How to Change Display Scaling in Windows 11 (25H2)

Whether text looks too small on a large monitor or icons feel oversized on a compact screen, display scaling is the control that makes everything fit. Windows 11 (25H2) gives you several ways to adjust how content is sized — from a single dropdown in Settings to per-app overrides and GPU-level scaling modes. This guide walks you through every method so you can find the one that works best for your setup.

How to Change Display Scaling in Windows 11 via Settings

The quickest and most recommended way to adjust display scaling is through the Windows 11 Settings app. This method applies the change system-wide — affecting text, icons, buttons, and every UI element at once.

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

Step 2: Alternatively, press Windows + I to open Settings, go to System, then click Display.

Step 3: Scroll down to the Scale & layout section and click the dropdown next to Scale.

Step 4: Select your preferred scaling level: 100%, 125%, 150%, or 175%. The change takes effect immediately — no restart required.

After selecting a scaling option, the size of text, icons, and other UI elements adjusts accordingly.

💡 Tip: Microsoft recommends using the percentage labeled “Recommended” for your display — it is calculated based on your screen’s pixel density and viewing distance.

How to Set a Custom Scaling Value in Windows 11

If none of the preset percentages feel right, Windows 11 lets you enter any value between 100% and 500%. This is useful for fine-tuning the interface on ultra-wide or high-resolution displays.

Step 1: In Settings > System > Display, scroll to Scale & layout and click directly on the Scale label (not the dropdown arrow beside it).

Step 2: Type your desired scaling percentage (e.g., 130) in the text field and click the checkmark button to confirm.

Step 3: Click Sign out now to apply the custom scaling. Sign back in to see the result.

Once a custom value is active, the preset dropdown in Scale & layout becomes grayed out. To revert to a standard preset:

Step 1: Return to Settings > System > Display.

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

How to Change Text Size in Windows 11 Without Changing Scale

If you only want larger text — without resizing icons, buttons, or the taskbar — Windows 11’s Accessibility settings let you adjust font size independently.

Step 1: Open the Start menu and select Settings.

Step 2: In the left sidebar, click Accessibility, then select Text size.

Step 3: Drag the Text size slider to your preferred size. A live preview updates above the slider. Click Apply when satisfied.

A brief Please wait screen appears while Windows applies the new text size.

After applying, text appears larger across all apps, while icons, buttons, and other interface elements remain unchanged.

How to Change Display Scaling for Multiple Monitors in Windows 11

When running two or more displays, each monitor can have its own independent scaling level — useful when mixing a 4K main display with a lower-resolution secondary screen.

Step 1: Open Settings > System > Display.

Step 2: At the top of the Display page you’ll see a diagram of your connected monitors, numbered 1, 2, etc. Click the monitor you want to configure.

Step 3: Scroll down to Scale & layout and choose the scaling percentage for that monitor. You can also enter a custom value if the presets don’t suit you.

💡 Tip: Repeat this process for each monitor independently. Changes on monitor 1 do not affect monitor 2.

How to Change DPI Scaling in Windows 11 Using Registry Editor

The Registry Editor gives you granular control over DPI scaling beyond what the Settings app exposes. This method is intended for advanced users — always back up your registry before making changes.

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system instability. Create a backup by going to File > Export in Registry Editor before proceeding.

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

Step 2: Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

Step 3: In the right pane, find the LogPixels entry. If it doesn’t exist, right-click in an empty area of the right pane, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it LogPixels, and press Enter.

Step 4: Double-click LogPixels, set the Base to Decimal, and enter one of the following values:

Click OK to save.

Step 5: Locate (or create) the Win8DpiScaling DWORD in the same key.

Step 6: Double-click Win8DpiScaling and set the value 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.

How to Fix Blurry Apps by Adjusting Per-App DPI Scaling in Windows 11

Some older or legacy applications render poorly on high-DPI displays — text may appear blurry or the UI may look oversized. Windows 11 lets you override the scaling behavior for individual apps without affecting the rest of your system.

Step 1: Open the Start menu, search for the application, right-click it, and select Open file location.

Step 2: In the file location, right-click the application’s .exe file and select Properties.

Step 3: Click the Compatibility tab, then click Change high DPI settings.

Step 4: Under Program DPI, check Use this setting to fix scaling problems for this program instead of the one in Settings.

Step 5: Choose when Windows applies the DPI override — either When I sign in to Windows or When I open this program. If blurriness persists, try the second option.

Step 6: Under High DPI scaling override, check Override high DPI scaling behavior. From the dropdown, choose one of the following modes:

• Application — the app manages its own scaling
• System — Windows scales the app using system DPI
• System (Enhanced) — Windows uses improved scaling algorithms (best for blurry text)

Step 7: Click OK to save, then relaunch the application to apply the new scaling behavior.

How to Adjust Display Scaling Mode in GPU Control Panels

Your graphics card’s control panel offers an additional layer of scaling control — particularly useful for gaming or when connecting to displays with different native resolutions. The steps vary by GPU manufacturer.

Intel Graphics Control Panel

Step 1: Right-click the desktop, select Show more options, then click Intel Graphics Settings.

Step 2: Go to the General Settings tab. Under Scaling, choose your preferred mode: Maintain Display Scaling, Maintain Aspect Ratio, Scale Full Screen, or Center Image.

Step 3: Click Apply, then OK.

AMD Radeon Software

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

Step 2: Click AMD Radeon Software.

Step 3: In Radeon Software, click the Settings (gear) icon in the top-right corner.

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

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

NVIDIA Control Panel

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

Step 2: Expand the Display section in the left panel and select Adjust Desktop Size and Position.

Step 3: Under Scaling, choose your preferred mode: Aspect Ratio, Full-screen, No Scaling, or Integer Scaling.

Step 4: Optionally check Override the scaling mode set by games and programs to force GPU-level scaling regardless of application settings.

Step 5: Click Apply to save your changes.

💡 Tip: GPU-level scaling adds a small amount of input latency because the GPU handles the scaling pass before sending the image to the display. For competitive gaming, consider using your monitor’s built-in scaler instead.

Which Display Scaling Method Should You Use?

Windows 11 offers more control over display scaling than any previous version of Windows. Here’s a quick summary to help you choose the right approach:

• Everyday use → Settings app (Section 1) — easiest, instant, no restart
• Fine-tuned DPI → Custom scaling (Section 2) — any value from 100% to 500%
• Larger text only → Accessibility Text size (Section 3) — keeps icons and UI unchanged
• Multi-monitor setups → Per-display scaling (Section 4) — independent control per screen
• Advanced / scripted → Registry Editor (Section 5) — precise DPI values, requires restart
• Blurry legacy apps → Per-app DPI override (Section 6) — targeted fix without touching global settings
• Gaming / resolution mismatch → GPU Control Panel (Section 7) — hardware-level scaling for games and low-res content

Start with the Settings app — it covers the vast majority of use cases. Work down the list only if you need something more specific.