To match the theme of Windows 11/10, Microsoft Office 2021/19 also follows the same UI concept. DPI Scaling plays an important role in using programs with Modern UI. When the scaling is not properly configured, fuzzy and blurry content occurs. Poor Display Scaling makes the programs look quite bad.
Dots Per Inch (DPI) Scaling is one of the additional features introduced in Windows 11/10 regarding the projection of the display to external devices. For a specified resolution, say 1366×768 pixels, the DPI Settings must be above 100%.
DPI Settings are important when projecting the Windows Start Screen or Menu to a projector. If the DPI Settings remain below a predetermined level, the Metro tiles will lose their charm and fluidity and be displayed as mere boxes.
Fix Blurry Fonts in Office Programs
So how does one avoid poor scaling of Office components?
Well, you can try disabling external monitors and see if it helps. Or you can try using the Compatibility option. If these do not work, you can try this method.
1. Open your Microsoft Office installation folder. Right-click on the icon of the Office program for which you’re facing the issue of poor scaling and select Properties.
2. Now in the Properties window, switch to Compatibility tab and put a check mark against Disable display scaling on high DPI settings. Click Apply followed by OK.
Now, reopen the Office programs, and you will find that their content will not be blurry.
There may be a possibility that you may find that the option is disabled or grayed out. In such a case, you will manipulate the concerned registry setting. To do so, press Windows Key + R combination, type put Regedt32.exe in Run dialog box and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
3. In the right pane of this location, create a new string value using Right-click -> New -> String Value. Name this string so created as the file location of your Office component program.
For instance – say PowerPoint, – in my case it’s located at E:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\POWERPNT.EXE.
Now double click on the same string to modify its Value data:
4. In the Edit String box, put the Value data as ~ HIGHDPIAWARE. Now, close the Registry Editor and reboot the machine to make changes effective. After reboot, you won’t see poor scaling issues with Office programs.
You may also try the following. From the Office program options, under the Advanced section, check the Disable hardware graphics acceleration setting and see if it helps you.
For eg. open Outlook > File Options > Advanced > Display > Check the Disable hardware graphics acceleration box > OK. Restart your computer.
I hope something helps.
Read: How to make Font blurry in Word
You may want to also check this post on how to Disable DPI virtualization or Lower the overall Windows DPI setting system-wide to resolve such issues.
Why do the letters on my screen look blurry?
Blurry text on your screen often occurs due to scaling issues with high-resolution displays, like 4K monitors. Windows scales text to improve readability, but this can sometimes cause blurriness. Adjusting display settings or updating drivers may help resolve this issue.
How do I fix Blurry screen in Outlook?
To fix a blurry screen in Outlook, go to File > Options > Advanced > Display and check the box that disables hardware graphics acceleration. Restart Outlook to see if the issue is resolved. If everything is fixed, you can uncheck the box again after some time.
Additional readings to help with the issue of blurry fonts:
- To fix the issue of Blurry Fonts in Windows.
- Make text easier to read using ClearType Tuner in Windows.
