What's TV aspect ratio?

Your TV’s aspect ratio is the width and height (W:H) of your TV screen. So, if the shape of your TV is:

• Square shape: 4:3 aspect ratio. Usually traditional TVs with Standard Definition (SD).
• Rectangle shape: 16:9 aspect ratio. Usually current High Definition (HD) TVs.
  
  

Your TV can affect the aspect ratio, but there are other things that can affect it, too - like TV boxes, video games, and DVD players. Anything that is connected to and shown on your TV has its own aspect ratio.

For example, the movie on a DVD has its own aspect ratio. If the TV, DVD and DVD player don’t have the same aspect ratio, the picture might be blurry.

Note: All Xfinity X1 apps require a 16:9 aspect ratio to display properly on your TV.

Troubleshooting your TV’s aspect ratio

If you’re having some problems with your aspect ratio, try these tips to change it:

• On your TV's main menu: Look for options like Picture Settings, Display Settings or something similar.
  • There can be a “sub-menu” for aspect ratio with options like Picture Size or Screen Aspect Ratio. Menu options differ from TV to TV, but on a widescreen TV, you’ll most likely see the Widescreen or 16:9 options.
• On your remote: Look for a button with these names: Aspect, Zoom, Format, Picture Size or Picture Mode.
  
  

Do you have black bars around your TV screen? Find out more about why black bars appear and how to fix them.

Below are some common aspect ratio issues along with tips on how to best fit the picture to your TV screen:

Pillarbox (black bars on right and left)

The TV Box is showing a 4:3 square picture, but the TV is showing a 16:9 rectangle screen. To center the picture, black bars were put in.

How to fix it? Adjust the aspect ratio with your remote or TV menu options. But, this might make the screen blurry or fuzzy, since you’ll be stretching out the picture.

Note: Most TV networks have switched (or will start switching) to a 16:9 rectangle screen. They’ll put in black bars or their logo to fill the rest of the screen while showing SD content. So, it’s impossible to get rid of the black bars unless you zoom in on the picture (but it might cut off the top and bottom of the picture).

Letterbox (black bars on top and bottom)

The TV Box is showing a 16:9 rectangle picture, but the TV is showing a 4:3 square screen. To center the picture, black bars were put in.

How to fix it? Adjust the aspect ratio with your remote to zoom in on the picture. This fills the screen on the top and bottom but might cut off some of the picture on the left and right.

Postage stamp (black bars on all sides)

The TV Box is showing a combo of Pillarbox and Letterbox, which can happen when the TV Box is on HD settings, but using an SD connection (coax or composite) from the TV Box to the TV.

How to fix it?

If this is happening on more than one channel, try checking that the correct input (HDMI) is being used on the TV and that the user settings are correct on the TV Box.

If this issue is only happening with one channel, adjust the aspect ratio using your remote or TV menu settings.

Adjust picture settings on Xfinity TV Boxes

Note: Need to adjust the picture on your TV? Look at your TV brand/owner's manual.

Non-X1 HD TV Box (Motorola or Cisco)

1. Turn off the TV Box.
2. For Motorola TV Boxes, press the Menu or xfinity button on your remote. For Cisco TV Boxes, press the Guide button.
3. Select TV Type.
   • For an SD TV, select 4:3 Letterbox or 4:3 Pan Scan.
   • For an HD TV, select 16:9.
4. Then, select YPbPr Output. If an HDMI cable is connected, it’ll say HDMI/YPbPr Output.
   • For an SD TV, select 480i.
   • For an HD TV, select 720p or 1080i.
5. If YPbPr Output isn’t 480i, select 4:3 Override.
   • To change in the same resolution selected in YPbPr Output, set 4:3 Override to Off.
   • To change in SD, set 4:3 Override to 480i.
   • To change in SD and stretch programming to fill the entire screen, set 4:3 Override to Stretch.
6. Press the Power button to exit.
7. Turn on the TV Box.
   
   

Non-X1 HD TV Box (Pace)

1. Turn off the TV Box.
2. Press the Menu button on the remote, and select User Settings.
   
   
   
3. Select TV Aspect Ratio.
   • For an SD TV, select 4:3, then press OK.
   • For an HD TV, select 16:9, then press OK.
4. Select TV Display Capabilities.
   • Highlight each resolution option, and press OK to change to Yes or No.
     
     
     
   • If the menu disappears, press OK to bring back the menu.
   • To change all HD content in one resolution, only choose either 1080i or 720p (selecting both may cause a delay in changing channels with different resolutions).
5. Select Auto Pillarbox.
   • To stretch all SD programming to fit widescreen TVs, select No.
   • To add black bars to the left and right of the screen (for original picture quality), select Yes.
6. Turn on the TV Box.
   
   

Xfinity X1 TV Box

1. Press the xfinity button on your remote.
2. Go to the gear icon to the far right, and press OK.
3. Go to Device Settings, then Video Display, then Video Output Resolution.
   • For an SD TV, select 4:3, 480i SD, and then press OK (center of directional pad).
     • Note: X1 apps aren’t available in 480i or 480p.
   • For an HD TV, select the option that matches the highest supported resolution of the TV. They include:
     • 16:9, 720p HD
     • 16:9, 1080i HD
     • 16:9, 1080p60 HD
       
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   • For a 4K TV, select the option that matches the highest resolution frame rate of the TV. They include:
     • 16:9, 2160p30 4K UHD
     • 16:9, 2160p60 4K UHD (Best Available)
       
       
       
4. If you lose the picture when making these changes, press Exit/back arrow on your remote to go back to the last resolution.
5. To keep the setting, select Yes, and then press OK.
6. Press Exit/back arrow to leave the menu.
   
   

Learn more about adjusting picture settings on X1.

HD TV Adapter (HDMI connection)

1. Press the xfinity button on the remote.
2. Select HDMI Setup, then press OK.
3. Select TV Output Resolution. Depending on your TV, not all options will be available.
   • To use the recommended output setting, select Auto.
   • For an SD TV, select 480i.
   • For an HD TV, select 1080i or 720p.
   • Select Apply within 10 seconds.
   • If you lose the picture, the resolution will automatically go back to the last setting in 10 seconds.
4. Next, select the TV Aspect Ratio. If 1080i or 720p is being used, only the 16:9 option will be available.
   • To use the recommended aspect ratio setting, select Auto.
   • For a square-shaped TV, select 4:3.
   • For a rectangular-shaped, widescreen TV, select 16:9.
     
     
     
5. ​Press Exit.
   
   

Learn more about using the HD TV Adapter on-screen guide.

Additional information

Visit our Online Support Center to find common solutions.

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