Changing the display scale in Ubuntu allows you to adjust the size of text, icons, and interface elements to better suit your screen's resolution and your personal preference, especially on high-DPI displays. There are primarily two straightforward methods to achieve this: through the built-in Display Settings for overall interface scaling, and by using the GNOME Tweaks tool for more granular control over font scaling.
1. Adjusting Overall UI Scale via Display Settings
This is the most common and easiest method to adjust the global scaling factor for your entire Ubuntu desktop environment. It's ideal for making everything on your screen appear larger or smaller.
Steps to Change Display Scale:
- Open Settings: Click on the power icon (usually in the top-right corner of your screen), then click the cog icon (Settings) from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can open the Applications menu and search for "Settings."
- Navigate to Display Settings: In the Settings window, select the "Displays" option from the left sidebar.
- Select Scale Option: On the "Display" page, locate the "Scale" section. Here, you will typically find options like 100%, 200%, or other percentages depending on your display. For example, selecting a "Scale" option of 200% will double the size of UI elements.
- Apply Changes: Choose your desired scale percentage. Ubuntu will usually prompt you to confirm the changes or revert after a short period if you don't interact, ensuring you don't get stuck with an unusable display.
- Tip: For users with high-resolution displays (e.g., 4K monitors), a 200% scale often provides a comfortable viewing experience. Some versions of Ubuntu (or specific display drivers) might also offer "Fractional Scaling" (e.g., 125%, 150%, 175%), which can be enabled in the Display settings for more fine-tuned adjustments. Keep in mind that fractional scaling might consume slightly more resources and could sometimes lead to minor rendering artifacts.
2. Fine-tuning Font Scale with GNOME Tweaks
While the Display Settings adjust the overall UI, the GNOME Tweaks tool provides a separate "Scaling Factor" specifically for fonts. This is useful if you want to change only the text size without affecting icons or other interface elements as much.
Steps to Change Font Scale using GNOME Tweaks:
- Install GNOME Tweaks (if not installed): If you don't have GNOME Tweaks, you can install it using the Ubuntu Software Center or via the terminal:
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks - Open GNOME Tweaks: Search for "Tweaks" in your Applications menu and open the application.
- Navigate to Fonts: In the GNOME Tweaks window, select the "Fonts" option from the left sidebar.
- Adjust Scaling Factor: In the "Fonts" section, you will find a "Scaling Factor" slider or input field. You can set a "Scaling Factor" here (e.g., 1.25 for 125% font size). Adjust this value to your preference.
- Observe Changes: The changes take effect immediately, allowing you to see the impact on text size across your applications.
- Note: Changing the font scaling factor in GNOME Tweaks primarily affects the size of text. It does not scale other UI elements like icons or window borders in the same way the Display Settings "Scale" option does.
Comparing Scaling Methods
Here's a quick comparison of the two primary methods:
| Feature | Display Settings (Scale) | GNOME Tweaks (Font Scaling Factor) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Effect | Scales the entire user interface (text, icons, windows) | Primarily scales text size |
| Access | Built-in Ubuntu Settings (Power icon -> Cog icon) | Requires gnome-tweaks application (may need installation) |
| Options | Standard percentages (e.g., 100%, 200%), sometimes fractional | Numeric slider/input (e.g., 1.0, 1.25, 1.5) |
| Use Case | Adjusting for high-DPI screens, general readability | Fine-tuning text size independently of other UI elements |
For more general information on Ubuntu and its features, you can visit the official Ubuntu website. For detailed information about GNOME Tweaks, you can refer to the GNOME project wiki.
