I would like to set my monitor's scale under 100%, but Win10 only lets me set it to 100% or higher. Why won't Windows let me do that? Is there any workaround to do that? I am aware of the fact that scaling below 100% will result in merged pixels.
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You must use a registry hack to get scaling values below 100%:
Open the Registry, navigate to HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop, and double-click on LogPixels to edit. If there is no LogPixels, create a new DWORD value and name it LogPixels.
Make sure the Base is set to Decimal.
The default value is 96, as in 96 dots-per-inch, which is "100% scaling". Values lower than that will be sub-100% scaling values.
Next, in that same Key, find Win8DpiScaling. It it doesn't exist, make another DWORD value and name it Win8DpiScaling. Then edit it as follows:
If the value of LogPixels is 96, then Win8DpiScaling should be 0. If the value of LogPixels is anything besides 96, the Win8DpiScaling value should be 1.
More information: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5990-change-dpi-scaling-level-displays-windows-10-a.html
music2myear
- 49,799
6
It is possible with NVidia CPUs.
Enable DSR Factors in NVidia Control Panel
- Launch the Nvidia Control Panel
- Navigate to the 3D Settings
- Locate "DSR-factors"
- Select
4.00x - At the next setting ("DSR smoothing"), select
10% - Click "Apply" at the bottom of the Window
- All screens turn black. Be patient.
As screenshot:
Change Display Settings
- Open your display settings
- Select the screen to modify
- Select a higher resolution
- Above, set the scaling to
150% - Apply the setting
As screenshot:
Here, it works fine with a Fujitsu P2410 WS, which has a 1920x1200. I am running it in a vertical mode (and have my OneNote opened there).
Be aware that the text is not as sharp as before.
koppor
- 706
-1
The tl;dr:
Technical limitations aside, there are very solid user experience reasons why this probably isn't allowed.
No, Windows (10 or later) will not let you set UI scaling below 100%.
(even if a stable workaround were to be discovered, most users would probably be quite unhappy with the results)
While I would love¹ to be proven incorrect, the implications of scaling at less than 100% are so fraught that this limitation is unlikely to change in the near future.
Note: this answer was cross-posted from another site, since the question there has since been ‘closed’.
Original source: How to set DPI scale to less than 100% on Windows 10 - With multiple displays
Update in 2024: According to other answers, using certain GPU software or other hacks may work in limited circumstances. (Hardware HDMI scalers could also be a possible workaround to emulate a high-resolution display.)
Background:
This has been the case for ages, likely since Windows first introduced the feature.
Compatibility with current software
The only ~purely technical~ reason I can think of:
- The 100% scaling size likely uses the smallest base image (e.g. Explorer and Taskbar icons, mouse and text cursors) resources included in various existing Microsoft and 3rd-party applications.
User experience
Going below the 100% point may cause small UI text and icons, especially in application toolbars and the Taskbar to be blurred to the point of ambiguity.
- Those fine lines in the taskbar 'Windows' menu icon? Blurred or gone.
Taken to the extreme, the UI ~might~ become so unreadable that the user is effectively prevented from being able to read the text even in the 'Settings' window and therefore is 'stuck': i.e. not able to navigate through 'Settings' to restore the original '100%' scaling mode.
- (Luckily, Windows is never used to run any SCADA software where confusing two icons could theoretically cost money or lives.)
Performance:
Since those carefully-designed graphic assets don't exist, if sub-100% scaling were allowed, it would also likely cause extra CPU/GPU workload - that is why only certain fixed sizes of up-sampling are shown on the normal Display settings screen and why the Advanced scaling settings screen warns that custom scaling between 100-500% is "not recommended".
- That might also apply to any fixed scaling option offered below 100%, and absolutely would for custom scaling sizes.
Some people enjoy reading:
Vector-based TrueType/OpenType fonts usually contain a ~lot~ of manual tweaking / hints to enable readable display of very small point sizes.
The marketing department & friends of the C-suite
Could they implement this at a limited range of options? 90%? 75%?
Perhaps - but it's extra testing for a horrible-looking edge case.
- The existence of the option, even if only available as a registry hack, might cause some people to actually use it in kiosks and other public-facing displays; this risks the same sort of bad PR as when a BSOD is seen on the 'arrivals' screen at a train station or airport monitor.
Combined with the first example below, even a 90% option could cause trouble in some environments.
Example and tutorial:
Imagine how Windows might look displayed on one of those cheapo '1080p-supported' projectors that actually only contains an imager with a native pixel resolution of, say, 1024x576 (or even 480x234).
- Windows thinks it can send 1080p, since that what the HDMI connection advertises, so it does: any text / vector content looks atrocious.
- (At least in this case the user could normally² unplug the projector and reconnect to a normal monitor to restore functionality.)
See for yourself... while connected to any monitor (at that monitor's native resolution), with Windows set to 100% scaling:
- Open Windows Notepad
- Type or paste in any block of text
- Now, use the Zoom Out command from the View menu³ five or more times in a row
- While not an exact analogue, you may still see how hard it could be to read down-sampled text, even when very high-contrast (the best-case scenario).
¹: As someone currently typing this very answer on a 1080p connection to a 55" 4K television as a second monitor, I came across the question very much hoping this was possible. Sadly, logic intervened and killed my potential joy.
²: Unless the computer is actually stored somewhere locked or inaccessible, such as a NUC-style PC hidden above the false ceiling in a conference room.
³: Alternatively, press <CTRL>-<Minus> five or more times.
Jim Grisham
- 183
-5
Unfortunately in Windows 10 there is no way to set lower DPI than 100%. Only way to make things smaller is setting resolution above default (or buying larger monitor). Sometimes it may mean to create custom resolution in you graphic card driver.
