Modifying the Size of Items in Windows

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated November 11, 2019)

1

When you first install Windows, it tries to cram as much info on the screen as it can at one time. This might make it difficult for you to see things, though. Fortunately, Windows allows you to adjust the size of what it displays.

If you are using Windows 7 or 8, follow these steps:

  1. Display the Control Panel.
  2. Click the Hardware and Sound link.
  3. Under the Display heading, click the "Make Text and Other Items Larger or Smaller" link. (See Figure 1.)

    4. Figure 1. Setting display options in Windows 8.

  4. Near the top of the dialog box is a slider with the word "Smaller" at the left and "Larger" at the right. Drag the slider left or right to specify how large you want items to appear.
  5. Click the Apply button.
  6. Close the Control Panel.
  7. Restart your system.

You may have noticed that the slider control only gives you three levels at which items can be displayed. If you are using Windows 10 you have quite a bit more flexibility. Follow these steps:

  1. Type "Display Settings" (without the quote marks) in the search box at the left of the task bar and click Display Settings from the available options. Windows displays the Display tab of the Settings window.
  2. Click the Advanced Scaling Settings link under the Scale and Layout heading. Windows displays the Advanced Scaling Settings dialog box. (See Figure 2.)

    3. Figure 2. The Advanced Scaling Settings dialog box.

You can then enter a custom scaling size between 100% and 500% in the box under the Custom Scaling heading. Even though Windows says, "not recommended," I've experienced no ill effects in using this feature of Windows.

When you've typed in the magnification level you want, click Apply to actually change the settings. Windows informs you that you need to log out and back in for the changes to take effect; you can choose to do so at this point or at a later time.

 This tip (2489) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Inserting Signature Lines

How to create signature lines in a Word document.

Discover More

Creating Thin Spaces

Thin spaces are a typographic device that allows you add a bit of space between elements of a document. There are no thin ...

Discover More

Understanding Auto-Population of Cells

Auto-population of your formulas can be a useful tool when you are adding data to your worksheets. It would be even more ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Signs Your Computer has a Virus

Think your system might be infected with a virus? How would you know if it was? Here are some quick indicators that your ...

Discover More

Using the System Configuration Utility

Want to change what happens when Windows is started? It's easy to make changes if you know how to use the System ...

Discover More

Displaying the PC Settings Screen

Need to customize how your Windows interface looks? If so, you'll want to use the PC Settings screen. This tip explains ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two less than 6?

2016-05-09 08:48:06

Henry Noble

In addition to the above tips, there is a shortcut that may get you the appearance you want very quickly.
Click on an open area of the Desktop, then hold down the Ctrl key while rolling the scroll wheel on the mouse.
This simple size adjustment often is all that is needed.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.