Change DPI Scaling Level for Displays in Windows 10  

Hi,
10 hates anything more than 100% even on a single display layout
7 handles scaling better even micro adjustments like 110-115% which is perfect for me.

10 just changes those two examples to 150-175% and borks it up even though one chose a # way lower.
It's been that way since the beginning that I recall.

I turn off auto snap a long long time ago it was more a pain than a useful feature.

regarding Option Five (To Restore Default DPI Scaling Level for All Displays using a REG file)
notice, this option will not necessarily reset your monitors to 100% DPI scaling, since some monitors have different defaults.

In order to force 100% DPI scaling even if the default is different, you'll need the following PowerShell script:

Code:

# -1 == 0xFFFFFFFF in DWord == 100% DPI scaling
# 0 = default setting of the screen (can be 125%!)
# 1 = default settings + 1
# 2 = default settings + 2
$dpiValue = -1

$activeMonitorsRegPath = "HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop\PerMonitorSettings"
$genericMonitorsList = Get-ChildItem HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\ScaleFactors

Write-Host( [string]::Format("Found {0} ScaleFactors monitors",$genericMonitorsList.Length));

foreach ($genericMonitor in $genericMonitorsList){

    $tempRegPath = $activeMonitorsRegPath + '\' + $genericMonitor.PsChildname;

    # if registry KEY already exists
	if (Test-Path -Path $tempRegPath) {
	
        Write-Host('Updating value for monitor - ' + $genericMonitor.PsChildname)

		# update existing-item DPI's value
		Set-ItemProperty -Path $tempRegPath -Name 'DpiValue' -Value $dpiValue –Force 
		
	} else {

        Write-Host('Creating new key and value for monitor - ' + $genericMonitor.PsChildname)

    	# create new key under PerMonitorSettings
		New-Item -Path $activeMonitorsRegPath -Name $genericMonitor.PsChildname –Force | Out-Null
		
		# create new value
		New-ItemProperty  -Path $tempRegPath -Name 'DpiValue' -PropertyType DWord -Value $dpiValue –Force  | Out-Null
	}
}

$genericMonitorsList.Close();
$genericMonitorsList = $null;

Hi Brink.

As I wrote in the beginning of my message, the registry file does not force 100% DPI scaling, but instead it loads the default value per screen. some screens default value is 125% and some is 100%.

I had to find a way to force 100% - and the only way I found was using the PowerShell script I provided above.

Can't one set below 100%?
Like 95? Or 90? Or 85?

Goes blurry quick.. Sometimes it's though.

Brink said:

Hello Kerpert, and welcome to Ten Forums.

I'm afraid that the DPI setting is a global setting that cannot be set per app. You could set the DPI per display if that may help to be able to run each app on a separate display with the DPI you want.

How does one set custom DPI per display? I don't the like default options of 100-125-150%, etc. and want to pick something like 115% - but for just one monitor, the 4K external one. The build-in display is 1080 (HD) and will not benefit from any scaling changes.

Per display I am stuck with the default scheme of 100-125-150% and so on. I already knew that.

Apparently not possible to set my 4K at 115% and the built-in 18" laptop screen at 100%.

if I chose 115 in the advanced options that will apparently affect all monitors. which defeats the purpose.