How to Adjust Display Scaling Settings in Windows 11 and Windows 10

Quick fix to Adjust Display Scaling Settings in both older and newer versions of Windows 11/10 in 2026

Is your text too small to read? Are your icons too big? Windows display scaling fixes both. Scaling makes everything on your screen larger or smaller without changing your resolution. You can adjust it in Windows 11 and Windows 10 in just a few clicks. This guide covers both versions.

You’ll learn the exact settings paths, which percentage to choose for your screen, and how to fix blurry apps afterward. If you have multiple monitors, we cover that too. Let’s start.

Also Read: Camera Permission for Apps

What Is Display Scaling in Windows?

Display scaling changes the size of text, icons, and apps on your screen. It does not change your screen’s resolution. Think of it as a magnifying glass for your entire interface.

Windows applies scaling as a percentage. 100% is the default size. 125% makes everything 25% larger. 150% makes it 50% larger. You can go up to 500%.

How to Adjust Display Scaling Settings in Windows 11

Method 1: Use the Scale Dropdown (Recommended)

This is the simplest method. It uses the preset percentages Windows provides.

1. Right-click an empty area on your desktop.
2. Select Display settings from the menu.
3. In the Settings window, click System on the left panel if not already selected.
4. Click Display.
5. Scroll down to the Scale & layout section.
6. Click the Scale drop-down menu.
7. Select a percentage: 100%, 125%, 150%, or 175%.
8. The change applies immediately. You do not need to sign out.

Windows often marks one option as “(Recommended)”. This is the percentage Windows suggests based on your screen size and resolution.

Method 2: Set a Custom Scaling Percentage

Use this if the preset options don’t work for you. You can enter any value between 100% and 500%.

1. Open Settings (press Windows key + I).
2. Go to System > Display.
3. Scroll down to Scale & layout.
4. Click Scale, then select Custom scaling from the dropdown.
5. In the Custom scaling box, enter a number between 100 and 500.
6. Click the check mark or Apply button.
7. You will see a prompt: “You’ll need to sign out to apply this setting.”
8. Click Sign out now. Your new custom scaling will take effect after you sign back in.

Important: Custom scaling applies to all connected displays. It does not allow per-monitor custom values. Also, setting a very high value like 400% or 500% can make your screen unusable. Stick to practical values between 100% and 200% unless you have a specific reason not to.

How to Change Display Scaling in Windows 10

Method 1: Use the Scale Dropdown

1. Right-click an empty area on your desktop.
2. Select Display settings.
3. Under Scale and layout, find the dropdown labeled “Change the size of text, apps, and other items”.
4. Select a percentage: 100%, 125%, 150%, or 175%.
5. The change applies immediately.

Method 2: Set a Custom Scaling Percentage

1. Open Settings (press Windows key + I).
2. Go to System > Display.
3. Under Scale and layout, click Advanced scaling settings.
4. In the Custom scaling section, enter a value between 100% and 500%.
5. Click Apply.
6. You will be prompted to sign out. Click Sign out now to apply the change.

Windows 11 vs Windows 10: Scaling Settings Comparison

Action	Windows 11 Path	Windows 10 Path
Open Display Settings	Right-click desktop → Display settings	Right-click desktop → Display settings
Scale dropdown	Settings → System → Display → Scale dropdown	Settings → System → Display → “Change the size of text, apps, and other items” dropdown
Custom scaling	Settings → System → Display → Scale → Custom scaling	Settings → System → Display → Advanced scaling settings → Custom scaling
Fix blurry apps toggle	Settings → System → Display → Scale → Advanced scaling settings → “Let Windows try to fix apps”	Settings → System → Display → Advanced scaling settings → “Let Windows try to fix apps”
Sign-out required for custom scaling	Yes	Yes

The core functionality is identical. Only the menu labels and navigation steps differ slightly.

Also Read: Managing Update Restart Schedules

What Scaling Percentage Should You Use?

Windows suggests a recommended percentage based on your screen size and resolution. Here is a practical guide.

Screen Size	Resolution	Recommended Scale	Notes
13–14 inch	1920×1080 (1080p)	125%	Laptop screens with high pixel density
15–17 inch	1920×1080 (1080p)	125%	Standard laptop resolution
21–24 inch	1920×1080 (1080p)	100%	Desktop monitors at normal viewing distance
24–27 inch	2560×1440 (1440p)	100%–125%	QHD monitors
27–28 inch	3840×2160 (4K)	150%	4K monitors
32+ inch	3840×2160 (4K)	150%–175%	Large 4K displays

Start with the recommended value. If text still feels too small, go up one step (e.g., from 125% to 150%). If everything looks too big, go down one step.

Scaling vs Resolution vs Text Size – What’s the Difference?

Many users confuse these three settings. Here is what each one does.

Setting	What It Does	When to Use	Side Effects
Scaling	Enlarges all UI elements (text, icons, apps, menus)	Text/apps too small on high-resolution screens	Some older apps may become blurry
Resolution	Changes the number of pixels displayed	Gaming, performance tuning, or fixing aspect ratio issues	Lower resolution makes everything blurry and reduces screen real estate
Text Size	Enlarges text only (under Accessibility settings)	You only need bigger text, not bigger icons or apps	Apps and icons stay the same size; may not affect all programs

Why lowering resolution is the wrong fix: Some guides suggest lowering your resolution to make things bigger. Do not do this. Lowering resolution reduces image quality. Text and images become blurry because your monitor has to stretch a smaller image across more pixels.

