How to Check Your Screen Resolution? (Windows, iOS, and Android)

Whether you are a web designer, a gamer, a video editor, or just want to ensure you're getting the best picture quality, knowing your screen resolution is crucial. Your screen resolution, expressed as Width x Height in pixels, is the single most important factor determining how sharp and detailed your display appears.

This article breaks down the best, accurate, and fastest methods for checking your screen resolution on any device, from online shortcuts to native operating system settings.

Method 1: The Quickest Way (Online Checkers)

The simplest and fastest method, regardless of your device, is using a dedicated online tool. These websites use a small script to instantly read your device's display information.

Tool Type	Examples	Why it's the Best
Instant Results	wimsr.com, whatismyscreenresolution.org, etc.	You simply open the page & your resolution is immediately displayed for free. No clicks, no menus, no navigating settings. Works on all modern devices.

This method is especially useful for developers and testers who need to quickly verify the viewport size of a mobile device or a resized browser window with other metrics as well, but this requires a working internet connection.

Method 2: The Most Accurate Way (OS Settings)

While online tools are fast, your operating system's settings provide the most direct and accurate information, allowing you to not only see your current resolution but also adjust it to the Native Resolution (the one marked as "Recommended").

For Windows Users (Windows 10/11)

No matter what version of the Windows OS you are using, as long as you are using a desktop computer or a laptop with Windows installed, you can follow these steps:

1. Right-click on any empty area of your desktop.
2. Select Display settings from the context menu.
3. Scroll down to the Scale & layout section.
4. Look for Display resolution-this shows your current setting. The best quality is achieved when this is set to the resolution marked with (Recommended), which is your monitor's native resolution.

NOTE: If you are using a large monitor that's separate to your PC, you should check its manual and you will see its custom settings for finding the accurate screen resolution data.

For macOS Users

Rather than relying only on online tools, Mac users can easily find their actual screen resolution by following the steps below:

1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner.
2. Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions of macOS).
3. Click Displays.
4. Your current effective resolution will be displayed, often represented by five icons showing Mac buttons and text at different sizes. The Default option typically represents the best native resolution for your screen. For the exact pixel dimensions, you can often hover over or click the resolution options.

And here's another guide for Android users who maybe using various devices with the same OS:

For Android Users

Checking your screen resolution on an Android device is typically done through the built-in Settings app.

The exact steps and menu labels can vary significantly depending on your phone's manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.) and the version of Android it is running.

Here are the common steps, categorized by the most likely place to find the resolution information:

Method 1: The Display Settings Route

On many modern Android phones, the screen resolution is found directly under the display customization settings.

1. Open your Settings app (it usually has a gear icon ⚙️).
2. Tap on Display or Display & Brightness.
3. Look for an option labeled Screen resolution, Resolution, or Screen size and resolution.

If found, the resolution will be displayed in pixels (e.g., 1080 x 2400). On some devices (like certain Samsung models), you can even change the resolution here (e.g., switching between FHD+ and QHD+).

Method 2: The About Phone Route

If the resolution isn't under the main Display settings, it might be listed in the device information section.

1. Open your Settings app (⚙️).
2. Scroll to the very bottom and tap on System or About phone.
3. Look through the details for a line labeled Resolution or Screen resolution. On some versions, you may need to tap on Software information first.

Method 3: Third-Party App or Online Checker

If you can't find the resolution in the settings, or you are looking for other details like Device Pixel Ratio (DPR), a third-party app or an online checker is the easiest alternative.

• Online Tool: Open your browser and go to an online resolution checker (like wimsr.com). The website will instantly detect and display your screen's resolution.
• App Store: Search the Google Play Store for apps like "Device Info" or "Display Tester." These apps provide comprehensive details about your device's hardware, including the exact pixel resolution.

That's all about how you can see your display size or simply the screen resolution data.

Common Screen Resolutions and What They Mean

Resolution is always quoted as Width x Height in pixels (px).

Here are some of the most common resolutions you'll encounter and their primary uses:

Resolution Name	Dimensions (W × H)	Common Use Case
HD (or 720p)	1280 x 720	Older or entry-level laptops and small TVs.
Full HD (FHD or 1080p)	1920 x 1080	The current standard for most monitors, laptops, and streaming media.
Quad HD (QHD or 1440p)	2560 x 1440	Popular for high-end gaming and professional productivity monitors. Offers a great balance of clarity and performance.
4K (UHD)	3840 x 2160	High-end TVs, large monitors, video editing, and graphic design. Offers four times the pixels of Full HD.

You can compare your resolution data to understand and know where your screen falls.

Why Does Screen Resolution Matter?

That's a good question, and here's the answer:

• Clarity and Detail: A higher resolution on the same screen size means more pixels per inch (PPI), resulting in a sharper, more detailed image (less blurry text, finer lines in images).
• Workspace: A higher resolution allows you to display more content on the screen simultaneously. For example, a QHD monitor can comfortably show two documents side-by-side, where an FHD monitor might struggle.
• Web Design and Responsiveness: Web designers must check their layouts across many resolutions to ensure the website is responsive-meaning it looks correct on everything from a small phone (360 x 800) to a large desktop (3840 x 2160).

So, if you need to check your resolution instantly, an online tool is your best bet. If you need to change your display settings for optimal performance, your operating system settings are the way to go.

I hope you will never have to ask the question "What is my screen resolution" to a shop owner the next time you are going to purchase a new device.

That's all for now.