If you’ve ever watched pro Valorant players stream and wondered why their enemies look wider and easier to track, there’s a good chance they’re using a stretched resolution. Whether you’re struggling to hit consistent headshots or just want to cut down on distracting background details, learning how to get stretched resolution Valorant can make a tangible difference to your in-game performance. But it’s not as simple as just dragging a slider in your settings menu—you’ll need to adjust both your system display settings and in-game options correctly to avoid glitches or even account restrictions. I’ve tested every common stretched resolution setup over the past three years of climbing to Immortal rank, so I’m breaking down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to watch out for before you make the switch.
What Makes Stretched Resolution Popular With Valorant Players?
Most players switch to stretched resolution for one core reason: it stretches the game’s 4:3 aspect ratio across a wider 16:9 monitor, making player models appear 30% wider than they do on native resolution. That extra width makes it far easier to track moving targets, especially when you’re spraying at long range or trying to hit quick flick shots. You’ll also get a small but consistent FPS boost, because your GPU has to render fewer pixels per frame than it does at full 1080p or 1440p native resolution. If you’ve only ever played Valorant on native resolution, the difference when you first boot up stretched res will feel immediately noticeable.
But it’s not all positive. Stretched resolution will make your crosshair look wider too, and it can take 1-2 weeks of regular play to get used to the distorted perspective if you’ve been playing on native for years. Some players also find that it makes long-range angle holding harder, because distant objects appear fuzzier than they do on native. The best way to figure out if it works for you is to test one of the most popular 4:3 resolutions used by the community:
- 1024 x 768 (4:3): The most common option for new users, with the widest player models and the biggest FPS boost. It’s the go-to choice for most pro players who use stretched.
- 1280 x 960 (4:3): A middle ground between stretched and native, with slightly sharper visuals and less distortion than 1024 x 768, while still giving you wider player models.
- 1440 x 1080 (4:3): The least distorted stretched option, with visuals that are almost as sharp as native 1080p, but with a smaller FPS boost and less noticeable model widening.
How to Get Stretched Resolution Valorant for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs
The first step to setting up stretched resolution is creating a custom resolution in your GPU’s control panel, because Valorant won’t recognize 4:3 resolutions that aren’t already registered on your system. For NVIDIA users, open the NVIDIA Control Panel, navigate to “Change Resolution” under the Display tab, and click “Customize.” Check the box that says “Enable resolutions not exposed by the display,” then click “Create Custom Resolution.” Enter the width and height of your chosen 4:3 resolution, make sure the refresh rate matches your monitor’s maximum, and save the profile. For AMD users, open Radeon Software, go to the Display tab, and click “Create Custom Resolution.” Enter your desired 4:3 resolution and refresh rate, then save the profile. You’ll get a warning that incorrect settings can damage your monitor, but as long as you’re using a standard 4:3 resolution and matching your monitor’s refresh rate, you have nothing to worry about.
Once you’ve saved your custom resolution, you’ll need to adjust your scaling settings to make the resolution stretch across your full monitor instead of having black bars on the sides. For NVIDIA, go to “Adjust Desktop Size and Position” in the control panel, select “Full-screen” under scaling mode, and check the box that says “Perform scaling on GPU.” For AMD, go to the Display tab in Radeon Software, enable “GPU Scaling,” and select “Full panel” as the scaling mode. If you run into issues where Valorant won’t recognize your custom stretched resolution, restart your PC before you try troubleshooting further, as most minor glitches are fixed with a quick reboot.
The final step is adjusting your in-game Valorant settings. Boot up Valorant, go to the Video tab, and select your new 4:3 resolution from the dropdown menu. Make sure the display mode is set to Fullscreen, and click apply. You’ll see the screen flicker for a second, and your new stretched resolution will be active. I recommend hopping into a practice range match right after to test how your crosshair and movement feel before you jump into a competitive game.
Common Stretched Resolution Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Gameplay
Even if you follow the setup steps correctly, small mistakes can make your stretched resolution experience feel worse than playing on native. The biggest mistake I see new users make is using display scaling instead of GPU scaling. When you use display scaling, your monitor handles stretching the resolution, which adds a small but noticeable amount of input lag that can throw off your aim. GPU scaling has no noticeable input lag, so it’s always the better option for competitive play. Some players also try to use ultra-wide stretched resolutions that aren’t standard 4:3 ratios, but these often cause visual glitches and don’t give you the same aim benefits as standard 4:3 stretched res for Valorant.
Another common mistake is picking a resolution with the wrong refresh rate. If you set your custom resolution to 60Hz when your monitor supports 144Hz or 240Hz, you’re throwing away all the benefits of a high-refresh display just for stretched resolution. Double check that your custom resolution’s refresh rate matches your monitor’s maximum before you save the profile.
A lot of players also forget to adjust their crosshair after switching to stretched. Since the whole screen is stretched, your native crosshair will look much wider than you’re used to, which can make it harder to line up headshots. I recommend lowering your crosshair’s thickness by 1 or 2 levels right after you switch, then adjusting it further in the practice range until it feels natural. Don’t be discouraged if your aim feels off for the first few days. It took me almost two weeks of playing unrated matches before I got used to the stretched perspective, and my win rate jumped 12% once I was fully adjusted.
Is Using Stretched Resolution Allowed in Valorant Competitive Play?
This is the most common question I get from players looking to switch to stretched, and the short answer is yes, as long as you set it up correctly. Riot’s official rules explicitly allow custom resolutions and stretched scaling for both casual and competitive play, including official VCT tournaments. You won’t get banned for using a standard 4:3 stretched resolution, no matter how many times you adjust your settings. A lot of new players worry that stretched counts as a cheat, but it’s been a standard setting in FPS games for over 20 years, and Riot has never taken action against players for using it.
That said, there are some edge cases that can get you in trouble. Never use third-party software to force stretched resolution, especially if the software modifies Valorant’s game files or runs in the background while the game is open. Vanguard, Riot’s anti-cheat system, can flag some third-party resolution tools as cheating software, leading to a permanent account ban. Stick to the official NVIDIA or AMD control panel tools to create your custom resolutions, and you’ll be completely safe.
It’s also worth noting that some tournament organizers may have specific rules about allowed resolutions for offline events, but for regular ranked play, you have nothing to worry about. If you’re ever unsure if a setup is allowed, check Riot’s official support page for the latest rules.
At the end of the day, stretched resolution isn’t a magic trick that will instantly get you to Radiant rank, but it’s a useful tool that can give you a small edge over players who stick to native resolution. If you’ve been struggling with consistent aim or just want to try something new to shake up your gameplay, taking the time to learn how to get stretched resolution Valorant is well worth the effort. Start with the 1280 x 960 resolution if you’re worried about heavy distortion, spend a few days practicing in unrated matches before you play competitive, and don’t be afraid to adjust your settings until they feel perfect for you. I’ve used stretched resolution for almost three years now, and I still notice a big difference in my flick shot accuracy whenever I switch back to native for testing.
