Fixing missing screen resolutions using xrandr

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Sometimes issues on the video driver might hide more resolution options that both your monitor display and graphics processor are capable of, however it’s easy to force an specific resolution via xrandr (of course, supposing that you’re using X11)

1 - Using `cvt` to create a new resolution

Use the cvt command:

    cvt [vertical] [horizontal] [hrtz]

Let’s use as an example a resolution of 1280x1024, 60 Hrtz. That will be –> cvt 1280 1024 60.

The command will output an result, copy the output text from the terminal, we will need it in the next step.

2 - Add the new resolution to `xrandr`

Here you can go and paste the result from cvt on the command xrandr --newmode in order to create a new resolution mode:

xrandr --newmode "1280x1024_60.00"  109.00  1280 1360 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync

3 - Seeing the available displays with `xrandr`

In a single display setup is likely that the display name will be something like HDMI-0, VGA-0, DVI-0 and so on, the xrandr command will show you a summary of available displays but you can also use:

xrandr --listmonitors

…for a more concise output.

4 - Associating the new resolution with the display

Now we will add the new set resolution to the resolution list associated to the selected display:

xrandr --addmode [DISPLAY NAME] 1280x1024_60.00

Check if the resolution is now available using xrandr, you should see a new resolution option.

5 - Changing to the new resolution

You can do this using…

arandr (in a Window Manager)
the default “Display” options menu from your Desktop Enviroment (XFCE, KDE, etc.)
the xrandr command

For the last option, use:

xrandr --output [DISPLAY] --mode [VERTICAL]x[HORIZONTAL]

…with the newly set resolution.

6 - Making it permanent

If you were to reboot or exit the session now you would lose all the changes made above.

Create a file in the home directory named .xprofile and write in it what we saw in step 2 and 4. In the example of a 1280x1024, 60Hrtz screen:

#!/bin/sh
xrandr --newmode "1280x1024_60.00"  109.00  1280 1360 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode DisplayPort-0 1280x1024_60.00

1 - Using cvt to create a new resolution