Fix Ubuntu 24.04 Ultrawide 2560x1080 Resolution Issue

Aug 23, 2025 by RICHARD 54 views

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Ultrawide Display Resolution Fix Guide

Hey everyone! Having trouble getting your ultrawide monitor to play nice with Ubuntu 24.04? Specifically, are you struggling to get that crisp 2560x1080 resolution at 75Hz working? You're not alone! Many users with ultrawide monitors, especially those using Intel's integrated graphics, have run into this snag after upgrading to or installing the latest Ubuntu release. This guide is here to help you troubleshoot and (hopefully!) get your display looking its best.

Understanding the Issue

Before we dive into the fixes, let's understand what's going on. The core of the problem often lies in how the display drivers and the X server (the system responsible for graphical output in Ubuntu) are communicating. Sometimes, the correct EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) information, which tells your computer what resolutions and refresh rates your monitor supports, isn't being properly read or interpreted. This can lead to the system defaulting to a standard resolution like 1920x1080, leaving those glorious extra pixels on your ultrawide untapped. In other cases, the drivers might not be fully optimized for newer hardware or specific monitor models.

Display resolution issues can be a real headache, especially when you've invested in a nice ultrawide monitor to boost your productivity or gaming experience. Seeing a blurry or stretched image instead of the sharp, immersive view you expected is definitely frustrating. The good news is that there are several potential solutions you can try, ranging from simple tweaks to more advanced configurations. We'll walk you through these step-by-step, so even if you're not a Linux guru, you should be able to follow along.

It's also worth noting that this problem isn't necessarily unique to Ubuntu 24.04. Similar display resolution challenges can pop up in other Linux distributions or even on different operating systems. However, the specific steps to resolve them can vary depending on the system and the underlying cause. In the case of Ubuntu 24.04, the combination of the updated kernel, graphics drivers, and display server might introduce new compatibility issues that weren't present in earlier versions. That's why it's crucial to have a targeted approach and try different solutions until you find the one that works for your setup.

For those with Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processors, this issue seems to be more prevalent. This could indicate a need for further driver optimization for this specific hardware. But don't worry, we'll explore workarounds that have proven effective for many users facing this problem. We'll cover methods involving xrandr, custom EDID configurations, and even potential driver updates. So, hang tight and let's get started on fixing your ultrawide display!

Potential Solutions

Alright, let's get down to business! Here are a few methods you can try to get your ultrawide resolution working in Ubuntu 24.04. We'll start with the simpler options and move on to the more technical ones. Don't be intimidated; we'll break each step down.

1. Using `xrandr` to Add a Custom Mode

xrandr is a powerful command-line tool that allows you to configure your display settings on the fly. We can use it to manually add the 2560x1080 resolution at 75Hz if it's not being detected automatically.

Step 1: Identify your display output.

Open a terminal (you can usually do this by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T) and type xrandr. This will list your connected displays. Look for the name of your monitor's output, which might be something like HDMI-0, DisplayPort-1, or DP-2. Pay close attention to this; you'll need it for the following commands.

Step 2: Create a new mode.

We'll use cvt to generate the Modeline for your desired resolution. Type the following command, replacing 2560 1080 75 with your desired resolution and refresh rate if needed:

cvt 2560 1080 75

This will output a Modeline, which is a string of text that describes the display mode. It will look something like this:

# 2560x1080 74.97 Hz (CVT) hsync: 83.68 kHz; pclk: 229.75 MHz
Modeline "2560x1080_75.00" 229.75 2560 2720 2992 3424 1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsync

Step 3: Add the new mode to xrandr.

Now, we'll use xrandr to add this mode. Copy the Modeline output from the previous step (the line starting with "Modeline") and use it in the following commands. Replace HDMI-0 with your actual display output name and the Modeline with the one you copied:

xrandr --newmode "2560x1080_75.00" 229.75 2560 2720 2992 3424 1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode HDMI-0 "2560x1080_75.00"

Step 4: Activate the new mode.

Finally, we'll tell xrandr to use the new mode. Again, replace HDMI-0 with your display output:

xrandr --output HDMI-0 --mode "2560x1080_75.00"

If all goes well, your screen should now be displaying the 2560x1080 resolution at 75Hz! If you encounter any errors or the screen goes black, don't panic. You can usually revert to your previous settings by waiting a few seconds or pressing Ctrl+Alt+F7 to switch back to your graphical session. Then, you can double-check your commands and try again.

Making the changes permanent: The above steps will work until you reboot your system. To make these changes permanent, you'll need to create a script that runs these commands automatically when you log in. We'll cover how to do that in a later section.

2. Creating a Custom EDID

If xrandr doesn't quite do the trick, or if you want a more robust solution, you can try creating a custom EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) file. As mentioned earlier, EDID is the information your monitor sends to your computer to tell it what resolutions and refresh rates it supports. Sometimes, this information can be incomplete or incorrect, leading to resolution issues. By creating a custom EDID, you can force your system to recognize the correct capabilities of your monitor.

Step 1: Dump your current EDID.

First, we need to get the current EDID data from your monitor. We'll use get-edid for this. If you don't have it installed, you can install it with:

sudo apt install read-edid

Then, run the following command, replacing HDMI-0 with your display output:

sudo get-edid | sudo tee /lib/firmware/edid.bin

This will save your current EDID data to a file named edid.bin in the /lib/firmware directory.

