Adjusting Orientation, Resolution, and Scaling Settings

Adjusting Display Resolution. Orientation, and Scaling Settings

Overview

In cases where your media player may not have an Internet connection, EDC support staff may provide this document to guide you through steps to take since we cannot access the media player remotely.

If you find that the Directory or Sign is partially cut off, OR you can see everything but it is not filling the screen, you likely need an adjustment to the display orientation OR the display resolution settings.

These setting changes are performed on the media player. Please do not attempt to resolve the issue by changing settings using the remote control for the display, particularly the orientation settings, unless you are instructed to do so by EDC support staff. Our system relies on the media player settings to dictate how the information is portrayed on the display.

What You'll Need to Do First

Once your keyboard is connected to the media player, an extension cable, or a multi-port hub, you'll need to first break out of the directory using the ALT + F4 key combination. This will close the Directory or Sign and put you at a Windows Desktop. Then you'll be ready for the instructions below.

Windows 11 — Display Settings

Follow the steps below to access Display Settings in Windows 11. Orientation adjustments are covered first, followed by resolution.

Changing Display Orientation

Orientation settings control whether the content is to be displayed horizontally (referred to as “landscape mode”) or vertically (referred to as “portrait mode”)

Use these steps if your display content appears rotated — for example, if a portrait-oriented screen is showing content that is cut off, sideways, or upside down, or a landscape screen is showing content upside down.

1. Right-click anywhere on the Windows Desktop and select Display settings from the context menu.
2. The Display settings page will open. Scroll down to the Scale & layout section.
3. Click the dropdown beneath Display orientation and select the option that matches your display's physical orientation:

•  Landscape — standard horizontal orientation (default for most displays)

•  Portrait — rotated 90° clockwise; used for some vertically mounted displays

•  Landscape (flipped) — rotated 180°; used when the display is mounted upside down – this setting would normally never be used for an EDC system.

•  Portrait (flipped) — rotated 90° counter-clockwise – this setting is often used for an EDC system that is oriented vertically

1. A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you want to keep the new orientation. Click Keep changes if the display looks correct,OR Revert to return to the previous setting. If you do not click within 15 seconds, Windows will revert to the previous setting automatically.
2. If the orientation is now correct, you can proceed to verify the resolution (below) or close Display Settings and relaunch the directory application by double-clicking the "Run Directory" icon on the desktop.

Changing Display Resolution

Use these steps if your display content appears correct in orientation but is not filling the screen, appears cropped, or looks blurry.

1. Right-click anywhere on the Windows Desktop and select Display settings from the context menu. (If Display Settings is still open from the orientation steps above, you can skip this step.)
2. Scroll down to the Scale & layout section and click the dropdown beneath Display resolution.
3. Select the resolution marked (Recommended) from the list. EDC systems that oriented horizontally (landscape mode) are typically designed at a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Many times when you first install your system, you’ll find that the media player has defaulted to a higher resolution and needs to be reduced. The symptom of this will normally be that you can see the entire Directory or Sign, but it will be small and will not consume the entire screen.
4. A confirmation prompt will appear. Click Keep changes if the display looks correct, OR Revert to return to the previous setting. If you do not click within 15 seconds, Windows will revert automatically.
5. Close Display Settings and relaunch the directory application by double-clicking the "Run Directory" icon on the desktop.

Changing Scaling Settings

Use these steps if your display content appears correct in both orientation and resolution, but text, icons, or the directory application appear too large or too small on screen. Scaling controls how Windows sizes content relative to the display’s resolution.

Windows 11 — Adjusting Scale

1. Right-click anywhere on the Windows Desktop and select Display settings from the context menu.
2. Under the Scale & layout section, locate the Scale dropdown. This is typically set to 100% by default. Common options are 100%, 125%, 150%, and 175%.
3. Select the appropriate scale percentage. For most media player and signage deployments, 100% is the recommended setting, as it ensures the directory or signage application fills the screen as intended. If content appears too small, try 125% as a starting point.
4. Windows will apply the new scale immediately. If prompted to Sign out now to apply the change, click Sign out now. The display will briefly reset before returning to the desktop with the new scaling applied.
5. Close Display Settings and relaunch the directory application by double-clicking the "Run Directory" icon on the desktop.