How to fix scaling issue on my PC

Roxanne M 0 Reputation points
2026-10-17T17:20:44.28+00:00

When I restarted my computer everything got resized so it was tiny and when I go in and rescale everything to look normal, but then other things become huge and unuseable such as word. It changes back to tiny everytime I restart my computer. All of my icons and task bar at the bottom and everything on the computer is so small its hard to read.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics
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  1. John Jefferson Doyon 89,925 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-17T18:03:08.1366667+00:00

    Hi, @Roxanne M

    1. Are you using a laptop screen or an external monitor?
    2. Under Settings > System > Display, does “Scale” or “Display resolution” change after restarting your PC?
    3. Did this start after a Windows update?

    In the meantime, if you haven’t already, please try these steps:

    • Press Windows + I and go to “System” > “Display.”
    • Set “Scale” and “Display resolution” to the options marked “Recommended.”
    • Restart your PC and check if the settings remain the same.

    If the issue persists, your graphics driver may need to be updated or reinstalled.

    Click “Add comment” to let me know.

    Thanks!

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-17T17:21:33.1+00:00

    Set both Display resolution and Scale to their Recommended values for each screen, sign out to apply the settings fully, and then restart to test whether Windows retains them.

    Reset the display configuration

    Since manually increasing the scale made Word unusably large, avoid custom scaling and restore Windows’ recommended combination:

    1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select Display settings.
    2. If multiple screens are shown at the top, select the screen currently in use.
    3. Under Scale & layout:
      • Set Display resolution to the option marked Recommended.
      • Set Scale to the option marked Recommended.
    4. Repeat this for every connected monitor or TV. Scaling is configured separately for each display.
    5. Sign out of Windows and sign back in; some applications do not fully adopt a scale change until then.
    6. Restart the PC and check whether the desktop icons, taskbar, and Word remain correctly sized.

    Microsoft recommends using the marked resolution and scale values because a non-native resolution can make the display appear small, stretched, or unclear.^1^ Scale changes apply immediately to most items, but some applications require signing out and back in.^2^

    If only the text remains difficult to read after everything else is correctly sized, use Settings → Accessibility → Text size. Increase the slider and select Apply. This enlarges text without globally enlarging images and applications.^2^

    If the settings reset after another restart

    An unexpected resolution change can indicate that the graphics driver needs an update:

    1. Open Settings → Windows Update.
    2. Select Check for updates.
    3. Install available updates and restart.
    4. Return to Settings → System → Display and select the recommended resolution and scale again.^1^

    If an external monitor, dock, or TV is connected, temporarily disconnect it and repeat the test using only the PC’s built-in screen. If that fixes the problem, reconnect the displays and configure the recommended resolution and scale individually for each one.

    If updates are installed but scaling still resets

    A closely matching Windows 11 case—display sizing becoming incorrect after every startup or restart—was resolved by reinstalling the current Windows components through Windows Update:

    1. Open Settings → System → Recovery.
    2. Under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now.
    3. Allow the reinstall to finish, then restart.
    4. Recheck Settings → System → Display.

    This repair is intended to preserve files, settings, and installed applications.^3^

    Use this repair only after completing Windows and graphics-driver updates. If Reinstall now is not present, do not substitute Reset this PC, which is a different and more disruptive recovery operation.

    References

    1. Windows 11
    2. Make text and apps bigger | Microsoft Support
    3. Settings- Any time I start my computer I always check my settings for windows 11 pro but it displays it in the wrong dimensions - Microsoft Q&A
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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