Desktop/Window Metrics seems to be ignored on Win11 23H2

Anonymous
2024-08-27T22:15:23+00:00

Key usability settings for older users, like the window border width, no longer seem to respond to settings in HKCU: Control PanelDesktopWindowMetrics. Many online articles, here and elsewhere, suggest that the window border size can be increased using these registry settings. Copilot for Windows believes the misinformation and has been no help at all. 

PS C:\Users\burt\_> $RegistryKey = "HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics"  
PS C:\Users\burt\_> Get-itemproperty $RegistryKey  
  
IconTitleWrap : 1  
Shell Icon Size : 32  
BorderWidth : -200  
CaptionFont : {244, 255, 255, 255…}  
CaptionHeight : -330  
CaptionWidth : -330  
IconFont : {244, 255, 255, 255…}  
MenuFont : {244, 255, 255, 255…}  
MenuHeight : -285  
MenuWidth : -285  
MessageFont : {244, 255, 255, 255…}  
ScrollHeight : -255  
ScrollWidth : -255  
SmCaptionFont : {244, 255, 255, 255…}  
SmCaptionHeight : -330  
SmCaptionWidth : -330  
StatusFont : {244, 255, 255, 255…}  
PaddedBorderWidth : -240  
AppliedDPI : 96  
IconSpacing : -1125  
IconVerticalSpacing : -1125  
MinAnimateMigration : 1  
MinAnimate : 1  
PSPath : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY\_CUR  
 RENT\_USER\Control  
 Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics  
PSParentPath : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry::HKEY\_CUR  
 RENT\_USER\Control Panel\Desktop  
PSChildName : WindowMetrics  
PSDrive : HKCU  
PSProvider : Microsoft.PowerShell.Core\Registry

My borders should now be fat, but they are not. I've logged in and out, no change.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-08-28T10:01:32+00:00

    Hello Burt Harris (Jeran.us) and welcome to the Microsoft Community!

    According to your feedback, you are experiencing an issue where modifying the registry does not change the size of the window border.

    I have tested this on my computer and the change works!

    But there are fixed ratios that need to be changed

    160 and -120 respectively

    I changed -320 and -240 in the registry myself and it worked.

    So you can change the border of your computer with this scale.

    But it's worth noting that this does not change the borders of Microsoft programs or third party programs.

    Only the borders of windows files can be changed.

    I have noticed that you are an older user.

    Therefore, it is possible that the text and borders may need to be enlarged to allow you to get used to it.

    So I suggest you can also adjust it by the following method, you can click the windows key

    Click on Settings>System>Screen>Scaling

    Then increase the ratio of the display in the screen.

    At the same time, go to Settings and click on Accessibility > Text Size

    Increase the font size

    This will also make your daily use more convenient.

    I hope you find the above information helpful.

    Kirito|Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-10-17T11:53:03+00:00

    Hi Kirito.H,

    I have a similar problem:

    After changing the system fonts in the registry to "Courier New" and rebooting nothing happens:

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
    "BorderWidth"="-15"
    "CaptionFont"=hex:f4,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\
    00,00,00,01,00,00,05,00,43,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,69,00,65,00,72,00,20,00,4e,\
    00,65,00,77,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
    00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
    "CaptionHeight"="-330"
    "CaptionWidth"="-330"
    "IconFont"=hex:f4,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
    00,00,01,00,00,05,00,43,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,69,00,65,00,72,00,20,00,4e,00,\
    65,00,77,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
    00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
    "IconTitleWrap"="1"
    "MenuFont"=hex:f4,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,00,\
    00,00,01,00,00,05,00,43,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,69,00,65,00,72,00,20,00,4e,00,\
    65,00,77,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
    00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
    "MenuHeight"="-285"
    "MenuWidth"="-285"
    "MessageFont"=hex:f4,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\
    00,00,00,01,00,00,05,00,43,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,69,00,65,00,72,00,20,00,4e,\
    00,65,00,77,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
    00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
    "ScrollHeight"="-255"
    "ScrollWidth"="-255"
    "Shell Icon Size"="32"
    "SmCaptionFont"=hex:f4,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,\
    00,00,00,00,01,00,00,05,00,43,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,69,00,65,00,72,00,20,00,\
    4e,00,65,00,77,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
    00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
    "SmCaptionHeight"="-330"
    "SmCaptionWidth"="-330"
    "StatusFont"=hex:f4,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,90,01,00,00,\
    00,00,00,01,00,00,05,00,43,00,6f,00,75,00,72,00,69,00,65,00,72,00,20,00,4e,\
    00,65,00,77,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
    00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
    "PaddedBorderWidth"="-60"
    "AppliedDPI"=dword:00000060
    "IconSpacing"="-1716"
    "IconVerticalSpacing"="-1128"
    "MinAnimate"="1"

    And as well in the substitutes I substituted Segoe UI with Courier New (last line).

    What can I do to get Courier New as system font after the restart?

    Best regards

    Berthold L.

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