TakeASnapshot
desktop

How to Take 4K Screenshots on a 1080p Monitor

Written by: Isaac
Published: September 29, 2025
Reading time: 4 min read
How to Take 4K Screenshots on a 1080p Monitor

How to Take 4K Screenshots on a 1080p Monitor

Taking 4K screenshots on a 1080p monitor might seem impossible, but with the right techniques and software, you can capture high-resolution images that exceed your monitor's native resolution. This guide covers various methods to achieve 4K screenshot quality even on lower resolution displays.

For basic desktop screenshot techniques, first check our guides for Windows desktop screenshots or Mac desktop screenshots.

Method 1: Use NVIDIA DSR (Dynamic Super Resolution)

NVIDIA's DSR technology renders games at higher resolutions and downscales to your monitor.

Steps:

  1. Open NVIDIA Control Panel from the system tray or Start menu
  2. Navigate to 'Manage 3D Settings' in the left panel
  3. Click on the 'Global Settings' tab
  4. Find 'DSR - Factors' in the settings list
  5. Enable 4.00x (4K) or higher DSR factors
  6. Set 'DSR - Smoothness' to your preference (0% for sharpest image)
  7. Apply settings and restart your applications
  8. In games, select 3840x2160 (4K) resolution in display settings
  9. Take screenshots using your preferred method
?? Pro Tip: DSR works best with modern NVIDIA GPUs (GTX 900 series and newer). Performance will be significantly impacted.

Method 2: Use AMD Virtual Super Resolution (VSR)

AMD's equivalent to NVIDIA DSR for Radeon graphics cards.

Steps:

  1. Open AMD Radeon Software (right-click desktop or system tray)
  2. Go to 'Gaming' tab, then 'Display'
  3. Enable 'Virtual Super Resolution (VSR)'
  4. Select the desired upscaling factors (up to 4K)
  5. Apply settings and restart applications
  6. In supported games, choose 3840x2160 resolution
  7. Capture screenshots at the higher resolution
?? Pro Tip: VSR is available on most modern AMD Radeon graphics cards. Check compatibility in AMD Radeon Software.

Method 3: Use Software Upscaling Tools

Capture at native resolution and upscale using AI-powered tools.

Steps:

  1. Take a regular screenshot at your monitor's native resolution
  2. Download AI upscaling software like Topaz Gigapixel AI, waifu2x, or Real-ESRGAN
  3. Import your screenshot into the upscaling software
  4. Select 4K output resolution (3840x2160)
  5. Choose appropriate upscaling algorithm (usually 'Photo' or 'Standard')
  6. Process the image and save the 4K result
  7. The AI will enhance details and increase resolution
?? Pro Tip: AI upscaling works best with clean, high-quality source images. Results vary depending on content type.

Method 4: Use Browser Developer Tools for Web Content

Capture high-resolution screenshots of websites using browser tools.

Steps:

  1. Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge)
  2. Navigate to the webpage you want to capture
  3. Press F12 to open Developer Tools
  4. Click the device toolbar icon (mobile/tablet icon)
  5. Set custom dimensions to 3840x2160 in the device selector
  6. The page will render at 4K resolution
  7. Right-click and select 'Capture screenshot' or use browser screenshot tools
  8. Save the resulting 4K image
?? Pro Tip: This method works excellently for web content and responsive designs. Some elements may not scale perfectly.

Method 5: Use Virtual Machines with High Resolution

Run a virtual machine with 4K resolution settings for screenshot capture.

Steps:

  1. Install virtualization software like VMware or VirtualBox
  2. Create a virtual machine with your desired operating system
  3. Allocate sufficient video memory (128MB or more)
  4. Set the virtual machine display to 3840x2160 resolution
  5. Install the content or applications you want to screenshot
  6. Use the VM's screenshot function or guest OS screenshot tools
  7. Export the 4K screenshots from the virtual machine
?? Pro Tip: This method requires significant system resources and works best for static content or applications.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

DSR/VSR options not available

Solution: Ensure you have a compatible graphics card and the latest drivers installed. DSR requires GTX 900+ series NVIDIA cards, while VSR needs compatible AMD Radeon cards. Update your graphics drivers and restart your computer.

Performance too slow with DSR/VSR enabled

Solution: Lower the DSR/VSR factor to 2.25x instead of 4.00x, or use it only when taking screenshots. You can also lower in-game graphics settings to compensate for the increased resolution load.

Screenshots appear blurry or pixelated

Solution: Ensure DSR smoothness is set to 0% for sharpest results. For AI upscaling, try different algorithms or increase the source image quality. Check that you're saving screenshots in lossless formats like PNG.

Browser screenshots cut off content

Solution: Use the full page screenshot option in developer tools, or scroll and capture multiple sections. Some browser extensions like 'Full Page Screen Capture' can capture entire pages at high resolution.

Virtual machine display resolution won't go to 4K

Solution: Increase video memory allocation in VM settings, install guest additions/tools, and ensure the host system supports the resolution. Some VMs may require manual display driver installation. For organizing your high-resolution screenshots, learn about resizing and compressing screenshots.

Conclusion

Capturing 4K screenshots on a 1080p monitor is achievable through various techniques, from GPU upscaling to AI enhancement tools. Whether using NVIDIA DSR, AMD VSR, or software solutions, you can create high-resolution images that exceed your display's native capabilities.

For editing your high-resolution screenshots, try our screenshot editor or learn about resizing and compressing screenshots for optimal file management.

📚Related Guides