- A
Replace the DisplayPort cable with an HDMI cable.
Why wrong: Changing cable type won't fix blurry text; both can carry 1440p signals.
- B
Adjust the monitor's sharpness setting from the on-screen display (OSD) menu.
Why wrong: Sharpness affects image edges but not text clarity at native resolution; it's more for lower resolutions.
- C
Enable and recalibrate ClearType in Windows.
ClearType is specifically designed to improve text clarity on LCD screens; disabling it causes blurriness.
- D
Set the monitor to a lower resolution to see if text improves.
Why wrong: Lowering resolution would make text larger but blurrier, not sharper.
Question 755 of 1,020
Blurry Text at Native Resolution: ClearType Troubleshooting
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of display devices troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user has a 27-inch 1440p monitor connected via DisplayPort. They report that text appears slightly blurry and images look less sharp than expected. The monitor's native resolution is set correctly in Windows. What should you check first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Quick Answer
The answer is to enable and recalibrate ClearType in Windows. This is correct because when text appears blurry at the monitor’s native resolution, the issue is typically with Windows’ font smoothing, not the display settings themselves. ClearType uses sub-pixel rendering to sharpen text on LCD screens, and if it is disabled or misconfigured, even a correctly set 1440p resolution will produce fuzzy characters and less crisp images. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between resolution misconfiguration and font rendering problems—a common trap is to adjust scaling or check the cable first, when the real fix is a simple ClearType recalibration. Remember the memory tip: “Blurry text at native res? ClearType’s the mess.”
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable and recalibrate ClearType in Windows.
Blurry text at the correct native resolution often means ClearType (Windows font smoothing) is disabled or misconfigured. ClearType improves text clarity on LCD monitors by sub-pixel rendering. Enabling or recalibrating ClearType in Control Panel typically resolves the issue.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the DisplayPort cable with an HDMI cable.
Why it's wrong here
Changing cable type won't fix blurry text; both can carry 1440p signals.
- ✗
Adjust the monitor's sharpness setting from the on-screen display (OSD) menu.
Why it's wrong here
Sharpness affects image edges but not text clarity at native resolution; it's more for lower resolutions.
- ✓
Enable and recalibrate ClearType in Windows.
Why this is correct
ClearType is specifically designed to improve text clarity on LCD screens; disabling it causes blurriness.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set the monitor to a lower resolution to see if text improves.
Why it's wrong here
Lowering resolution would make text larger but blurrier, not sharper.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Display Devices Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Display Devices Troubleshooting — This question tests Display Devices Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable and recalibrate ClearType in Windows. — Blurry text at the correct native resolution often means ClearType (Windows font smoothing) is disabled or misconfigured. ClearType improves text clarity on LCD monitors by sub-pixel rendering. Enabling or recalibrating ClearType in Control Panel typically resolves the issue.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user's 4K monitor is set to 3840x2160 resolution but text and icons appear very small and blurry. The display cable is a standard HDMI cable. What is the most likely cause of the blurriness?
medium- A.The monitor's refresh rate is set too high
- B.The graphics driver is corrupted
- ✓ C.The HDMI cable does not support enough bandwidth for 4K resolution
- D.The monitor's scaling settings are incorrect
Why C: Standard HDMI cables (especially older versions) may not have sufficient bandwidth for 4K at proper refresh rates, leading to chroma subsampling and blurry text. The correct answer identifies bandwidth limitation as the cause, and the solution would be to use a high-speed HDMI or DisplayPort cable.
Variation 2. A customer brings in a desktop PC with a 4K monitor that displays a blurry image at native resolution. The monitor's settings show 3840x2160 resolution, but text is hard to read. What is the most likely issue?
medium- A.The monitor's sharpness setting is too low.
- ✓ B.The display scaling is set to 100%.
- C.The HDMI cable does not support 4K.
- D.The graphics card is overheating.
Why B: Blurry text at native resolution on a 4K monitor often indicates incorrect scaling settings in the operating system. Windows scaling should be set to 150% or 200% to make text readable, otherwise it appears too small and blurry due to pixel density.
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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