How to Change Aspect Ratio on a Sharp TV
A lot of people don’t like the black bars that appear on the top and bottom of the TV screen when they watch their shows. This usually happens when the aspect ratio of the program that you’re watching doesn’t match with the screen of your TV. This can easily be fixed by adjusting the aspect ratio setting on your particular television set. In this article, we’ll show you how to change the aspect ratio on your Sharp TV.
Adjusting Aspect Ratio Using the Remote Control
One of the simplest ways to adjust the aspect ratio of your TV is to use the remote control and then find the setting in the menu list. Most Sharp TV remote controls have standard settings, and to adjust the resolution of your TV screen, you should do the following:
- On your remote control, press the Menu button. Most Sharp TV remote controls will have this marked as menu or three horizontal lines. If you don’t see a Menu button, then refer to your manual. If you don’t have it anymore, proceed to the Finding your TV model instructions below to find your specific television manual.
- From the Menu, navigate and choose Settings or System Settings. Use the Up and Down, or Left and Right buttons to move through the options.
- Under Settings, look for Picture or Screen Settings.
- Under Picture or Screen Settings, look for and choose Screen Size or Picture Size. This should give you a list of the different aspect ratios available for your TV set.
- Choose your desired aspect ratio then navigate and choose Continue, or press OK on your remote.
- Your TV should now display your chosen aspect ratio.
Using the Manual Settings Controls
If your remote control isn’t available, you can access the same menu settings from your TV set itself. There should be a Menu button on the front of your TV. If your particular model doesn’t have front buttons, try to search for them on the side, or underneath the screen.
Instead of the directional buttons, use the channel navigation and the volume control buttons to scroll through the settings. Follow the instructions as indicated above to find the aspect ratio options and select your preference. If you can’t find the manual buttons on your particular television set, refer to your user manual, or proceed to the ‘Finding your TV model’ section below.
Aspect Ratio Types and When to Use Them
If you’re unsure which aspect ratio you want to use, then refer to the settings below to see which resolution is to your liking:
- 4:3 Standard Resolution – As per the title, this is the standard aspect ratio in which TV networks generally broadcast their shows. Although many believe that this resolution is now rather dated, a good number of networks still use this. If you watch a lot of network TV shows, then this is the aspect ratio to use.
- 16:9 Widescreen – This aspect ratio was what widescreen televisions used before HD sets became popular. If your TV is not HD ready, then this will be the default aspect ratio that it will involve.
- 720p HD – For the first models of high definition TV’s, 720p was the maximum resolution available. Most users know 720p TVs as Enhanced Resolution sets.
- 1080i / 1080p – Depending on the model of your TV, you may be able to choose either 1080p, 1080i, or both. As this was the highest setting before the latest generation of high definition TVs came out, this remains the most widely available maximum setting.
- 4K resolution – This is currently the highest aspect ratio for the latest model of TVs. With almost twice the pixel ratio of 1080p, it displays very sharp and crisp images. Not all shows broadcast in 4K though, and although a lot of networks are slowly adopting this as standard, it isn’t as widespread as the other resolutions yet.
Finding Your TV Model
If your particular Sharp TV set doesn’t have the standard controls, or settings, then it may be prudent to refer to your set’s manual. If you no longer have the manual, then you can find it online by doing the following:
- Find your TV model’s serial number. This is located on the back of the TV set. Coincidentally, it is also located on the front cover of the physical copy of your user’s manual.
- Proceed to the Sharp TV Product Support Website.
- Click the ‘Please select your product dropdown’ menu and find your unit’s model from the list.
- On the bottom of your unit’s product page, click on the specific User Guide Link.
- Download the manual, or read it on your browser.
If the particular model of your TV isn’t listed, then it may be an older unit. If you have the model number, then you can refer to the Sharp TV manual library to find your particular set’s manual.
Watching Shows as Intended
The best way to enjoy your TV show is to watch it in the proper resolution it was intended to be viewed in. Changing the aspect ratio of your Sharp TV is a rather simple affair, as long as you actually know how to do so.
So, do you have other information on how to change the aspect ratio on a Sharp TV? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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