Change Display Size in Windows Settings

The fastest way to change how large text and icons appear on your screen is through Windows Settings. Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the app. Go to System, then Display. Under "Scale and layout," you'll see a dropdown menu labeled "Scale" — this is where you adjust the overall size of everything on your screen.

Windows offers preset percentages: 100% (the default), 125%, 150%, and 175%. Higher percentages make everything larger. Select the percentage that works for you, and Windows will explore it when ready. Most people find 125% or 150% easier to read without making the screen feel cramped. If none of the presets suit you, scroll down to "Advanced scaling" to set a custom percentage between 100% and 500%.

After you change the scale, some older programs may look blurry because they weren't built to handle scaling. Windows will warn you if this happens. You can fix blurriness for individual programs by right-clicking the program's shortcut, selecting Properties, going to the Compatibility tab, and checking "Disable fullscreen optimizations." This sometimes helps, though not always.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, go to System > Display, and use the Scale dropdown to choose 125%, 150%, 175%, or a custom percentage.
  • Changes take effect when ready, but you may need to restart some programs for the new size to appear in them.
  • Older programs may look blurry after scaling; you can try the Compatibility tab fix, but results vary.
  • If you have multiple monitors, you can set different scale percentages for each one separately.

Adjust Text Size Only Without Changing Everything Else

If you want larger text but don't want to enlarge icons and buttons, use the text-only scaling option. In the same Display settings, scroll down past the Scale dropdown and look for "Make text bigger." This slider lets you increase text size from 100% to 225% without affecting the rest of your interface. It works in most Windows programs and web browsers.

This approach is gentler than full scaling because it doesn't confuse older programs. However, it won't help if your main problem is that icons are too small — it only affects text. Test it by moving the slider and checking a few open windows to see if the change helps before you commit to it.

Change Display Resolution for a Different Approach

Display resolution is different from scaling, but it also affects how large things appear. Resolution is the number of pixels your monitor displays — a lower resolution makes everything bigger because fewer pixels fill the same screen space. In Display settings, scroll down to "Display resolution" and select a lower option from the dropdown.

Lowering resolution can make text and icons larger, but it may make images and video look less sharp. Most modern monitors work best at their native resolution (the highest option listed), so this method is less common than scaling. Use it only if scaling doesn't give you the size you need and you don't mind the trade-off in image quality.

Set Different Scales for Multiple Monitors

If you have more than one monitor connected, Windows lets you set a different scale for each one. In Display settings, scroll down and select which monitor you want to adjust under "Select a display on the right." Then use the Scale dropdown to set that monitor's size independently. This is useful if one monitor is larger or farther away than the other.

After you change the scale on one monitor, click on the other monitor in the list and adjust it separately. Windows remembers these settings and applies them each time you start your computer. If your monitors are different sizes or resolutions, you may need to experiment to find the combination that feels balanced.

Undo Changes and Return to Default Size

If the new size doesn't work for you, go back to Display settings and change the Scale dropdown back to 100%. The change takes effect when ready. If a program is still showing blurry text after you've returned to 100%, restart that program and the blurriness should clear.

Windows doesn't save old settings, so there's no "undo" button — you straightforward select the percentage you want. If you're not sure what size to try, start with 125% and see how it feels for a few hours before moving to 150% or higher.

Troubleshoot When Scaling Causes Problems

Some programs, especially older ones or specialized software, don't respond well to scaling. Text might be blurry, buttons might be cut off, or windows might not resize properly. For these programs, try right-clicking the program's shortcut or .exe file, selecting Properties, clicking the Compatibility tab, and checking "Disable fullscreen optimizations." Then click Change high DPI settings and check "Override high DPI scaling behavior."

If that doesn't work, you can also try running the program in compatibility mode for an older version of Windows. Right-click the program, select Properties, go to Compatibility, and choose an older Windows version from the dropdown. Test each option to see which one makes the program display correctly. These fixes don't always work, but they solve the problem in most cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing display size slow down my computer?

No. Scaling is handled by Windows and doesn't use extra processing power or memory. Your computer will run at the same speed whether you use 100% or 175% scaling.

Can I set different scales for different programs?

Not directly through Settings. However, you can right-click individual programs and use the Compatibility tab to override scaling for that program only. This is useful if one program looks too large or too small compared to others.

What's the difference between scaling and resolution?

Scaling makes everything larger without changing how many pixels your monitor displays. Resolution changes the number of pixels, which also changes size but can affect image sharpness. Scaling is usually the better choice for readability.

Why does my screen look blurry after I change the scale?

Older programs weren't designed for scaling and don't know how to display themselves at a larger size. Windows blurs them to make them readable, but it's not perfect. Use the Compatibility tab fix to help, or try running the program in compatibility mode for an older Windows version.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing display size?

No. The change takes effect when ready in most programs. However, some programs may need to be restarted to show the new size, and a few may need a full computer restart. Try restarting just the program first.