How to Change Display Scaling in Windows 11

Adjusting the display scaling in Windows 11 can greatly enhance your viewing experience, whether you prefer larger text and icons for easier readability or smaller elements to maximize screen space. Display scaling affects how content is sized on your screen, making it an essential setting for customizing your computer to your personal needs.

Changing Display Scaling in Windows 11

The simplest way to modify the display scaling in Windows 11 is through the Settings app.

Step 1: Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select 'Display settings' from the context menu.

Step 2: Alternatively, you can open the Settings app by pressing Windows+I, navigate to the 'System' tab, and then click on 'Display.'

Step 3: In the Display settings, scroll down to the 'Scale & layout' section. Click on the dropdown menu next to 'Scale.'

Step 4: Choose your preferred scaling option from the available choices: 100%, 125%, 150%, or 175%.

After selecting a scaling option, you'll notice that the size of text, icons, and other UI elements changes accordingly.

Setting a Custom Scaling Value:

If the preset scaling options don't suit your needs, you can enter a custom scaling value.

Step 1: Instead of using the dropdown, click directly on the 'Scale' header in the 'Scale & layout' section.

Step 2: Enter a scaling percentage between 100% and 500% in the text field provided, and then click the checkmark button to apply.

Step 3: To apply the custom scaling, click on 'Sign out now' and sign back into your account.

After setting a custom scaling value, you'll notice that the dropdown menu in the 'Scale' section becomes grayed out. This is because custom scaling overrides the preset options. If you wish to return to the default scaling settings, you'll need to disable custom scaling.

Disabling Custom Scaling:

Step 1: Navigate back to the 'Display' settings.

Step 2: Under the 'Scale & layout' section, click on 'Turn off custom scaling and sign out.'

Changing Text Size Without Changing Scale Settings

If you prefer to adjust only the text size without affecting other interface elements, Windows 11 allows you to do so.

Step 1: Click on the 'Start' button and select 'Settings.'

Step 2: In the Settings app, choose 'Accessibility' from the left-hand menu, then click on 'Text size.'

Step 3: Use the slider under 'Text size' to increase or decrease the font size. A preview is displayed to show you how the text will look. Once you've chosen your desired size, click 'Apply.'

A 'Please wait' screen will briefly appear as Windows applies the new text size.

After applying, you'll notice that the text size has changed, while other elements like icons and buttons remain the same.

Changing Display Scaling for Multiple Monitors

If you use multiple displays, you can set different scaling levels for each one.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and go to 'System', then click on 'Display.'

Step 2: In the 'Display' section, you'll see a diagram representing your monitors labeled as '1', '2', etc. Click on the monitor you want to adjust.

Step 3: Scroll down to the 'Scale & layout' section and select the desired scaling option for that particular display. You can also set a custom scaling value if needed.

Changing DPI Scaling Using the Registry Editor

As an alternative method, you can adjust the DPI scaling through the Registry Editor. This method is advanced and should be used cautiously. It's recommended to back up your registry before making any changes.

Step 1: Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog box, type regedit, and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to the following registry path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Step 3: Look for the entry named 'LogPixels' in the right pane. If it doesn't exist, right-click in the right pane, select 'New' > 'DWORD (32-bit) Value', name it LogPixels, and press Enter.

Step 4: Double-click on LogPixels. Set the Base to 'Decimal', enter one of the following values corresponding to your desired DPI scale, and click 'OK.'

Step 5: Next, locate the entry named Win8DpiScaling. If it doesn't exist, create it by right-clicking in the right pane, selecting 'New' > 'DWORD (32-bit) Value', naming it Win8DpiScaling, and pressing Enter.

Step 6: Double-click on Win8DpiScaling and set the value data to 1 to enable custom scaling or 0 to disable it. Click 'OK.'

Step 7: Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Adjusting Scaling for Specific Applications

If certain applications appear blurry or have improperly sized text on high DPI displays, you can adjust their individual scaling settings.

Step 1: Open the 'Start' menu and search for the application. Right-click on it and select 'Open file location.'

Step 2: In the file location, right-click on the application's executable file and select 'Properties.'

Step 3: Navigate to the 'Compatibility' tab and click on 'Change high DPI settings.'

Step 4: Under 'Program DPI,' check the box for 'Use this setting to fix scaling problems for this program instead of the one in Settings.' This tells Windows to use a specific DPI setting for this application.

Step 5: Choose when to apply the DPI: either when you sign in to Windows or when you open the program. If issues persist, try selecting 'I open this program.'

Step 6: Under 'High DPI scaling override,' check the box for 'Override high DPI scaling behavior.' From the dropdown menu, select how scaling should be performed:

• Application: The app controls its own scaling.
• System: Windows scales the app based on the system DPI settings, which may cause blurriness.
• System (Enhanced): Windows attempts to scale the app for better clarity.

Step 7: Click 'OK' to save the settings, then relaunch the application.

Adjusting Scaling Mode in GPU Control Panels

You can also modify display scaling through your graphics card's control panel. The steps vary depending on whether you have an Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA graphics card.

Intel Graphics Control Panel

Step 1: Right-click on your desktop, select 'Show more options,' and then click on 'Intel Graphics Settings.'

Step 2: In the Intel Graphics Control Panel, go to the 'General Settings' tab. Under 'Scaling,' select your preferred scaling mode: Maintain Display Scaling, Maintain Aspect Ratio, Scale Full Screen, or Center Image.

Step 3: Click 'Apply' and then 'OK.'

AMD Radeon Software

Step 1: Right-click on the desktop and choose 'Show more options.'

Step 2: Click on 'AMD Radeon Software.'

Step 3: In the Radeon Software, click on the 'Settings' icon in the top right corner.

Step 4: Go to the 'Display' tab and toggle on 'GPU Scaling.'

Step 5: Select your preferred scaling mode from the 'Scaling Mode' dropdown menu.

NVIDIA Control Panel

Step 1: Click on the Windows system tray, right-click the NVIDIA icon, and select 'NVIDIA Control Panel.'

Step 2: In the NVIDIA Control Panel, expand the 'Display' section and select 'Adjust Desktop Size and Position.'

Step 3: Under the 'Scaling' section, choose your desired scaling mode: Aspect Ratio, Full-screen, No Scaling, or Integer Scaling.

Step 4: You can also check the option to 'Override the scaling mode set by games and programs.'

Step 5: Click 'Apply' to save your changes.

By following these methods, you can adjust the display scaling in Windows 11 to suit your preferences, ensuring a comfortable and clear viewing experience.