MetaTrader 4/5 scaling on high resolution screens

In the era of modern technology, high resolution monitors are becoming more and more popular. 4K and even 8K monitors offer incredible image quality, providing clarity and detail that was unattainable in the past. Therefore, traders are increasingly using them, replacing several previously used ones with one with a larger diagonal. The comfort of work is invaluable, but with this increase in quality comes challenges related to scaling fonts, icons and windows on the screen.

MetaTrader 4/5 and scaling problems

In higher resolutions, everything is smaller, but also more precise in detail. There is nothing unusual about this. However, this may be a problem when we use a given program often and the size of the interface makes it unreadable. It is no different with the most popular trading platform used by traders around the world. Scaling issues in MetaTrader 4 / 5 are mainly due to the fact that the platform was designed many years ago, before 4K and higher resolution screens became commonplace. Windows 10 introduces scaling features DPI (Dots Per Inch), which allow applications to better adapt to modern screens. However, older programs may have difficulty using these features properly, leading to unreadable text and small icons.

Changing the scaling settings in the system

Windows (8, 10, 11) offers several options that allow you to enlarge system elements and make it easier to use programs that cannot cope with such settings. To access these options, go to your display settings:

Screen Settings – Scale and Layout

1. Right-click on the desktop and select "Screen settings".
2. At section "Scale and layout” you can adjust the percentage scaling of interface elements. (By default, Windows offers scaling at 100%, 125%, 150%, and 175%, but users can also set custom scaling.)
3. Once you have selected your scaling level, go to "Advanced scaling options” and make sure the blur repair feature is turned on. In this window it is also possible to select other than standard scaling values.

Change scaling settings at the application level

Some older applications (including MT4) may not support proper DPI (Dots Per Inch) scaling. To solve this problem, you can adjust the DPI settings for the application:

1. Right-click on the application shortcut or .exe executable file and select ""Properties".
2. Go to the "Compatibility" and click "Change high DPI settings".
3. Then check the option "Replacement of high DPI scaling" and from the drop-down menu select "System (improved)".

Application properties – terminal.exe

It's worth spending some time experimenting with the above settings to find the perfect setup for you.