HP PCs - Change display settings, background image, icons, and screen saver (Windows 10)

You can modify the size of text and windows on the desktop to fit your personal preferences. You can also adjust the screen resolution, in addition to other display settings.

Note:

During a normal Windows installation, the program tests the graphics card and displays the optimal size and resolution for that card.

1. In Windows, search for and open Display settings. You can also right-click an open area of the desktop and then select Display settings.

2. To change the Display orientation between Landscape and Portrait or to flip the orientation, select an option from the drop-down menu and then click Keep Changes or Revert.

   

3. To change the size of text and app windows, select the size you want from the drop-down menu. Changes take effect immediately.

   

4. To adjust the brightness, click and drag the slider bar under Brightness and color. Changes take effect immediately.

   

5. To reduce the amount of blue light coming from the display, turn on Night light. To schedule the night light and change the hue, click Night light settings.

   

6. To change the Display resolution, select a resolution from the drop-down menu and then click Keep Changes or Revert.

   Note:

   We recommend in most circumstances to use the native resolution of the monitor, which is marked as Recommended.

   If you have more than one monitor, select the monitor that you want to adjust and then repeat these steps to change the resolution. A confirmation window is displayed.

   

You can personalize the pattern or image on the Start screen background.

1. In Windows, search for and open Background image settings. You can also right-click an open area of the desktop and then select Personalize.

2. To change the image or color that displays in the background, select Picture, Solid color, or Slideshow from the drop-down menu.

   

3. Choose a picture, color, slideshow, or click Browse to select one of your pictures or slideshows.

4. To change the way the picture displays on the background, select Fill, Fit, Stretch, Tile, Center, or Span from the drop-down menu. Changes take effect immediately.

   

You can personalize the appearance of Windows by choosing text colors, text background, window borders, and many other elements. You can also choose the font and size of text for different Windows features, such as menu items.

1. In Windows, search for and open Themes and related settings. You can also right-click an open area of the desktop, and then select Personalize.

2. In the Personalization window, select Background, Colors, Lock Screen, Themes, Fonts, Start, or Taskbar to open the corresponding settings window.

3. Adjust the settings. Changes take effect immediately.

   

Open the advanced display settings or display adapter properties to view the modes, set the refresh rate, or manage the color and other advanced settings.

1. Open the advanced display settings by searching for and opening Display settings in Windows. You can also right-click the desktop and open Display settings. Scroll down and click Advanced display settings.

   

2. In the Advanced display settings window, select a display to see the current settings. To change the display settings, click Display adapter properties.

3. Click a tab to adjust the corresponding settings.

   Note:

   Your computer might have more tabs than those listed here. Many video card manufacturers provide settings designed for their video hardware. These extra settings vary by the type of video hardware used and are not discussed here.

   • Adapter

     • Properties : Click the Properties button to access the hardware properties for your video card or on-board video hardware. This properties window can also be accessed through Device Manager.

     • List all modes : Lists all the supported graphic resolutions and refresh rates that can be sent to the monitor by the video card or on-board video hardware. You can use the list of valid modes to find a mode that is compatible with the monitor you are using. After finding a compatible mode, you can change the refresh rate from the Monitor tab, and the display resolution from the Settings tab of the basic display properties window.

   • Monitor

     • Properties : Click the Properties button to access the hardware properties for your monitor. This properties window can also be accessed through Device Manager.

     • Screen refresh rate : Determines how many times the monitor displays an entire screen in one second. Higher refresh rates might be more pleasing to the eye, but cause the video hardware to work harder and use more resources. Select a lower rate that is compatible with the adapter. If you can detect minute flickering or the change bothers your eyes, try adjusting the rate to the next available higher rate. Never exceed the rate available to the monitor.

       CAUTION:

       Do not remove the selection next to Hide modes that this monitor cannot display. Changing the refresh rate to a rate that the monitor cannot accept might permanently damage some monitors.

   • Color Management :

     The Color Management tab provides settings to change the color output to the monitor. Typically, you would not use Color Management unless a special situation called for it, such as matching the colors on the monitor to the colors on a printer. Adjusting this setting changes the color output for everything displayed in Windows and should be done only if needed.

4. Click Ok to save your changes and close the window.

Windows is preloaded with a number of screen savers that you can choose from.

1. In Windows, search for and open Change screen saver. The Screen Saver Settings window displays.

2. Select a screen saver from the menu.

   

3. Click Settings to open a settings window for the selected screen saver (if settings are available).

4. Click Preview to see how the screen saver displays on the computer screen. Move the mouse when finished previewing the screen saver.

5. Select the number of minutes in the Wait field. This is the number of minutes of inactivity before the screen saver opens.

   Note:

   Make sure the Wait time for the screen saver is lower than the number of minutes before the computer enters a sleep state.

6. If you want the computer to require login credentials when the session is resumed, select On resume, display logon screen.

7. Click Ok to save the settings and close the Display Properties window.

If the screen saver does not open after the selected time has elapsed, the issue might be due to activity from certain hardware devices. Use Device Manager settings to prevent these hardware devices from interfering with the screen saver.

1. In Windows, search for and open Device Manager.

2. Double-click the device type that might be interfering with the screen saver, then double-click the device name to open the Properties window.

   Some devices that commonly interfere with a screen saver are an optical mouse (Mice and other pointing devices), an "always-on" internet connection (Network adapters), and high-definition audio (Sound, video and game controllers).

3. Click the Power Management tab, and then remove the selection from Allow this device to wake the computer.

   Note:

   If you prevent the mouse from waking the computer, you can wake the computer using the spacebar on the keyboard.

   

4. Click OK, close any open windows, then restart the computer.

5. Disconnect all nonessential connected devices such as printers, scanners, and USB drives.

6. Restart the computer with only the original mouse, monitor, and keyboard connected.

   If this resolves the sleep/standby problem, one of the connected devices was causing the problem. Replace one device and test to see if the problem occurs again. Continue adding devices and testing until you find the device that is causing the problem.