Compare the complete frame
Look at whether the programme’s visible edges, subtitles and graphics are intact. A cinema-shaped film and a television-shaped display do not necessarily have the same proportions.
Do not use a channel logo’s position alone as proof that the picture is wrong. Graphics can be part of the source presentation. Compare a known item with clear framing information where available.
Separate fitting, cropping and stretching
A fit mode preserves the full image with unused space where proportions differ. A crop or zoom mode fills more of the display by removing edges. A stretch changes the proportions. Exact labels vary by equipment.
A player and television can each apply a transformation. Save both starting settings before testing one. If both are zooming, subtitles or score graphics can disappear even though the source contains them.
Use a practical reading check
Check faces, circles, edge graphics and caption lines at a normal viewing distance. If a supported fit/original mode restores missing edges, record that change. Do not assume that every item should fill every part of the panel.
If bars appear on all four sides, note whether they are encoded into the source, added by the player or produced by the display setting. A screenshot of the player and the television’s current mode can help, with account details removed.
Keep resolution separate from framing
A correctly framed lower-resolution source can be preferable to a stretched picture with a larger output number. Aspect ratio does not establish source sharpness, bitrate or rights.
When asking for help, identify the item, whether the edges are missing and the player/TV modes compared. That is clearer than saying the programme needs to be made full screen. The desired outcome is the intended picture, not simply the disappearance of all bars.
Questions about this guide
Are black bars always a fault?
No. They can preserve the source’s proportions on a differently shaped display.
Why are subtitles cut off after zooming?
A crop or zoom can remove part of the frame. Compare a supported fit/original mode in both the player and display.