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How can I change (increase) the DPI of a remote desktop session?
I am using two Windows 7 PC - both are already set to 125% on Control Panel/Display/Make it easier to read.
Yet when I open a Remote Desktop from one machine to the other the remote desktop is displayed at 100% (tiny).
How can I have the Remote Desktop displayed at 125%?
laktak
Posted 2011-06-07T12:30:35.253
Reputation: 2 223
13
I eventually found a solution to this via this blog post by Falafel Softare.
Basically:
I've written this up in a bit more detail with screenshots on my blog.
edit: Sounds like this might only work with Windows 8 clients, getting reports it doesn't work the same way with Windows 7 clients.
edit: Microsoft is no longer offering V2.2, only V2.7. Sounds like it will still work if you tweak the settings: Browse to the location of RDCMan.exe. (C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Remote Desktop Connection Manager by default). Right click RDCMan.exe select properties, select Compatibility tab and uncheck "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings"
codeulike
Posted 2011-06-07T12:30:35.253
Reputation: 1 080
2Does not appear to work when using Windows 7 as the client, at least in my experience. The referenced blog post has more info. It sounds like Win8 vs Win7 might be an important variable. – Cameron – 2015-03-02T18:54:56.053
Using Remote Desktop Connection Manager v2.7, along with the settings fix worked for me. (Win 10 RDP into Win 7). Note: I had installed the hotfix mentioned by Yngvar Johnsen first (on the Win 7 machine), so not sure if that helped or not. – Johnie Karr – 2016-03-07T00:51:52.003
Win 10 RDP into Win 7 (without the hotfix) works as promised. If i understand the hotfix alternative correctly, this is a better solution as there is no manual manipulation of the DPI setting and RDCMan is a better way to RDP anyway – KCD – 2016-06-28T22:10:27.647
"select Compatibility tab and uncheck "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings" - this worked for me without installing the fix on remote – user3526 – 2016-07-19T13:51:26.783
This actually works for me using Win 7 client - Win 7 remote. Installed hotfix on remote, set scaling on remote to 125% and the normal Win 7 rdp client now displays the scaled session properly. Thanks! – Jon – 2017-07-25T14:06:32.933
uncheck "Disable display scaling on high DPI settings" -- this did not work for me with with the remote being Windows 2016 Server Azure VM, and the local machine Windows 7 – mjeppesen – 2017-08-11T21:07:34.873
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Microsoft has released a hotfix enabling the DPI setting for RDP sessions.
Hotfix info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2726399.
Hotfix downloads:
Also note that you have to manually either choose to open this file as administrator, or choose a different unzip location. Then run the smaller file that comes out, which will automatically elevate as it should.
Yngvar Johnsen
Posted 2011-06-07T12:30:35.253
Reputation: 498
Presumably you install this on the destination machine rather than the one you are remoting from? – codeulike – 2013-11-07T16:00:42.337
5To answer myself: Yes, install the hotfix on the remote machine. – codeulike – 2013-11-07T19:18:39.663
In case you are leary of hotfixes, this one is dated July 19, 2012. One would hope it is stable or MS would have pulled or updated it. – JohnC – 2014-02-18T11:26:35.820
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I know this is an old question, but I have found and elegant and easy solution to this issue.
Change Text Size is a small application written by Michel Stevelmans which will allow a user to change their DPI settings. I have tested it on Windows 7 and it has worked wonderfully.
Here is a link to the KBB article in regards to this issue: KB2544872
Melikoth
Posted 2011-06-07T12:30:35.253
Reputation: 1 604
Michel Stevelmans works like a charm. – Martin – 2016-02-22T14:32:27.580
2Themed font sizes are not the same as the DPI setting. DPI affects more than window metrics and system default font sizes. – Chris Smith – 2012-11-16T15:03:29.097
The only way to make remote picture bigger I found is to set lower resolution for the local PC's (client's) monitor (which looks ugly to be honest). My case: Win 7 (client) connects to the remote headless Win 10. – Lu55 – 2018-04-16T23:02:25.367