Arch Linux

mr_dineshpathro

Member

Registered: 2025-07-23

Posts: 1

Display Resolution too Low in i3wm on Fresh Arch Install – xrandr Fix

Hey everyone,

I recently did a fresh install of Arch Linux with i3 Window Manager, and everything was working fine... except one major issue — the screen resolution was way off. It looked like I was using a display from 2005 ?
i3wm, being minimal, doesn’t offer GUI tools to manage resolution by default, and it took a bit of digging to get things right.
So, I created a step-by-step process and even made a short tutorial video to help others facing the same issue.

? Issue:
On fresh Arch+i3wm install, display resolution defaults to a low mode (e.g., 1024x768).
No GUI tools available to change it.
Need a way to manually set and persist the desired resolution (e.g., 1920x1080).

✅ Solution:

Sync your packages:
sudo pacman -Syy

Install xrandr:
sudo pacman -S xorg-xrandr

Check your display name:
xrandr
Note down your output name (e.g., eDP-1, HDMI-1, etc.)

Apply resolution temporarily:
xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080

Make it permanent in i3 config:
cd ~/.config/i3
nano config

Add this line near the bottom:
exec --no-startup-id xrandr --output eDP-1 --mode 1920x1080
Save and restart i3 or your system.

▶️ Video Reference::
▶️ Watch I've made a beginner-friendly walkthrough with full command explanation here

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 73,393

Re: Display Resolution too Low in i3wm on Fresh Arch Install – xrandr Fix

XGA typically means you were on software rendering
If you want a comment on the state of your system, please post your Xorg log, https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xorg#General

Sync your packages:
sudo pacman -Syy

Install xrandr:
sudo pacman -S xorg-xrandr

This is TERRIBLE advice on multiple levels.
Check the pacman manpage for what teh second "y" actually does, then stop using it unless you really. REALLY! mean to.
Also you're conducting a partial update there, https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/System … n_commands

Also don't post PSAs, if this wasn't such a mess or important, such stuff would belong into the wiki.
Also don't advertise your youtube channel, https://terms.archlinux.org/docs/code-o … licitation
A linear medium like a video is generally an awful way to convey relevant information because there're way too many conditions to be covered this way.

Welcome to archlinux.

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