The ability to change the display resolution programmatically can be crucial for systems administrators and IT professionals who manage multiple machines or need to automate setups. While there isn't a direct PowerShell cmdlet named Set-DisplayResolution, you can achieve this task using other tools and scripts within the Windows environment. This article will guide you through the process of changing the display resolution using PowerShell and other Windows utilities.

Examples:

1. Using PowerShell with WMI and Display Changer II:

   Display Changer II (dc2.exe) is a third-party utility that can be used to change the display resolution from the command line. You can download it from the 12noon website.

   • Step 1: Download and Install Display Changer II Download the tool from 12noon and place dc2.exe in a directory included in your system's PATH, or specify the full path in your script.

   • Step 2: Create a PowerShell Script to Change Resolution

     # Define the path to the Display Changer II executable
     $dc2Path = "C:\path\to\dc2.exe"
     
     # Define the desired resolution
     $width = 1920
     $height = 1080
     $refreshRate = 60
     
     # Construct the command
     $command = "$dc2Path -width=$width -height=$height -refresh=$refreshRate"
     
     # Execute the command
     Invoke-Expression $command

   • Step 3: Run the Script Open PowerShell with administrative privileges and run your script:

     .\ChangeResolution.ps1

2. Using PowerShell and Display Settings via Registry:

   Another method involves changing display settings directly via the Windows Registry. However, this method is more complex and not as straightforward as using dc2.exe.

   • Step 1: Open PowerShell with Administrative Privileges

   • Step 2: Modify the Registry to Change Resolution

     # Set the desired resolution
     $width = 1920
     $height = 1080
     
     # Path to the registry key
     $regPath = "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{GUID}\0000"
     
     # Change the registry values
     Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "DefaultSettings.XResolution" -Value $width
     Set-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "DefaultSettings.YResolution" -Value $height
     
     # Restart the graphics driver
     Stop-Service -Name "DisplayEnhancementService"
     Start-Service -Name "DisplayEnhancementService"

   Note: Modifying the registry can have unintended side effects and should be done with caution. Always back up the registry before making changes.