How to Change the Hyper-V Display Resolution [Windows 11 Guide]

If you use Hyper-V to run your virtual machines on your Windows 11 computer, you may want to change the display resolution for one or two VMs.

In this guide, we will cover simple methods with step-by-step instructions to adjust and optimize the screen resolution in a Hyper-V environment.

How do I adjust the screen resolution in Hyper-V?

Before moving the detailed steps to change Hyper-V screen resolution on Windows 11, make sure you go through these checks for smoother operation:

• Ensure you are signed in using an administrator account.
• Make sure the graphics driver is updated.
• Back up your important data in the VMs.
• Ensure Hyper-V is enabled.

1. Using the Hyper-V settings

First, we will enable the enhanced session mode; for that, follow these steps.

1. Press the Windows key, type hyper-v manager, and click Open.
2. On the Hyper-V Manager window, locate Hyper-V Settings from the right pane.
3. Click Enhanced Session Mode Policy from the left pane, and select Allow enhanced session mode.
4. Next, place a checkmark next to Use enhanced session mode, then click OK.

Now, to adjust the display resolution, follow the below steps:

1. Right-click the virtual machine and select Settings.
2. Go to the  Integrated Services, and ensure all the services in the right pane are selected. If not selected, select all and click Apply.
3. Next, right-click the Hyper-V virtual machine and select Start.
4. You will get the VMconnect dialog box; you can drag the slider to configure the resolution you want for the display, then click Connect.
5. Once it is up, locate View from the toolbar, then choose Full-Screen Mode.

In case you are not able to connect to your virtual machine after making any changes, read this guide to learn quick solutions.

2. Using the Windows PowerShell & Settings

1. Press the Windows key, type powershell, and click Run as administrator.
2. Copy & paste the following command to know the status of Enhanced Session Mode of Hyper-V for all users and hit Enter: Get-VMHost | fl -Property EnableEnhancedSessionMode
3. If the status is false, that means the mode is disabled. To enable it, type the following command and hit Enter: Set-VMhost -EnableEnhancedSessionMode $True
4. Close the PowerShell window. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
5. Go to System, then Display.
6. Locate Display resolution settings and click the drop-down next to it; you will get options like 1920*1200, 1920*1080, & 1600*1200. You can choose any of them or select the default screen resolution option to get the best output.
7. Click Keep changes to confirm your choice.

Why can I not resize the Hyper-V console screen?

• Enhanced Session Mode is turned off.
• Don’t have Windows Pro edition or higher on the guest operating system.
• Integration services are not installed or are outdated.
• The host machine doesn’t support the desired display settings, including the resolution and aspect ratio.

A personalized display with optimized visuals promotes productivity, and better user experience, which makes interaction within Hyper-V VMs more effective.

If you have any questions or suggestions about the methods discussed, feel free to mention them in the comments section below.