Step 2: Parse the EDID data.

Next, we need to parse the binary EDID data into a human-readable format. We'll use parse-edid for this. If you don't have it installed, you can install it with:

sudo apt install edid-decode

Then, run:

sudo parse-edid < /lib/firmware/edid.bin

This will output a lot of information about your monitor, including supported resolutions, timings, and other details. Review this output carefully to ensure that your desired resolution (2560x1080@75Hz) is listed. If it's not, you may need to manually add it to the EDID data.

Step 3: Modify the EDID data (if necessary).

This is the trickiest part, and you should proceed with caution. If your desired resolution is not listed in the parsed EDID data, you'll need to manually add it using a hex editor. This is an advanced step, and it's crucial to back up your edid.bin file before making any changes. Incorrectly modifying the EDID can potentially damage your monitor or prevent it from working correctly.

If you're comfortable with hex editing, you can use a tool like hexedit to modify the edid.bin file. You'll need to understand the EDID data structure and how to add a new display mode. There are online resources and tutorials that can help with this, but it's essential to be careful and double-check your work.

For most users, this step won't be necessary. If your desired resolution is already listed in the EDID data, you can skip this step.

Step 4: Override the EDID.

Now, we need to tell the kernel to use our custom EDID instead of the one provided by the monitor. Create a new file named /etc/modprobe.d/edid.conf with the following content:

options i915 modeset=1
options i915 override_edid="$(xrandr --current | grep ' connected' | sed 's/ .*//')-1:/lib/firmware/edid.bin"

Important: This configuration is specific to Intel integrated graphics (i915). If you have a different graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA or AMD), you'll need to adjust the options accordingly. Consult your graphics card driver documentation for the correct parameters.

Step 5: Update the initramfs.

To ensure that the EDID override is applied during boot, you need to update the initramfs. Run the following command:

sudo update-initramfs -u

Step 6: Reboot your system.

After rebooting, your system should be using your custom EDID. Check your display settings to see if the 2560x1080 resolution at 75Hz is now available.

3. Updating Graphics Drivers

Sometimes, the issue might be with outdated or buggy graphics drivers. Especially with newer hardware like the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, ensuring you have the latest drivers can make a big difference.

Checking for Updates:

Ubuntu usually provides graphics driver updates through its software update mechanism. You can check for updates by opening the "Software & Updates" application and going to the "Additional Drivers" tab. If there are newer drivers available for your Intel graphics, you should see them listed here. Select the recommended driver and click "Apply Changes".

Using the Intel Graphics Installer:

For the absolute latest drivers, you can also try using the Intel Graphics Installer for Linux. This tool can automatically detect your hardware and install the most recent drivers directly from Intel. However, be aware that using drivers outside of the official Ubuntu repositories can sometimes lead to instability, so it's generally recommended to stick with the drivers provided by Ubuntu unless you have a specific reason to use the Intel Graphics Installer.

Rolling Back Drivers:

If updating your drivers doesn't solve the problem, or if it introduces new issues, you can try rolling back to a previous driver version. This can sometimes resolve compatibility problems that arise with newer driver releases. You can usually do this through the "Software & Updates" application as well, by selecting a different driver from the list in the "Additional Drivers" tab.

4. Creating a Startup Script for `xrandr`

As we mentioned earlier, if you used xrandr to add your custom resolution, those changes will be lost after a reboot. To make the changes permanent, you need to create a script that runs the xrandr commands automatically when you log in.

Step 1: Create a script file.

Open a text editor and create a new file. Paste the xrandr commands you used earlier into the file. For example:

#!/bin/bash
xrandr --newmode "2560x1080_75.00" 229.75 2560 2720 2992 3424 1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode HDMI-0 "2560x1080_75.00"
xrandr --output HDMI-0 --mode "2560x1080_75.00"

Replace HDMI-0 with your display output, and the Modeline with the one you generated.

Save the file with a descriptive name, like set_ultrawide_resolution.sh, in your home directory.

Step 2: Make the script executable.

Open a terminal and navigate to your home directory:

cd ~

Then, make the script executable:

chmod +x set_ultrawide_resolution.sh

Step 3: Add the script to your startup applications.

Open the "Startup Applications" application (you can search for it in the application menu). Click "Add", and then enter a name for your startup entry (e.g., "Set Ultrawide Resolution"). In the "Command" field, enter the full path to your script. For example:

/home/yourusername/set_ultrawide_resolution.sh

Replace yourusername with your actual username. You can also add a comment if you like. Click "Add" to save the startup entry.

Now, your script will run automatically every time you log in, ensuring that your ultrawide resolution is set correctly.

Conclusion

Getting your ultrawide monitor working perfectly with Ubuntu 24.04 might take a little bit of effort, but hopefully, one of these solutions will do the trick. Remember to take things one step at a time, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you get stuck. The Linux community is full of friendly folks who are always willing to lend a hand. We hope this guide has helped you reclaim those extra pixels and enjoy your ultrawide display to the fullest! If you've found another solution that works for you, feel free to share it in the comments below. Happy computing, guys!