How to fix small menus and icons on 4k display in Photoshop? [2015]

Hi All

This is a nasty problem on new laptops with high resolution screens.

This solution is based on  a cs5 work around,

Just find the executable, right click select compatibility tab, drop to 2nd bottom button [ Change high DPI settings] in the new window click [ High DPI scaling  override ] important select system in drop down.

Don't forget to apply.

Hooray AE of old.

Bob

I have a HP Envy 4k laptop and I faced the exact same issue.

Solution is just to override high DPI scaling behavior.

Steps to get this done:

Note: You need to configure the setting on a shortcut for the Photoshop CS6, either on the default shortcuts on your start menu or on your desktop or anywhere.

1. Right-click the shortcut for Photoshop and click Properties.

2. Click on Compatibility Tab.

3. Click on Change high DPI settings.

4. Make sure Override high DPI scaling behaviour is enabled.

5. Select System or System (Enhanced) option from the drop down menu for Scaling performed by:

6. Click OK for current window and then for the main Properties window.

7. Start Photoshop application using the shortcut you just configured using the above steps.

8. You are good now.

If this helped you to resolve your issue, please mark this as a solution.

Try the experimental features, if your version offers it!

Edit --> Preferences --> Experimental Features (it's on the bottom for me!) --> Scale UI to 200% for High Density Displays --> click OK --> Restart Photoshop

This is NOT helpful for computers with small screens like Surface Pros (I have one) as the menus just get TOO big and there's hardly any drawing room. In my opinion, at least. I prefer to maximize my drawing space since I have a small screen.

Hope this helps!

FIX Photoshop cc interface too small - YouTube

this fixed it for me

I had the the same problem in Adobe Illustrator and I fixed it by going to

Edit, then Preferences, then User Interface, and chose "Scale to Higher Supported Scale Factor", and clicked OK, then restart the program.
Hope this can help!

Ugg I hate this bug.    Here are (hopefully complete and easy to follow) step by step instructions to fix the teeny tiny menus in Photoshop issue.  Cheers.

Step 1:   Backup the registry

A. From the Start menu, type regedit.exe in the search box, and then press Enter.

B. In Registry Editor, locate and click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (which is what you want to back up).

C. Click File > Export.

D. In the Export Registry File dialog box, select C:/ as the location to which you want to save the backup copy, and then type the name HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_BACKUP for the backup file in the File name field.

E. Click Save.

Step 2: Tell windows to prefer an external manifest file

A. From the Start menu, type regedit.exe in the search box, and then press Enter.

B. In Registry Editor, Navigate to the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > SideBySide

C. Right-click, select NEW > DWORD (32 bit) Value

D. Type PreferExternalManifest, and then press ENTER.

E. Right-click PreferExternalManifest, and then click Modify.

F. Enter Value Data 1 and select Decimal.

G. Click OK,

I. then exit the Registry Editor.

Step 3: Create and place the external manifest files

A. Create a text file called “photoshop.exe.manifest.txt” in the directory where your photoshop.exe is located.  An example is C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS6 (64 Bit)

B. Edit the text file with Notepad and put the following text in the file and save it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>

<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0" xmlns:asmv3="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">

<dependency>

  <dependentAssembly>

    <assemblyIdentity

      type="win32"

      name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"

      version="6.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="*"

      publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"

      language="*">

    </assemblyIdentity>

  </dependentAssembly>

</dependency>

<dependency>

  <dependentAssembly>

    <assemblyIdentity

      type="win32"

      name="Microsoft.VC90.CRT"

      version="9.0.21022.8"

      processorArchitecture="amd64"

      publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b">

    </assemblyIdentity>

  </dependentAssembly>

</dependency>

<trustInfo xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">

  <security>

    <requestedPrivileges>

      <requestedExecutionLevel

        level="asInvoker"

        uiAccess="false"/>

    </requestedPrivileges>

  </security>

</trustInfo>

<asmv3:application>

  <asmv3:windowsSettings xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SMI/2005/WindowsSettings">

    <ms_windowsSettings:dpiAware xmlns:ms_windowsSettings="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SMI/2005/WindowsSettings">false</ms_windowsSettings:dpiAware>

  </asmv3:windowsSettings>

</asmv3:application>

</assembly>

Step 4: Reboot your computer  

Hi.

I have soltion for this as i had same problem.

You just go to image size and make it in pixels and adjust the resolution of document.

Its will get u back on regular tx size.

Thanks.

All you have to do to fix this problem is, right click on your adobe software that you are trying to fix and click on properties.

Next go to the compatibility tab and click, CHANGE HIGH DPI SETTINGS, then just set your settings to what i have them in the picture

I hope this helps and works for you because it worked wonders for me.

HERE IS THE FIX. Credit to davidw83878403

1) For the desktop "Adobe Photoshop" shortcut:

-right click on the shortcut icon

-left click on Properties

-open the Compatibility tab

-in the Settings area on the compatibility tab, ensure the box beside the "Override high DPI scaling behaviour." box is checked, and in the drop-down box directly below "Scaling performed By:", set to System.

Doing the above WILL NOT CHANGE the way PS opens if you ask it to open via a right click on the photo in question (that is, right click on photo > Open With > Photoshop (Editor)).

You therefore also have to perform the above steps for the PhotoShop .EXE file.  On my computer, this is located at: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS6 (64 Bit)

Locate the Photoshop.exe file, right click on it and:

-left click on Properties

-open the Compatibility tab

-in the Settings area on the compatibility tab, ensure the box beside the "Override high DPI scaling behaviour." box is checked, and in the drop-down box directly below "Scaling Performed By:" set to System. [or Try System (Enhanced)]

I still use CS6 for some things that CC 2018 can no longer do, so I use both. Using PS CS6 on a 12.5" HD (1920x1080) resolution Lenovo x270 laptop is really difficult without using workarounds that have not worked very well. The Dan Antonielli 'photoshop.exe.manifest' solution is the first I've come across that does what I need. For serious image editing I have a proper desktop system. But at last I can now use CS6 comfortably on the high-res laptop when needed. Thank you Dan Antonielli and those who posted the info here.

Russell