Why the edges disappear
- If the picture is missing at the border, open the TV’s picture-size settings. Overscan enlarges the image and hides its edges.
- If only a set-top box is cropped, check the box’s output resolution or aspect ratio.
- Black bars can preserve the whole picture when its shape differs from the screen.
A disappearing subtitle line gives you something to watch while you change the setting. We’d try the TV’s picture-size control first because overscan hides the image’s margins, and you can see whether a change brings them back.
Overscan makes the picture look bigger by pushing its edges beyond the screen. On an LG TV, a changed aspect ratio or zoom setting can also make the image look too large or cut off subtitles.
Bars at the sides or above and below the image can preserve its shape and show the whole picture. If you can see every edge, leave the bars in place.
Find the picture-size control
With the affected picture showing, use the TV’s buttons or remote to open its picture settings. Look for names such as underscan, zoom, aspect ratio, screen fit, screen fill or format. Choose a setting that brings the missing edge into view, then check the same picture again.
The name and location of the control depend on your TV. If you can’t find it, check your TV’s manual or contact its manufacturer for the setting that applies to your model.
If the screen is dark instead of cropped, use our dark-screen checks. If a connected HDMI device shows no picture, use our HDMI picture checks.
If you have Fit to Screen
On Samsung TVs with this menu, open Settings (or All Settings) > Picture > Expert Settings > Picture Size Settings. Choose Fit to Screen if it’s available: it displays the full image without cutting off a part. Screens and features vary by model and year, and Fit to Screen availability depends on Picture Size Settings.
Picture Size also selects the aspect ratio. Samsung’s 16:9 Standard presents a widescreen picture, while 4:3 suits VHS and standard-definition broadcasts. Check the visible edges after choosing a size instead of relying on the label alone.
If you need to adjust size or position manually, set Picture Size to Custom before using Zoom and Position. On an analog channel, enlarge the picture before changing its position. If these menus differ on your TV, check its user manual.
If subtitles are cut off
On an LG TV, press Settings and open All Settings > Picture > Aspect Ratio, then try 16:9 or Original and check whether the missing text returns. On 2021 and later models with webOS 6.0 or higher, go through User Selection. On 2020 and earlier models with webOS 5.0, go through Aspect Ratio Settings before Aspect Ratio; menus can vary by model.
For an HD broadcast on an LG TV, turn on Just Scan to show the full broadcast picture without cropping or stretching. That option applies to 720p, 1080i or 1080p broadcast signals. Some streaming apps lock their picture format, so the TV remote can’t change the aspect ratio while you’re using them.
When only the set-top box is cropped
If the picture is cropped only through a set-top box, its output resolution may be too low or its aspect ratio may not match the TV. In that situation, subtitles can remain cut off after you change the TV’s aspect ratio.
Use the box remote to change its resolution or aspect ratio, then check the same program. Box menus vary by manufacturer, so contact the box maker or your service provider for the steps that match yours.
If an LG TV still crops the picture after the applicable TV and connected-device adjustments, use LG’s support options (opens in a new tab) or request a technician visit.
When laptop text runs off the screen
If text from a Windows laptop is cut off on an LG TV connected by HDMI, check the laptop’s display settings for the resolution recommended for that TV.
Right-click an empty part of the desktop and open Display settings. Set Scale to 100%, then choose the Display resolution labeled Recommended. Return to the cropped text and check whether its edges are visible.
When a Mac picture extends past the TV
While your TV is showing content from your Mac, open the Apple menu and choose System Settings or System Preferences. Select Displays, make sure the TV is selected, and adjust Underscan if that control is available for your TV.
If Underscan isn’t available, check the TV’s picture settings. Changing the Mac display’s resolution may also help; keep Apple’s display steps (opens in a new tab) open while you make the adjustment.
When the AirPlay picture needs to fit
For an AirPlay picture on Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD, open Settings > AirPlay and Apple Home > AirPlay Display Underscan. On a second- or third-generation Apple TV, use Settings > Audio & Video > Adjust for AirPlay Overscan instead.
Check the AirPlay picture after the adjustment. The result you want is the previously hidden edge back on screen, with the whole image visible even if bars appear around it.
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