How to Change the Resolution on Your Samsung TV

Anna Middleton Read more November 27, 2021

When you’re thinking about purchasing a new smart TV, Samsung is one of many options out there. If you want the best possible image quality, the UHD 4K edition is a great choice. Whether your TV can display a particular resolution depends on the input source and image aspect ratio.

How to Change the Resolution on Your Samsung TV

In this article, you’ll see how to access the above source and aspect ratio settings and how to enhance image quality on your Samsung TV.

Checking the Resolution for the Input Source

Your Samsung TV can show several different resolutions. But the size and image quality depend on the source of the image. For example, if you’re using Roku devices, you’ll have several options depending on which player you’re using.

The same goes for the quality of your Blu-ray Player or your Xbox. It’s entirely up to the quality of the device connected to your Samsung TV. If you want to check the resolution for a specific source, here’s what you do:

Grab your Samsung Remote and press the Home button.
Use the left and right keys to select Source.
Click on the specific source, for example, Comcast or PlayStation.
The current resolution shows up in the top right corner of the screen. Make sure to give it a few moments to appear.

You can repeat the process for each source to find out the correct resolution. You can change the resolution for each input source by adjusting the picture size on your Samsung TV. This term is often referred to as the Aspect Ratio.

Change the Resolution on Your Samsung TV

Adjusting the Picture Size on a Samsung TV

Both older and newer Samsung smart TVs let you change the resolution by changing the Picture Size. Depending on what kind of input source you’re using, you’ll have several different options when it comes to resolution. Here’s what you can expect in terms of Picture Size on your Samsung TV:

16:9 – This is the standard widescreen aspect ratio.
4:3 – It’s the Low Definition aspect ratio, and it usually gets used when watching old VHS movies and footage.
Fit to Screen – This setting displays the whole image based on screen size so that nothing gets cut off.
Custom – You can set your customized Picture Size and adjust it any way you like.

If you use the Custom picture size, you can also access the Zoom and Position feature. This feature means you can zoom in on any part of the image and position it any way you prefer.

How to Change the Picture Size

Here are the steps you need to follow to change the Picture Size on your Samsung TV:

Press the Home button on your Samsung remote.
Select Settings. You’ll already be on the Picture menu.
Click on Picture Size Settings.
Select Picture Size and choose the size you want.
If you select Custom, you can then access the Zoom and Position option as well.

In addition to manually adjusting display size, the Samsung TV recognizes the picture size automatically. Just follow the steps above and select Auto Wide under Picture Size.

How to Change Resolution on Your Samsung TV

Enhancing Your Samsung TV Image Quality

Everyone wants the best possible image on their TVs. With Samsung TVs, you’re already getting a lot of value and quality. However, you can do things to make your viewing experience even more customized and enjoyable, like picking the viewing mode. Samsung TVs usually include the following image preset options:

Standard – This is the mode your TV comes in and is generally compatible with many different image environments.
Dynamic – You get a brighter and clearer image. It’s great for watching sporting events.
Natural – This setting relieves the strain on your eyes.
Movie – This viewing mode is ideal for watching movies and TV shows.

Access to the above image settings gets done by pressing the Home button on your remote and going to the Settings menu. Select the Picture Mode option and try out the available viewing modes. You can also access the Expert Settings to adjust the brightness, backlight level, and other settings manually.

How to Change the Resolution on Samsung TV

Creating the Perfect Samsung TV Image

The resolution on your Samsung TV will mostly depend on what you’re watching. Is it an old movie, or are you using a 4K HD-capable streaming device?

Regardless, when you don’t have a say in the source image quality, you can still do something about it, which is change the aspect ratio, zoom in setting, and change the viewing mode. In that respect, a Samsung TV gives you a lot of options to try out.