Advanced Appearance Settings - Change Text Size for Items in Windows 8

SIW2 · Jun 10, 2012

That is one of my favourites - I don't have any use for it myself, but plenty of people will -at least someone at MS has had a good idea.

Whoever it is - they need promoting.

Hopachi · Jun 10, 2012

It's a good thing indeed, since the old appearance tab with the classic themes (that covered for this up to Win7) is gone, something with the same functionality had to be added somewhere in the UI.

The custom sizing options for all items can only go from 100% to larger. (the whole UI with window borders and tiles + cursor size changes here)
I remember back in XP where you could also choose a smaller size (of 75% and even lower 50%) but that would probably mess the looks and was excluded from the options.

rdwray · Mar 5, 2013

How to change the text size on windows such as "Personalization"?
Notice the menu text size vs other text, the text on this image is coming out a lot larger than the actual size - about twice:

Edit: Got same problem with Explorer ribbon and menu both.

Brink · Mar 5, 2013

Hello rdwray,

The Menus item's default size setting is "9" and not bolded. This is what is making the menu and ribbon text larger.

Hope this helps,

Shawn

rdwray · Mar 6, 2013

I want the menu text large, it is the text in the rest the window that is too small.

Brink · Mar 6, 2013

In that case, you could change the DPI to say 125% to increase the size of everything a bit more to see if that may work for you.

rdwray · Mar 6, 2013

Brink, thanks and I am aware of the DPI settings. I guess I am being stubborn at this point in that I want to change the font size of the window text. It looks as there isn't a way to do it to the best of my knowledge; MS eliminated the possibility with their assumptions.

Hopachi · Mar 6, 2013

rdwray said:
Brink, thanks and I am aware of the DPI settings. I guess I am being stubborn at this point in that I want to change the font size of the window text. It looks as there isn't a way to do it to the best of my knowledge; MS eliminated the possibility with their assumptions.

In this tutorial there is already an option explained how to modify some font sizes, but ALL of them just like in Win7 are found in the registry.

Alright then.
The eliminated things can be returned, in this case - font size to specific missing items.
But you require a Win7 install or VM from where you can get the exact settings you need, or by modifying the needed entries in the Win8 registry.

If those items work(ed) in one of your Windows 7 installs, go and export those settings from the Win7 registry and apply it to 8.

What I mean is method 2 from here:
How to Access “Advanced Appearance Settings” Option and Change Font Size, Color in Windows 8? - Tweaking with Vishal

In the link above, more particular this part is of interest:

TIP: These Registry keys are same for Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. So to make the task easier, you can boot into Windows 7 and customize the advanced appearance settings using Desktop Personalization window. Then open Registry Editor and take a backup of the above mentioned Registry keys by right-click on them and select Export option. It'll create .REG files. Copy those REG files to Windows 8 computer and run them. The Registry scripts will add those customized settings to Windows 8. Restart Windows 8 computer and you'll see the new settings.

Good luck

rdwray · Mar 6, 2013

Hopachi you are correct, but Win8's over writes the registry and returns settings to the values as installed other than the ones that it give you access to change under "Personalization".

Hopachi · Mar 6, 2013

Sorry to hear that.

For now only the dpi option can get something.

But where exactly is that window text you what to change? Maybe I can get a customized theme going which can be applied to 8.

rdwray · Mar 6, 2013

Look at my first post on the previous page at the image, the text I want to change is the blue text on the personalization window.

Hopachi · Mar 6, 2013

rdwray said:
Look at my first post on the previous page at the image, the text I want to change is the blue text on the personalization window.

That one is fixed UI, even on Windows 7 (if it resizable on Win7 I would have been usable for 8 as well).

The only way for this one remains the higher DPI settings (125%).

The same item, by the way, gave me trouble in trying to change it's color (the ribbon is also having this issue as well) and you have 2 options:
-No way by using Aero themes (default ones)
-Works in high contrast modes* (an AeroLite combination, looks more basic)

* by editing a saved or exported theme in high contrast mode.

Regards
Hopachi

rdwray · Mar 6, 2013

PJLRICH · Apr 30, 2014

By changing these fonts....is that just changing the display on the monitor or does it also effect the printed size or spacing of fonts? We have the same statement printed out of excel to the same printer that prints with different spacing when printed from different computers. The difference is even 2 or 3 lines shorter or longer on one page. All computers have same OS (WIN 8), Excel (Office 2007).

Brink · Apr 30, 2014

Hello Rich, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It will only change how it's displayed on the monitor.

PJLRICH · Apr 30, 2014

Thank you. Can you think of why one excel page (income statement) would print to the same printer from different computers with different spacing? You can put the sheets on top of each other and the bottom printed line is 1/2" + lower on page than the other. It is formatted with the Tahoma font....The line width is exactly the same on both pages....the spacing between the lines gradually increases as it goes down the page. The pages are portrait but feed through the printer landscape. And this same situation occurs when the computers print to 3 other printers in our office. I am totally befuddled

Brink · Apr 30, 2014

I don't use Excel, but would imagine that it could be something set in Excel installed on each PC.

If you like, please feel free to create a new thread for this in the Software and Apps forum area to see if someone may know why.

RBS · Aug 4, 2014

I realize this is an old topic, but, for the life of me I don't understand why they would even remove this feature. The registry settings are the same for Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. Why do they strip out tools people use?

Brink · Aug 4, 2014

Hello RBS,

The GUI was removed since all of the color and font settings for items would only work if you were using the classic theme or a high basic theme. Since the basic theme is no longer available in Windows 8 and 8.1, it was deemed no longer needed.

You can still change some items like in the tutorial on the first page.

If you use a high contrast theme, then you can change more options like below.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6479-window-color-appearance-change-windows-8-a.html

Hope this helps,

Shawn

Advanced Appearance Settings - Change Text Size for Items in Windows 8

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