Windows 11 Display Scaling: Right-Size Text, Apps and Icons

On a 14-inch laptop with a sharp screen, Windows at 100% looks tiny; on a 27-inch monitor at the same resolution, things look huge. Windows 11 display scaling solves this by enlarging everything by a percentage while keeping the picture sharp. This guide explains how scaling differs from resolution, how to pick the right value, how to enlarge only text, how to handle several monitors and what to do about apps that look blurry.

The steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2.

Resolution vs scaling

These two settings are often confused:

• Resolution is the number of pixels Windows draws. Flat screens look sharpest at their native resolution, which Windows marks Recommended.
• Scale is how large Windows draws text, icons and apps on those pixels.

Microsoft’s display page recommends using the recommended resolution. To make things bigger or smaller, change the scale, not the resolution. Lowering the resolution makes everything bigger but blurry.

Change the scale

1. Right-click the desktop and select Display settings, or open Start > Settings > System > Display.
2. If you have more than one screen, select the display you want to change at the top of the page.
3. Check that Display resolution shows the value marked Recommended.
4. Under Scale & layout, open Scale and choose a percentage.

Most apps update straight away; a few need to be closed and reopened. The value marked Recommended is Windows’ suggestion for that screen’s size and resolution.

Screen	Typical comfortable scale
13-14 inch laptop, 1920 x 1080	125% to 150%
13-14 inch laptop, higher resolution	150% to 200%
24 inch monitor, 1920 x 1080	100%
27 inch monitor, 2560 x 1440	100% to 125%
27-32 inch monitor, 3840 x 2160	150% to 175%

These are starting points; comfort depends on your eyesight and seating distance.

Make only text bigger

If icons and layout are fine but text is hard to read:

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Text size.
2. Move the Text size slider until the preview is comfortable.
3. Select Apply.

This enlarges text in menus, Settings, File Explorer and many apps without enlarging everything. Microsoft’s “Make Windows easier to see” page lists this and related options such as larger pointers and Magnifier; our Magnifier checklist covers zooming.

Custom scaling

Under Scale, the arrow opens Advanced scaling (called Custom scaling on some builds). You can type a value between 100 and 500%. Custom scaling applies to all displays and needs you to sign out. Odd values can make some apps look wrong, so use it only when the standard steps do not suit you. To undo it, turn custom scaling off on the same page and sign out.

Several monitors

Each display keeps its own scale. With a laptop at 150% and an external monitor at 100%, windows resize as you move them between screens. Select each display at the top of the Display page and set its scale separately. For arranging monitors, see Microsoft’s multiple-monitors page and Windows 11 multiple monitors.

When docking and undocking, apps sometimes keep the wrong size until restarted. Signing out and back in clears it.

Blurry apps

Modern apps scale cleanly. Older desktop apps that do not understand high-DPI screens get stretched by Windows, which can look soft. Options:

1. Let Windows fix apps. In Advanced scaling, turn on Let Windows try to fix apps so they’re not blurry. It applies after the app is restarted.
2. Per-app setting. Right-click the app’s shortcut or .exe, select Properties > Compatibility > Change high DPI settings, and try Override high DPI scaling behaviour with Application or System (Enhanced). Test one option at a time.
3. Update the app. Newer versions usually fix scaling.

Our blurry apps checklist has more detail.

Problems after changing scale

• Things are cut off or too big: you may have chosen a scale too large for the resolution. Go back to Recommended.
• The screen looks blurry everywhere: the resolution is not native. Set it to the Recommended value. See Windows 11 resolution problems.
• Settings are greyed out: the graphics driver may be missing (Microsoft Basic Display Adapter). Install the proper driver; see Windows 11 graphics drivers.

Scaling, laptops and docking

Laptops add a twist: the built-in screen is small and sharp, and an external monitor is large and often lower resolution. A few practical tips:

• Set the laptop screen to its recommended scale (often 150% or more) and the monitor to its own recommended value; do not try to make them match.
• If you close the lid and use only the monitor, set its scale once; Windows remembers the setting per display.
• If text in some apps looks the wrong size after docking, sign out and back in. Many desktop apps only read the scale when they start.
• Presentations: when duplicating your screen to a projector, Windows uses one resolution for both. Use Extend instead to keep each display sharp, or accept a lower resolution for the duration.

For reading comfort, the cursor size and colour can also help; see Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. Combining a modest scale with larger text or pointer often works better than a very high scale that leaves little room for windows.

Related display settings

Refresh rate affects smoothness rather than size; see Windows 11 refresh rate. For orientation, see rotate screen in Windows 11; for colour and comfort, night light and dark mode. The Windows 11 graphics hub links everything display related, and our display settings checklist summarises the page.