How to check DPI scaling for an esports setup

Does text or a game menu look larger on one monitor, even though both screens are connected to the same PC? Different display scaling can make the desktop, launchers, and overlays feel inconsistent. It can also change how a game window fits on each screen.

Check the reported resolution and scale for every connected display first. The Screens tool shows those details in your browser, so you can compare monitors before changing settings.

Check scaling across your screens

1. Open Screens on the computer you use for gaming. Keep all the monitors you want to compare connected and turned on.
2. Note the resolution and scale shown for each screen. If you have more than one display, identify each one by its position and compare the values.
3. Open your operating system's display settings and compare the scale setting for each monitor. Write down the current values before changing anything.
4. Drag the same window, such as a game launcher or settings window, from one monitor to another. Check whether its text and controls change size or look blurry.
5. After adjusting a scale setting, reopen the app you are checking and compare it again. Some apps do not update their size until you restart them.

Keep the game closed while you first compare desktop settings. That makes it easier to tell whether a difference comes from Windows or macOS, the game, or an overlay.

What the results mean

The scale values differ between monitors

The displays are using different scaling settings. This is common when monitors have different sizes or pixel densities. A higher-resolution screen may use a larger scale so menus and text remain readable. Different percentages do not automatically mean anything is wrong.

Compare the actual size and clarity of interface elements, not only the numbers. A 27-inch 1440p monitor and a 24-inch 1080p monitor can need different scale values to make text appear about the same size.

The scale values match, but items look different sizes

Matching percentages do not guarantee matching physical sizes. The monitors may have different resolutions or screen sizes. If the difference is only in desktop menus, adjust the scale for comfort. If it appears only inside a game, check the game's resolution and interface settings too.

A window changes size or looks blurry when moved

The app may not handle display scaling well, or it may need to restart after you move it. Older games and launchers can use a different scaling method than the desktop. This does not by itself show that a monitor is defective.

The game looks the same, but its menus or overlays do not

The game may be running at its own selected resolution while desktop apps use operating-system scaling. Check the game's resolution, display mode, and interface size separately from the desktop scale. An overlay can also have its own size setting.

How to make the screens feel consistent

1. Set each screen to its recommended resolution. On Windows 11, open Settings › System › Display, select a display, then choose the option marked Recommended under Display resolution. On macOS, open System Settings › Displays and choose a resolution or scaling option that keeps text clear. A lower resolution can make the picture softer.
2. Adjust scale for readability. In Windows 11, go to Settings › System › Display › Scale & layout, select a display, and choose its scale. On macOS, open System Settings › Displays and choose a scaled option. Use a similar apparent interface size across monitors, rather than forcing the same percentage.
3. Place the gaming display where you expect apps to open. On Windows 11, use Settings › System › Display to select and arrange displays, then choose the screen you want as the main display. On macOS, open System Settings › Displays to arrange screens and set the main display. This helps launchers and windows appear where you expect.
4. Check the game's display options. Select the intended monitor, resolution, and display mode in the game. If the game is blurry or oddly sized, test its fullscreen and borderless window options, then restart it. Do not change mouse sensitivity to compensate for a window or menu that is the wrong size.
5. Retest overlays and launchers. Move them to the gaming screen and check their text and controls. If only one app remains blurry, close and reopen it after changing scale. Look for an app-specific interface scale setting before changing the whole display again.

What scaling does not change

Display scaling and mouse DPI are different settings. Display scaling changes the size of desktop interface elements. Mouse DPI describes how far the pointer moves for a given amount of physical mouse movement. Changing a monitor's scale does not directly change the mouse sensor's DPI or the game's sensitivity.

Resolution is different too. It describes how many pixels the screen displays. A game's resolution can affect sharpness and performance, while desktop scaling changes the size of interface elements. For a fair esports comparison, keep the game's resolution, display mode, and mouse settings the same when testing a change to desktop scale.

The Screens tool reports browser-visible screen details, not every game's rendering behavior. Use it to compare screens, then verify the final result in the game and apps you actually use.