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What Is the Wii Screen Ratio? 4:3 vs. 16:9 Explained

The Wii has 4:3 and 16:9 screen settings. Match the Wii to your TV, then check the TV’s own picture-size mode if the image looks wrong.
Length1 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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The Wii offers two screen-ratio settings: Standard (4:3) and Widescreen (16:9). Choose the option that matches your television. This changes the shape of the image the Wii sends—not the TV’s resolution—and you may also need to adjust the television’s picture-size setting.

Which Wii screen ratio should you choose?

Television Wii setting What to check on the TV
Standard 4:3 television Standard (4:3) Use the TV’s standard or normal picture mode, if available.
Widescreen television that supports 16:9 Widescreen (16:9) Confirm the TV’s own aspect-ratio or picture-size mode if the image looks stretched or otherwise incorrectly shaped.

Nintendo’s Wii manual identifies Standard (4:3) and Widescreen (16:9) as the available options. Nintendo advises matching the Wii setting to the television’s aspect ratio.

How to change the Wii screen ratio

  1. Open System Settings on the Wii.
  2. Select Screen, then Widescreen Settings.
  3. Choose Standard or Widescreen to match your television, then confirm.

Nintendo’s widescreen setup instructions note that TV control names vary by manufacturer. Selecting Widescreen on the Wii may not make every television switch to its own widescreen mode automatically.

Aspect ratio is not resolution

The 4:3 and 16:9 options determine the shape of the Wii’s displayed image. Resolution is a separate setting: Nintendo documents Standard TV (480i) and EDTV or HDTV (480p). The 480p option requires a Wii Component Video Cable, and not all games support progressive scan. See Nintendo’s TV resolution instructions. You do not need that cable simply to select 4:3 or 16:9.

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If the picture still looks wrong

  • Check that the Wii ratio matches the TV’s shape: 4:3 for a standard set, or 16:9 for a widescreen set that supports it.
  • Check the television’s aspect-ratio or picture-size mode. A TV setting that stretches or crops the image can make it look wrong even when the Wii setting is correct.
  • Keep resolution separate from aspect ratio. Changing between 480i and 480p does not select 4:3 or 16:9.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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