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How to Remove Black Bars From Games in Windows 10: 7 Easy Tips

If you want to know how to fix black bars in games, take a closer look at your display drivers first 1️⃣

6 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Many Windows 10 users love to relax and enjoy their favorite games, but a few of them reported certain issues while gaming. Black bars randomly popping out seem to hinder the experience quite often.

In order to be fully immersed, the game has to work flawlessly and you should not experience glitches during your playtime.

According to users, it seems that black bars are appearing while they playgameson Windows 10. This sounds like an unusual problem, but let’s see what triggers it in the first place.

Why does my game have black bars?

From resolution glitches to improper in-game settings, anything can trigger these pesky black bars or lines to randomly appear and ruin your gameplay.

Unsurprisingly, outdated or otherwise compromised display drivers can also have a huge impact.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common issues reported by our readers:

How do I get rid of the black bars in Windows 10 games?

1. Make sure you use the native resolution

Since there are two known formats, standard 4:3 and widescreen 18:6, we advise you to stick to your native resolution and screen format.

By doing so, you’ll avoid possible sidebars which commonly occur if you use a non-native format or resolution. This how-to confirms that your native resolution is set to some random unfitting value.

Once you’re certain that both of those are as they’re supposed to be, the problem should be resolved. However, if the issue is persistent, make sure to continue with the steps below.

2. Update your graphics card drivers

Press theWindows Key + Sand typeDevice Manager.
In theDevice Manager, expandDisplay Adapters.
Right-click on your GPU and selectUpdate driver.
Wait for yourOSto finish updating.

This issue can sometimes be related to your graphics card drivers, and in order to resolve this issue, it’s advised that you update your graphics card drivers.

In order to update your drivers, just go to your graphics card manufacturer’s website, find your graphics card model and download the latest drivers for it.

Update drivers automatically

If you don’t want the hassle of updating drivers manually, we strongly suggest doing it automatically by using third-party software. After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.

Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Check the in-gamesettings

Besides the system screen settings, we advise you to check the in-gamegraphics settings menu. It seems that this issue appears only with certaingamesand it doesn’t concern most of them.

Counter-Strike is one of those which have issues with black sidebars. In there you should find the resolution and screen orientation settings.

Make sure that they resemble the ones in system settings. Once you’re over that, and the problem is still present, one of the below-presented solutions should help you address it.

4. Set scaling to fullscreen

If you’re having black bars in Windows 10, you should try to set scaling to Fullscreen. How do I remove the black bars on my screen? Simply try following the steps described above.

This solution applies to owners of Intel integrated graphics, but if you have any other integrated graphics card, you should have similar options.

5. Use the Ctrl+Alt+F11 shortcut

In order to remove black bars in games, a few users suggested using the Ctrl+Alt+F11 shortcut. According to them, you just need to press Ctrl+Alt+F11 while in-game and the black bars should disappear.

We have to point out that using this shortcut will change your desktop resolution, so you’ll have to change it back after you’re done with yourgame.

6. Rungamesin windowed fullscreen mode

Although this workaround can help you, you’ll have to change the resolution to the original value once you’re done playing.

7. Check Override the scaling mode in Nvidia Control Panel

Seeing black bars while playinggameson Windows 10? You might have to change a few options in Nvidia Control Panel. To do that, follow the aforementioned steps.

How do I get rid of black bars in Windows 11 games?

Since Windows 11 is really not that different from its predecessor – except for a few design and perhaps, gaming-oriented improvements – you can go ahead and apply all the fixes recommended above.

For instance, many users want to know how to remove black bars from CSGO in Windows 11, but obviously, the issue can be found in other games as well. We’re confident that these tips will also help solve your black bars while gaming issues.

Finally, if your Firewall is ruining your gaming experience, here’show to fix Windows Defender when it is closing games. This will get rid of the issue once and for all.

Black bars ingameson Windows 10 can be quite distracting, but we hope our solutions helped you solve your problems.

How to Remove Black Bars From Games in Windows 10: 7 Easy Tips#

Why does my game have black bars?#

How do I get rid of the black bars in Windows 10 games?#

1. Make sure you use the native resolution#

2. Update your graphics card drivers#

Outbyte Driver Updater#

3. Check the in-gamesettings#

4. Set scaling to fullscreen#

5. Use the Ctrl+Alt+F11 shortcut#

6. Rungamesin windowed fullscreen mode#

7. Check Override the scaling mode in Nvidia Control Panel#

How do I get rid of black bars in Windows 11 games?#