Scaling keeps your native resolution intact. It enlarges the interface without sacrificing sharpness. Always change scaling first. Only change resolution for performance or compatibility reasons.

How to Fix Blurry Apps After Changing Scaling

After you change scaling, some apps may look blurry. This happens because older apps were not designed for high-DPI displays. Windows has two built-in fixes.

Turn On “Let Windows Try to Fix Apps”

This is the system-wide fix. It applies to most apps automatically.

1. Open Settings (press Windows key + I).
2. Go to System > Display.
3. Under Scale & layout, click Scale, then select Advanced scaling settings (Windows 11) or click Advanced scaling settings directly (Windows 10).
4. Turn on the toggle labeled “Let Windows try to fix apps so they’re not blurry”.
5. Close and reopen any blurry apps. The fix applies when apps restart.

This setting works for most common apps. If an app remains blurry, use the per-app override below.

Override DPI Scaling for a Specific App

Use this for individual apps that stay blurry after the system-wide fix.

1. Right-click the app’s shortcut or its .exe file.
2. Select Properties.
3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
4. Click Change high DPI settings.
5. Check the box labeled “Override high DPI scaling behavior”.
6. In the dropdown below, select one of these options:
   • Application: Lets the app control its own scaling. Use this if the app looks correct at 100% but breaks at higher scales.
   • System: Windows scales the app using the system scaling setting. This is the default behavior.
   • System (Enhanced): Windows scales the app using improved scaling for GDI-based apps. This often fixes blurriness in older software.
7. Click OK and then Apply.
8. Close and reopen the app.

If the app still looks blurry, try the other dropdown options. One of them usually works.

Multi-Monitor Scaling: Different Settings for Each Display

Windows 11 and Windows 10 both support different scaling percentages per monitor.

1. Right-click your desktop and select Display settings.
2. At the top, you will see a visual layout of your monitors. Each monitor is numbered.
3. Click the monitor you want to adjust. Windows highlights it in the layout.
4. Scroll down to Scale & layout.
5. Use the Scale dropdown (Windows 11) or the “Change the size of text, apps, and other items” dropdown (Windows 10) to select a percentage.
6. Repeat for each monitor.

Important warnings:

• Custom scaling (the 100–500% manual entry) applies to ALL displays. You cannot set different custom values per monitor. Use the preset dropdown percentages (100%, 125%, 150%, etc.) for per-monitor scaling.
• Mixed-DPI setups (e.g., a 1080p laptop screen at 125% and a 4K external monitor at 150%) can cause apps to look wrong when dragged between screens. This is normal. Close and reopen the app on the new screen to fix it.
• Docking and undocking a laptop can cause scaling to shift. Windows usually adjusts automatically. If things look wrong, sign out and sign back in, or restart your computer.

Advanced: Registry Method (For Power Users)

Warning: Editing the registry can break your system if done incorrectly. Only attempt this if you are comfortable with registry edits. Back up your registry before making any changes.

This method lets you set a custom scaling value via the Windows Registry. It does the same thing as the Custom Scaling settings menu. Use the Settings app method instead unless you have a specific reason to use the registry.

1. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
3. Find the following DWORD values:
   • LogPixels – This controls the scaling percentage. Common values:
     • 96 = 100%
     • 120 = 125%
     • 144 = 150%
     • 168 = 175%
     • 192 = 200%
   • Win8DpiScaling – Set this to 1 to enable custom scaling.
4. If these values do not exist, create them as DWORD (32-bit) values.
5. Change the values to your desired settings.
6. Restart your computer or sign out and sign back in.

Do not use the registry unless you understand what you are doing. The Settings app provides the same functionality with less risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change display scaling in Windows 11?
Right-click the desktop, select Display settings, go to System > Display, and use the Scale dropdown under Scale & layout.

How do I change display scaling in Windows 10?
Right-click the desktop, select Display settings, and use the “Change the size of text, apps, and other items” dropdown under Scale and layout.

What is the best scaling percentage for my monitor?
Windows marks a recommended percentage in the Scale dropdown. Start there. For 1080p at 24 inches, use 100%. For 4K at 27 inches, use 150%.

Why do my apps look blurry after changing scaling?
Older apps were not designed for high-DPI displays. Use the “Let Windows try to fix apps” toggle in Advanced scaling settings. For individual apps, use the Compatibility tab > Change high DPI settings override.

How do I fix blurry apps in Windows?
Enable “Let Windows try to fix apps so they’re not blurry” in Advanced scaling settings. If that doesn’t work, override DPI scaling per app via the Compatibility tab.

Can I set different scaling for each monitor?
Yes. In Display settings, click each monitor at the top and set its Scale dropdown individually. Custom scaling (manual percentage entry) applies to all monitors.

What’s the difference between scaling and resolution?
Scaling enlarges the interface without changing pixel count. Resolution changes the pixel count. Lowering resolution makes everything blurry. Use scaling instead.

How do I set custom scaling in Windows?
Go to Settings > System > Display, click Scale > Custom scaling (Windows 11) or Advanced scaling settings (Windows 10), enter a value between 100 and 500, and sign out.

Why can’t I change my display scaling?
If the Scale dropdown is greyed out, you may be using a generic display driver. Update your graphics driver from your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) or your PC maker’s support site.

Do I need to restart after changing scaling?
Preset dropdown changes apply immediately. Custom scaling (manual percentage) requires you to sign out and sign back in.

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Steps verified on Windows 11 23H2 and Windows 10 22H2. Display scaling behavior is consistent across these builds. If you use an older version, the menu paths may differ slightly. Update Windows for the best experience.