Windows 7 Forums Search

Go Back Windows 7 Forums > Windows 7 help and support > Tutorials » DPI Display Size Settings - Change

Welcome to Windows 7 Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find solutions with any problems, errors or issues you are experiencing with Windows 7. The Windows 7 forum also covers news and updates and has an extensive Windows 7 tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks.

Windows 7 - DPI Display Size Settings - Change



DPI Display Size Settings - Change

How to Change the Display DPI Size in Windows 7
Published by Brink
11-10-2008
Default DPI Display Size Settings - Change

How to Change the Display DPI Size in Windows 7

information   Information
This will show you how to change the DPI (Dots per Inch) size settings to allow text and other items, such as icons, fonts, and windows, to display larger or smaller in Windows 7.
Note   Note
Setting the DPI size to a smaller number or percentage will decrease all items size on the display, while setting the DPI size to a larger number or percentage will increase all items size on the display.
Tip   Tip
Typically, the higher the dots per inch (DPI), the better the fonts will look. If you set the DPI higher than 96, and you are running a Windows Aero theme, the text and other items on the screen might appear blurry in some programs that are not designed for high–DPI display in this version of Windows. You can avoid this issue by using legacy DPI scaling (Windows XP style DPI scaling) for these programs.





OPTION ONE

Change DPI Through Display Settings
1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).
A) Click on the Display icon.

B) Go to step 4.
OR

2. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)

A) Towards the bottom left corner, click on the Display link. (See screenshot below)
DPI Display Size Settings - Change-personalize.jpg
B) Go to step 4.
OR

3. Right click on a empty area of your desktop and click on Screen Resolution. (See screenshot below step 2)
A) Click on the Make text and other items larger or smaller link. (See screenshot below)
DPI Display Size Settings - Change-display_settings.jpg
4. You will now see this screen. (See screenshot below)
DPI Display Size Settings - Change-display.jpg
5. To Select a DPI Size
A) Dot a size that you want for the Display DPI size. (See screenshot above)
  • Smaller - 100% = 96 DPI (Pixels/Dots Per Inch)
  • Medium - 125% = 120 DPI (Pixels/Dots Per Inch)
  • Larger - 150% = 144 DPI (Pixels/Dots Per Inch)
B) Go to step 7.
6. To Set a Custom DPI Size
A) In the left pane, click on the Set custom text size (DPI) link. (See screenshot below step 4)

B) To the right of Scale to this percentage of normal size, click on the drop down arrow and select a percentage you want the DPI size to be. (See screenshot below step 6D)
NOTE: You can also click and hold on the Inch Scale below this and drag it to change the percentage.

C) If needed, check the Use Windows XP style DPI scaling box to make text and items clearer in programs that are not designed for higher settings than 96 DPI (100%). (See screenshot below step 6D)
NOTE: See the TIP box at the top of the tutorial.

D) Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

8. Click on the Apply button. (See screenshot below step 4)

9. Click on the Log off now button to apply the DPI changes. (See screenshot below)
WARNING: This will log you off immediately. Be sure to save anything you are working on before you click on this.

10. Log back on.




OPTION TWO

Change DPI Through Registry Editor
1. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press enter.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below: (see screenshot below)

Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI
DPI Display Size Settings - Change-step1.jpg
4. In the right pane, right click on LogPixels and click on Modify. (see screenshot above)

5. In the Modify window, select (dot) Decimal, then type in the DPI setting that you want and click on OK.
NOTE: You should use what is listed as available in OPTION ONE above.
DPI Display Size Settings - Change-step2.jpg
6. Close regedit.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.




OPTION THREE

Restore Default 96 DPI Using REG File Download

NOTE: This can be handy if you accidentally set the DPI to large and everything is extended way past the display screen, making them distorted and unreadable. You can also boot into Safe Mode and change the DPI scaling back to a smaller number using a option above.
1. Click on the download button below to download the file below.
Restore_Default_96_DPI.reg
download
2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

3. Right click the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

4. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

5. Log off and Log on, or restart the computer to apply changes.

6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn



Published by
Brink's Avatar
Administrator

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 17,035
Brink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond repute
Brink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond repute

Tutorial Tools
09-30-2009   #1
dokteriq


Windows 7
 
 

How to change it for default profile

When I installed Windows 7 it changed the dpi setting to 120 on its own. I changed it using the procedure you suggested. However at the login screen (where I choose the username and type password) the dpi is still 120 and I can't figure out a way to change it.

My System SpecsSystem Spec
10-01-2009   #2
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 beta
Texas
 
 


Hello Dokeriq, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You may have a bad installation. See if doing a repair install can fix this for you. You will not lose anything doing this.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
10-01-2009   #3
dokteriq


Windows 7
 
 


dude. thats a bad answer

i found the solution already

HKU\Control Panel\Desktop\
Create a REG_DWORD 32 bit called LogPixels and give it the value 60

problem solved
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.
10-01-2009   #4
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 beta
Texas
 
 


I'm happy that you got it sorted. Thank you for posting back with your results and solution.

There's also a entry for this at the location below you might check to see what it's set as to.

DPI Display Size Settings - Change-registry.jpg
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-11-2010   #5
adom86


Windows 7
 
 


hey guys

Since doing my i7 build a few days ago I have had problems with some applications not displaying the content within their windows correctly. I have uploaded a picture of one of the interface that is doing it. It worked perfectly fine on all other windows 7 64bit installations I have had until I built the i7 one.

The problem is that whenever you initially load this interface up, it presents it self fine and well proportioned to the window it is held in. As soon as you try to move the window or close and then re-open it shrinks from the right side inwards and cuts off tabs at the top rendering them inaccessible.

I have tried formatting 3 times again and decided it must be something to do with the DPI scaling. I have tried your registry method and checked DXDiag, which is now displayin 96DPI for user and system (it was showing as User: 96 DPI and system 120 DPI as I read this thread). Still no luck!

Ive been trying to fix this for days now. I installed Vista 64bit on my other partition and there are no problems on with that version!

Any idea?
Attached Thumbnails
DPI Display Size Settings - Change-fume_issue.jpg  
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-11-2010   #6
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 beta
Texas
 
 


Hello Adom, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It may be a issue with the program itself running in Windows 7, or a setting in the program for it. You might check to see if there is a new update or patch available for it that may cover this issue. If not, then you might see if using compatibility mode with the program may help.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-12-2010   #7
adom86


Windows 7
 
 


Hi Brink

Its been fixed now I did a repair install as to your guide (i think it was you) and after that it all worked fine

I must have had 4 bad fresh installs in a row which seems very strange!

Everything scales properly now.

Many thanks!
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-12-2010   #8
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 beta
Texas
 
 


Adom,

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
02-22-2010   #9
tuckinrimins10


Windows 7
 
 


Hey, I am having the same issue as dokteriq. I am running a 26inch screen and my login screen is displaying as 150% font rather then what I have it set on witch is 100% (smallest)

How can I make 100% my default so my restart is faster and so that my screen wont flash during boot up.

My System SpecsSystem Spec
Comment

Tutorial Tools



Similar Threads for: DPI Display Size Settings - Change
Windows 7 Tutorial Category
Solved ATI Radeon X1550 - wrong display size Graphic Cards
Display settings "display" dropdown options Graphic Cards
Solved Maximum Display size on Folders General Discussion
Solved display/monitor 1024×768 display size Drivers
Set different font size/dpi for each monitor/display? General Discussion


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:10 AM.



Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized,
sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation.
"Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
© Designer Media Ltd

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28