The launch of Borderlands 4 has been incredibly exciting, but for many PC players, that excitement has been dampened by a frustrating launch-day bug related to screen resolution. Numerous Vault Hunters have reported being unable to change their resolution in the in-game settings.
Table of Contents
- 1.1 Understanding the Resolution Bug and What You Can Do
- 1.2 Potential In-Game Fixes (Try These First)
- 1.2.1 Method 1: The Display Mode Shuffle
- 1.2.2 Method 2: The Alt+Tab Trick
- 1.3 The Guaranteed Fix: Manually Editing the Config File
- 1.3.1 Important First Step: Back Up Your File!
- 1.3.2 Step 1: Locate the GameUserSettings.ini File
- 1.3.3 Step 2: Open and Find the Resolution Lines
- 1.3.4 Step 3: Change the Values to Your Desired Resolution
- 1.3.5 Step 4: Save the File and Launch
Some are finding their game is automatically set to a demanding 4K resolution that their hardware can’t handle, with no option to lower it. Others have successfully changed their resolution to 1080p, only to find that all higher options have completely disappeared from the list, trapping them at a lower setting.
If you’re facing this issue, you are not alone. This appears to be a common bug in the launch version of the game. While we wait for an official patch from Gearbox, the community has already found several effective solutions. This guide will walk you through everything you can do to fix the problem, from simple in-game workarounds to a guaranteed manual fix that gives you full control over your resolution.
Understanding the Resolution Bug and What You Can Do
Based on player reports, the resolution bug in Borderlands 4 seems to be an issue with how the game’s menu reads and applies display settings. When a change is made, or when the game first auto-detects your monitor’s native resolution, it appears to fail to correctly refresh the list of available options. This can leave you stuck with a resolution that is either too high for smooth performance or too low for a sharp image.
This is a common type of issue for new PC releases, and it is very likely that Gearbox will release a hotfix or patch to address it soon. In the meantime, the most helpful thing you can do for the developers is to file a bug report. The more players who officially report the problem, the higher it will be on the priority list for a fix. You can typically find a support or bug report page on the official 2K or Borderlands websites.
Potential In-Game Fixes (Try These First)
Before you start editing files, there are a couple of simple, non-invasive tricks you can try directly within the game. These methods work by forcing the game to re-evaluate your display settings, which can sometimes reset the bugged resolution list.
Method 1: The Display Mode Shuffle
This is the simplest workaround and has worked for some players. The goal is to toggle your display mode to reset the resolution options.
- Launch Borderlands 4 and go to the Settings menu.
- Navigate to the Display or Graphics section.
- Change the Display Mode from “Fullscreen” to either “Windowed Fullscreen” or “Windowed.”
- Click Apply to confirm the change.
- Immediately change the Display Mode back to “Fullscreen.”
- Click Apply again.
- Now, check the Resolution dropdown menu. With any luck, this process will have forced the game to re-scan your monitor’s capabilities and restore the full list of available resolutions.
Method 2: The Alt+Tab Trick
If the first method doesn’t work, this slightly more involved trick can sometimes clear graphical state bugs by forcing Windows to re-handle the game’s window.
- In the in-game Display settings, change your Display Mode to “Windowed.”
- Click Apply. Your game will now be running in a smaller window on your desktop.
- Press Alt+Tab on your keyboard to switch focus away from the game to another application or your desktop.
- Click back on the Borderlands 4 window to bring it back into focus.
- Return to the Display settings and try changing the Display Mode back to “Fullscreen.”
- Check the Resolution list to see if your missing options have returned.
The Guaranteed Fix: Manually Editing the Config File
If the in-game tricks don’t work, there is a 100% reliable method to force the game to run at any resolution you want. This involves making a small change to one of the game’s configuration files. It’s very safe and easy to do if you follow these steps.
Important First Step: Back Up Your File!
Before editing any game files, always create a backup. Navigate to the file location in the next step, right-click the GameUserSettings.ini file, and select “Copy.” Then, right-click in the same folder and select “Paste.” This will create a backup copy. If you make a mistake, you can delete your modified file and rename the copy to restore the original.
Step 1: Locate the GameUserSettings.ini File
The easiest way to find this file is to use a Windows shortcut.
- Open File Explorer and in the address bar at the top, type the following and press Enter:
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Borderlands 4\Saved\Config\Windows\ - This will take you directly to the correct folder. You will see a file named
GameUserSettings.ini.
(Note: If your Documents folder is synced with OneDrive, the path may include “OneDrive,” but the shortcut above should still work.)
Step 2: Open and Find the Resolution Lines
Right-click on GameUserSettings.ini and open it with Notepad. You will see a long list of configuration settings. You need to find and change four specific lines to ensure your resolution change sticks. Use the search function (Ctrl+F) to find ResolutionSizeX.
The four lines you need to edit are:
ResolutionSizeX=ResolutionSizeY=LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeX=LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeY=
Step 3: Change the Values to Your Desired Resolution
You need to change the number after the equals sign for all four of these lines to match the resolution you want. Here are the values for common resolutions:
| Resolution Name | ResolutionSizeX | ResolutionSizeY |
| 1080p (Full HD) | 1920 | 1080 |
| 1440p (QHD) | 2560 | 1440 |
| 4K (UHD) | 3840 | 2160 |
E-Tablolar’a aktar
For example, if you want to force the game to run at 1080p, you would find the four lines and change them to look like this:
ResolutionSizeX=1920 ResolutionSizeY=1080 LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeX=1920 LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeY=1080
Step 4: Save the File and Launch
After changing the values, go to File > Save in Notepad and close the file. Now, launch Borderlands 4. The game should start directly in the new resolution you have set.
Crucial Final Tip: After using this manual fix, it is highly recommended that you do not touch the resolution setting in the in-game menu again. Doing so might re-trigger the bug. Use this manual fix to set your preferred resolution and leave it there until an official patch is released.
- Borderlands 4 – How to Enable DLSS 4, NVIDIA GPU, and Optimize G-SYNC
- Borderlands 4: How to Unlock the ‘Cut That Out’ Secret Achievement
- Borderlands 4 – Save File Location
- Borderlands 4 – How to Boost FPS
- Borderlands 4 – How to Increase Your FOV in (Beyond the 110 Limit)
- Borderlands 4’s New World and Map
- Borderlands 4 – Combat Guide: Dashing, Grappling, and Gunning
