Windows 10 · Windows 11

Fix Blurry Apps, Icons, and Text in Windows

Source-checked 2 September 2026About 10 minutes

Answer

Set the display to its Recommended resolution and scaling first. Sign out if Windows asks. If only one app is blurry, repair or update that app; if everything is blurry, update the graphics driver from Windows Update or the computer maker and check the monitor's native resolution and cable.

Before you continue

Use Recommended settingsLCD displays look sharpest at their native resolution.
Separate one app from the whole screenThe cause is different.
Check each monitorWindows stores scaling separately per display.

Open Microsoft's display guide

Identify the scope

Check whether Windows Settings text is blurry too, or whether the problem appears in only one app. Note which monitor is affected.

Use the recommended resolution

Open Settings > System > Display, select the affected monitor, and set Display resolution to the option marked Recommended.

Follow Microsoft's display guide

Use recommended scaling

On the same Display page, set Scale to the recommended percentage. Sign out and back in if Windows requests it.

Check the monitor

For an external display, select its native resolution, reconnect the cable, and avoid a low-resolution adapter or duplicated display mode when the monitors differ.

Repair one blurry app

Update the app, close and reopen it, then use Settings > Apps > Installed apps > the app > Advanced options > Repair when available.

Read Microsoft's app repair guide

Update the graphics driver

Install Windows Update and Optional updates. If the whole screen remains blurry, use the exact PC or GPU maker's official driver.

Verify at normal viewing size

Open Settings and the affected app on each monitor. Check ordinary text at 100% browser zoom rather than judging a magnified screenshot.

If it does not work

If only a remote desktop or virtual machine is blurry, adjust its session resolution and scaling instead of the local monitor.
If text has colored edges, run ClearType Text Tuner after resolution and scaling are correct.
If the monitor reports the wrong native resolution, test a known-good cable and another port before replacing software.

Sources and verification

Checked against official documentation on 2 September 2026. Scope: Windows 11.

The written instructions were checked against the current official pages linked below. The older video is kept for reference and may show different menus.