Common Display Problems That Leave You Wondering What You Clicked

And how to fix them (or when to give us a call)

Let's be honest, computers have a funny way of looking completely different the next time you sit down at them. One moment, everything looks normal; the next moment, your fonts are the size of billboards, your taskbar has moved to the top of the screen, and your desktop icons seem to be partying in their own new layout.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It's surprisingly easy to press the wrong key or click the wrong thing without realizing it. The good news is that most display issues are harmless and can be fixed in just a few steps. In this article, we will walk you through some of the most common screen mishaps and how to put things back to normal.

Or if you'd rather someone else take care of it, that's exactly what we're here for.

The Font on Websites is Too Big or Too Small

You open your browser and suddenly everything is zoomed in as if you were reading from across the room, or it is so tiny that you are squinting at the screen. What happened?

This usually occurs when you accidentally hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard and scroll your mouse wheel up or down. This shortcut changes the zoom level of your Web browser.

How to Fix It:

1. Hold down the CTRL key again.
2. While holding CTRL, move the mouse scroll wheel up to zoom in or down to zoom out.
3. Keep adjusting until things look the way you remember them.

Most browsers will display a small percentage, such as 100 percent. That's the default. If you prefer things a little larger or smaller, feel free to leave it where it's comfortable.

If adjusting the zoom does not help, or the entire screen, including icons and taskbars, appears too large or too small, it may be a screen resolution issue instead. That's something we can help with, especially if things aren't fitting properly anymore.

The Windows Taskbar is in a Strange Place or Looks Wrong

This one applies specifically to Windows computers. The taskbar is that strip along the bottom of the screen that shows the time and your open programs. But sometimes, it's not at the bottom anymore. It might be up the side, across the top, or even stretched into a tall, awkward shape.

This usually happens because it has been accidentally clicked and dragged. You might not have even noticed it happening at the time.

How to Fix It:

1. First, try clicking and holding on a blank part of the taskbar.
2. Then drag it back to where you want it (e.g. the bottom of the screen).
3. If it has become unusually tall or wide, move your mouse to the edge of the taskbar until the cursor changes shape. Then, drag the edge to resize it back to normal.

If the taskbar keeps moving or resizing on its own, you can lock it in place. Right-click on the taskbar and choose "Lock the taskbar" from the menu. This stops it from moving again until you unlock it.

Still not quite right? Sometimes the settings can be a little tricky, or you might be dealing with multiple screens. If you're unsure, let us take care of it for you.

Desktop Icons Are All Over the Place

You log in and your desktop icons are not where you left them. Maybe they've all moved to the left side, or they're arranged in a completely different pattern.

This can happen after a resolution change, using a second screen, or simply from a right-click menu setting. Here's how to deal with it, depending on the type of computer you're using.

In Windows

1. Right-click on a blank part of your desktop.
2. Hover over "View" and make sure "Auto arrange icons" is turned off if you want to place icons freely.
3. Then hover over "Sort by" or "Arrange by" to see the different sorting options.

Unfortunately, if they were placed manually and now appear jumbled, there's no easy "undo" button to return them to that custom order. You'll need to drag them back to where you want them.

On a Mac

1. Click anywhere on the desktop (not on an icon).
2. At the top of the screen, click "View" in the menu bar.
3. Select "Sort By" and choose how you'd like the icons sorted (e.g. by name, date modified, or none for manual placement).
4. If you want full control over icon placement, choose "None" to allow dragging them wherever you want.

Like Windows, once the layout changes, there's no quick way to return to a previously scattered look, but once you set it up again, macOS usually remembers your layout unless something resets it.

We can help you set up a cleaner desktop layout or troubleshoot if the icons keep moving on their own.

When It's Easier to Let Someone Else Handle It

Some screen problems are quick fixes: a nudge of the mouse wheel here, a right-click there, and things are back to normal. But other times, it's hard to know what changed, what caused it, or how to undo it.

That's where we come in.

Whether your taskbar is floating in the wrong spot, your desktop icons keep jumping around, or something just feels off, we can take the guesswork out of it. We help people every day with problems such as these, and sometimes the fix is faster than you think.

If your computer doesn't look or feel the way it used to, or you're simply tired of fiddling with it, give us a call at 903-347-0073. We'll get everything looking right again so you can get back to using your computer without frustration.