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Valor Mortis PC: Fix Greyed Out Resolution

Guide 10-14845 · Updated · Step by step

If the resolution option is greyed out in Valor Mortis on PC, it usually means the game is running in a borderless or fullscreen mode that locks the setting, or your display driver is not being detected correctly. The fix is to switch the display mode to “Fullscreen” (not “Windowed” or “Borderless”) in the video settings, and if that doesn’t work, edit the game’s configuration file directly or update your graphics drivers.

Why the Resolution Option Is Greyed Out

Valor Mortis, like many Unity-based games, disables the resolution dropdown when it detects that the game is in a windowed or borderless window mode. In these modes, the resolution is tied to your desktop resolution or the window size, so the game doesn’t let you set it independently. The most common reason for the greyed-out setting is that the game defaulted to “Windowed” mode after a crash, a fresh install, or a settings reset.

Another frequent cause is an outdated or corrupted graphics driver. If the game can’t read your monitor’s supported resolutions from the driver, it may grey out the option to prevent you from selecting an incompatible mode. Less common causes include a corrupted settings file, a multi-monitor setup where the game is confused about which display to use, or running the game through a compatibility mode.

How to Fix It: Step-by-Step

Try these fixes in order. The first one resolves the issue for most players.

  1. Switch to Fullscreen Mode: In the game’s video settings, look for a “Display Mode” or “Window Mode” option. Change it from “Windowed” or “Borderless” to “Fullscreen”. The resolution dropdown should become active immediately. If it doesn’t, click “Apply” and then restart the game.
  2. Edit the Configuration File: If the in-game option is still greyed out, close the game and navigate to the settings file. On Windows, this is usually in %AppData%\..\LocalLow\[DeveloperName]\Valor Mortis\ or in the game’s installation folder under ValorMortis_Data\. Look for a file named settings.cfg, config.ini, or options.txt. Open it with Notepad and find lines like fullscreen=false or windowmode=1. Change them to fullscreen=true or windowmode=0. Also, set screenwidth and screenheight to your monitor’s native resolution (e.g., 1920 and 1080). Save the file and relaunch the game.
  3. Update Graphics Drivers: Go to the website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver for your specific card model. Install it, restart your PC, and then try the game again.
  4. Delete the Settings File: If editing doesn’t work, delete the entire settings file (or the whole settings folder) to force the game to recreate it with default values. This will reset all your video and audio settings, but it usually fixes the greyed-out issue.
  5. Check for a Conflicting Overlay: Some overlay programs (like Discord, GeForce Experience, or MSI Afterburner) can interfere with fullscreen detection. Temporarily disable them and try again.

Alternative: Force Resolution via Launch Options

If the in-game settings won’t cooperate, you can force the resolution through Steam or a desktop shortcut. In Steam, right-click the game, select “Properties”, then “Launch Options”. Add one of these commands (replace 1920 and 1080 with your desired resolution):

  • -screen-width 1920 -screen-height 1080 – forces the resolution.
  • -window-mode exclusive – forces exclusive fullscreen.
  • -popupwindow – runs in a borderless window (which will grey out the option again, so avoid this if you want to use the in-game setting).

For a desktop shortcut, right-click the game’s .exe file, select “Send to > Desktop”, then right-click the shortcut, choose “Properties”, and add the same commands to the “Target” field (after the existing path).

Common Problems and Misconceptions

Misconception: “My monitor is 1440p, but the game only shows 1080p.” This usually isn’t a greyed-out issue; it’s the game’s default resolution scale. Look for a “Resolution Scale” or “Render Scale” setting and set it to 100% or higher.

Problem: The resolution is greyed out even in Fullscreen mode. This points to a driver issue or a corrupted settings file. Try the config file edit or driver update first. Also, make sure your monitor is set to its native resolution in Windows (Settings > System > Display).

Problem: The game launches in a tiny window and the resolution is greyed out. This often happens after a crash. Use the config file edit to set the resolution and fullscreen mode directly, as the in-game menu might not be accessible.

Misconception: “I need to edit the registry.” No, Valor Mortis stores settings in a simple config file, not the Windows registry. Editing the registry is unnecessary and risky.

What If the Fix Doesn’t Work?

If none of the above steps work, the issue might be with the game’s compatibility with your specific hardware. Try running the game in Windows 8 or Windows 7 compatibility mode (right-click the .exe, Properties > Compatibility). Also, verify the game files through Steam (right-click > Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files) to ensure no files are corrupted. If the game still won’t let you change the resolution, you may need to wait for a patch from the developer or check the game’s official community forums for a known issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the resolution in the config file while the game is running?

No, you must close the game completely before editing the config file. The game writes the settings to that file when it closes, so any changes you make while it’s running will be overwritten.

Will changing the resolution affect my save file?

No, resolution settings are stored separately from your save game data. Changing the resolution will not affect your progress.

My game is in a language I don’t understand. How do I find the display mode option?

Look for an icon that looks like a monitor or a gear. The display mode option is usually labeled “Display Mode”, “Window Mode”, or “Screen Mode” and has options like “Fullscreen”, “Windowed”, and “Borderless”. If you’re unsure, you can edit the config file as described above, which is language-independent.

Why does the game run in a borderless window even when I select Fullscreen?

Some games use “exclusive fullscreen” while others use “borderless fullscreen”. If the game only offers borderless fullscreen, the resolution will be tied to your desktop resolution. To force exclusive fullscreen, use the -window-mode exclusive launch option.

Is there a way to set a custom resolution that’s not in the list?

Yes, edit the config file and set screenwidth and screenheight to any values you want. However, if the resolution is not supported by your monitor, the game may display incorrectly or crash. Stick to your monitor’s native resolution or a standard 16:9 ratio.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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