How to change window title bar size in Windows 10

Question

As far as i can remember in older versions of Windows you were able to modify the thickness of the window title bar so that minimize and close icons become smaller and the top of the window narrower.

What i'm referring to:

I cannot seem to find this setting in windows 10. Is it hidden somewhere? How can i modify the theme used in Windows 10 (not choose another theme but modify default one).

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

I don't have Windows 10, but the solution is probably to change the registry at
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics.

The following registry .reg file will make the titlebar thinner, the titlebar text smaller, scroll bars thinner and the border padding as thin as possible.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
"CaptionHeight"="-285"
"CaptionWidth"="-285"
"CaptionFont"=hex:f4,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\ 
00,00,00,01,00,00,05,00,53,00,65,00,67,00,6f,00,65,00,20,00,55,00,49,00,00,\  
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\  
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00  
"ScrollWidth"="-240"
"ScrollHeight"="-240"
"PaddedBorderWidth"="0"

Remember to export the WindowMetrics key before you start modifying it, just in case you need to revert to the defaults after having messed something up. You also need to log out and back in again to see the changes.

For CaptionHeight and CaptionWidth, use the following formula: -15*desired height in pixels. For example, to set the title bar height to 18px, set the CaptionHeight value to -15*18, resulting in -270.

For ScrollWidth and ScrollHeight, the default value is -255. A higher value (ex: -1000) will give you a wider scrollbar, and lower value (ex: -100) will give you a thinner scrollbar.

(source)

Answer 2

There is a way to modify the Windows 10 title bar height using Windows Registry Editor.
Follow these steps:

1. Open the registry editor and navigate to the following key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
   

2. Calculate the desired height by using the following formula:

   -15*desired height in pixels (Example: 20px = -15*20 = -300)
   

3. Change the string value named CaptionHeight to the calculated value

4. Sign out and sign back in for the changes to take effect

Answer 3

First you have to open up the control panel and go to Appearance and Personalization

Then select Display,"make text items and other items larger or smaller"

Click on the small box next to Title bar and adjust your Title bar size.

Answer 4

Here is how it's done in Win 8 / 8.1. I don't have Win 10 so please try and let us know if the same works.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8463-border-width-windows-change-windows-8-a.html

1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap OK.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics

4. In the right pane of WindowMetrics, double click/tap on PaddedBorderWidth to be able to modify it. (see screenshot above)

5. Type in a data value of 0 (zero) or between -1 to -1500, and click/tap OK. (see screenshot below)

Note

The default value is -60. A higher value (ex: -1500) will give you wider window borders, and lower value (ex: 0 or -1) will give you thinner window borders.

Each -17 is equal to 1 pixel in width.

6. Close regedit.

7. Sign out and sign in with your user account to apply.

Answer 5

For Windows 10 b1607 the height of a window title bar will be adjusted accordingly to the size of the title bar font. For a (dpi) display setting of 100% the following values are valid at the moment:

• title bar font size 9px (windows default setting): title bar height 30px
• title bar font size 7px: title bar height 26px

It is not necessary to adjust the value "CaptionHeight" in the Windows registry anymore as proposed in several other answers because this value is adjusted by windows automatically now when the title bar font size is changed.

The title bar font can be changed here:

• control panel > display settings
• or: Windows settings > system > advanced display settings > change the size of text and other elements

Answer 6

I know that you can change the font sizes through the settings app (typing in font size located it quickly) . Whether that also changes the title bar size I don't know.