are zoomed in. Reset zoom with Ctrl and 0 on Windows or Command and 0 on Mac, then maximize the window. If a second monitor reports the wrong size or nothing at all, the display connection or driver is the likely cause rather than this tool.
When these numbers matter
Support teams often ask for your resolution and browser viewport when a site or app is not displaying correctly, and the copy button here bundles every value into one line you can paste into a ticket or forum post. Sharing the exact figures saves a back and forth and helps the person on the other end reproduce the layout you are seeing.
Designers and developers use the viewport and device pixel ratio to build responsive layouts and to serve images at the right sharpness for each screen. Shoppers comparing a new monitor, laptop, or phone can confirm the panel their current device reports before deciding whether an upgrade is a real step up. Because the values update the instant you resize or rotate, you can also use the tool to preview how a page behaves at different window sizes without any extra software.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is my screen resolution?
- Your resolution appears at the top of this page as soon as it loads, shown as width by height. The estimated physical resolution tile is the figure that matches a spec sheet, such as 1920 by 1080. It is calculated from your screen size in CSS pixels multiplied by your device pixel ratio.
- Why is my screen resolution different from what I expected?
- Browsers report size in CSS pixels, not raw hardware pixels, so a high density display can show a smaller screen number than its true panel resolution. The estimated physical resolution corrects for this by factoring in the device pixel ratio. Your operating system may also be running below native resolution or using display scaling.
- What is the difference between viewport and screen resolution?
- Screen resolution describes the whole display, while the viewport is only the area your web page can draw into. The viewport is always smaller because it leaves out browser toolbars, the address bar, and scrollbars. It also changes when you resize the window, so it is the better number for testing responsive layouts.
- What does device pixel ratio mean?
- Device pixel ratio, or DPR, is how many physical pixels sit behind a single CSS pixel. A value of 1 is a standard display, and 2 or 3 is common on high density laptop and phone screens where everything looks crisper. Designers use it to serve sharp images to displays that need extra detail.
- How do I change my screen resolution on Windows 11?
- Open Settings, select System, then Display, and choose the value marked Recommended under Display resolution. If elements look too small or too large, change the Scale percentage on the same page instead of lowering the resolution. Sign out and back in if a scale change does not fully apply.
- Does this screen resolution tool send my data anywhere?
- No. Every value is read directly from your own browser and stays on your device. Nothing about your display is recorded or uploaded, and the copy button only writes to your local clipboard when you press it.