Quick answer: Unity UI panel with stretch anchors changing shape on resolution change? Pivot is anchor-relative when anchors stretch - set pivot to match the desired stretch behavior.

Panel with stretched anchors plus pivot (0.5, 0.5) shifts unexpectedly when the screen aspect changes.

Match pivot to anchor

For fully-stretched (0,0)-(1,1) anchors, pivot at (0.5, 0.5) is correct. For top-left anchor stretch, pivot (0, 1).

Use the rect transform reset

Right-click RectTransform > Reset to stretch. Sets canonical anchor/pivot pairing.

Audit responsive layouts

Run a resolution sweep in the editor (Game tab dropdown). Layouts that drift have anchor/pivot mismatches.

“Anchor and pivot are coupled. Setting one without the other produces movement under resize.”

Author UI at a target resolution, then test at min/max supported sizes. Stretch bugs surface immediately.