How to fix RDP dpi awareness problems
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Some applications still doesn't work well with dpi scaling.
The problem is that RDP uses the clients dpi scaling on the RDP server when you connect.
So assume that a remote server has no dpi scaling enabled, (set to 100%).
When you connect with a client that has dpi scaling, say 125%, the remote server tell it's applications to use 125%.
If you want to disable this feature you can do it by changing the registry.
On the REMOTE SERVER:
- Start the Registry Editor (regedit)
- Go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations - Add a new registry entry DWORD (32-bit) Value. Call it
IgnoreClientDesktopScaleFactor - Set it to
1. - Exit
When you connect the next time the server will disregard the clients dpi setting.
I did this with Windows 10 as both client and server. But the info was found on a Microsoft support page regarding Windows Server 2012 R2. I assume it will work with anything newer than that.
PS.
If you need to scale the RDP window bigger or smaller, use the Remote Desktop Connection's Zoom setting (in the system menu on the RDP window). Or use the Smart Sizing. Both of these methods are plain scaling and doesn't mess up any applications. -
@Pete-S We have a few older accounting apps we support that don't scale well in RemoteApp no matter what the client setting is. The menu items appear to be microscopic.
Great for Session Host desktops but what about RemoteApp?
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@PhlipElder said in How to fix RDP dpi awareness problems:
@Pete-S We have a few older accounting apps we support that don't scale well in RemoteApp no matter what the client setting is. The menu items appear to be microscopic.
Great for Session Host desktops but what about RemoteApp?
Windows DPI scaling is not working 100% so it is what it is.
I have on purpose avoided purchasing any display / resolution combination that doesn't fall between 90 to 110 dpi. So I don't really get into much trouble.
Anyway, I don't have any specific experience with remoteapp. But since it uses RDP I would disable the scaling in the registry on the server. And then work on setting the dpi on the server to whatever is needed. There is also the possibility of setting DPI scaling behavior on a per application basis.
That's the route I would go.
DPI settings are normally per user but if you have users with multiple devices with widely different dpi I don't think you can get it right.
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@Pete-S said in How to fix RDP dpi awareness problems:
@PhlipElder said in How to fix RDP dpi awareness problems:
@Pete-S We have a few older accounting apps we support that don't scale well in RemoteApp no matter what the client setting is. The menu items appear to be microscopic.
Great for Session Host desktops but what about RemoteApp?
Windows DPI scaling is not working 100% so it is what it is.
I have on purpose avoided purchasing any display / resolution combination that doesn't fall between 90 to 110 dpi. So I don't really get into much trouble.
Anyway, I don't have any specific experience with remoteapp. But since it uses RDP I would disable the scaling in the registry on the server. And then work on setting the dpi on the server to whatever is needed. There is also the possibility of setting DPI scaling behavior on a per application basis.
That's the route I would go.
DPI settings are normally per user but if you have users with multiple devices with widely different dpi I don't think you can get it right.
Yeah, we learned that lesson with the first batch of ultra-high resolution laptops that we deployed and users started complaining almost immediately. We were able to bandaid to some degree as the Session Host settings would get picked up by the RemoteApps after the user tweaked them and logged out of the SH Desktop but those legacy menus never did get addressed.
Folks need a magnifying glass.
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@PhlipElder said in How to fix RDP dpi awareness problems:
@Pete-S said in How to fix RDP dpi awareness problems:
@PhlipElder said in How to fix RDP dpi awareness problems:
@Pete-S We have a few older accounting apps we support that don't scale well in RemoteApp no matter what the client setting is. The menu items appear to be microscopic.
Great for Session Host desktops but what about RemoteApp?
Windows DPI scaling is not working 100% so it is what it is.
I have on purpose avoided purchasing any display / resolution combination that doesn't fall between 90 to 110 dpi. So I don't really get into much trouble.
Anyway, I don't have any specific experience with remoteapp. But since it uses RDP I would disable the scaling in the registry on the server. And then work on setting the dpi on the server to whatever is needed. There is also the possibility of setting DPI scaling behavior on a per application basis.
That's the route I would go.
DPI settings are normally per user but if you have users with multiple devices with widely different dpi I don't think you can get it right.
Yeah, we learned that lesson with the first batch of ultra-high resolution laptops that we deployed and users started complaining almost immediately. We were able to bandaid to some degree as the Session Host settings would get picked up by the RemoteApps after the user tweaked them and logged out of the SH Desktop but those legacy menus never did get addressed.
Folks need a magnifying glass.
Besides buying new laptops there is also the option of changing the resolution to a non-native resolution.
From 3840x2160 to 1920x1080 for example. That always work.Not ideal of course but better than not seeing it at all...
