How to Fix Blurry Screen or Text in Windows 11

Blurry text or UI elements in Windows 11 can make everything look soft, pixelated or hard to read. In most cases it’s down to mismatched resolution, display scaling or outdated drivers. Follow these steps to get every pixel sharp again.

1. Update Windows and Your Graphics Driver

1. Windows Update
   • Press Win + I → Windows Update → Check for updates.
   • Install any pending system updates and restart.
2. GPU Driver
   • Press Win + X → Device Manager → Display adapters → right-click your GPU → Update driver.
   • Or grab the latest driver from NVIDIA/AMD/Intel’s site and install manually.

Keeping both the OS and GPU driver current ensures Windows uses the correct display engine and scaling logic.

2. Verify Native Resolution and Refresh Rate

1. Right-click your desktop → Display settings.
2. Under Scale & layout, confirm Display resolution matches your monitor’s native spec (e.g. 1920×1080 on a 1080p panel).
3. Click Advanced display → set Refresh rate to the highest supported (60 Hz, 120 Hz, etc.).

Running off-native resolution forces Windows to interpolate pixels, causing blur.

3. Tweak Display Scaling

Windows uses scaling to enlarge text and icons on high-DPI monitors. But fractional or mismatched scales can blur apps.

1. Standard Scaling
   • In Display settings → Scale & layout → choose a preset: 100%, 125%, 150% (avoid custom odd values like 110%).
2. Let Windows Fix Apps
   • Click Advanced scaling → toggle on Let Windows try to fix apps so they’re not blurry.
3. Custom Scaling (if needed)
   • Advanced scaling → enter an integer (e.g. 125) and sign out/in.
   • Only use if presets don’t suit you—keep it whole-number to minimize blur.

4. Use the ClearType Text Tuner

ClearType sharpens font rendering:

1. Press Start, type Adjust ClearType, open the wizard.
2. Tick Turn on ClearType, click Next through each sample, picking the clearest text.
3. Finish and reboot if prompted.

This doesn’t fix UI blur but makes all text crisper.

5. Override DPI Scaling Per App

Some older apps don’t honor Windows 11’s DPI settings:

1. Right-click the app’s shortcut or .exe → Properties.
2. Go to Compatibility → Change high DPI settings.
3. Under High DPI scaling override, check Override high DPI scaling behavior and set Scaling performed by: to Application.
4. Click OK, then Apply.

Relaunch the app; it should now render at its intended resolution.

6. Disable Fullscreen Optimization (Optional)

Fullscreen optimizations can introduce blur or input lag in games or videos:

1. Compatibility tab (same as above) → check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
2. Apply and restart the app.

Test performance; if stutter appears, revert the change.

7. Check Multi-Monitor Settings

If you have more than one display:

• Ensure each monitor uses its own native resolution and scaling in Display settings.
• Avoid dragging windows between monitors with wildly different DPIs, or use a tool like DisplayFusion to force per-monitor DPI awareness.

Windows 11 handles per-monitor scaling better than Windows 10, but old applications may still blur when moved.

Wrap-Up

Blurry screens in Windows 11 almost always come down to one of these culprits:

• Running off native resolution
• Fractional or mismatched scaling
• Outdated GPU drivers
• Legacy apps ignoring DPI settings

Work through each step and reboot when prompted. By the end, your text and UI should be sharp, clear and easy on the eyes.

Enjoy crystal-clear Windows 11—no squinting required!
Got a trick we missed? Drop it in the comments.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!