Windows stay same size when dragging between 1080P and 1440P monitors

deepsix80
deepsix80 Member Posts: 1 New User
edited April 21 in Monitors

I have a 24" 1920X1080 monitor as my main monitor using HDMI connector and I have my Acer 32" 2560X1440 as my second monitor and using the Display Port connector.,

When I purchased the 32" I was counting on being able to move windows from the 24" to the 32" and expecting the "window" to get somewhat smaller because the 32" had more pixels. Everything I read on this continues to say this.

My experience is that this is not happening because my window sizes stay the same. This gives me less room on the 32" than I had planned.

When I first set this up, that is what I got and then something happened to change that and I don't know what happened

Is there a setting for this or is this something Windows is "compensating for"?

Is there any way to "Fix" this so I get the smaller window on the 32"?
Thanks for your help.

Answers

  • Sharanji
    Sharanji ACE Posts: 5,049 Pathfinder

    @deepsix80

    It sounds like you're experiencing an issue where windows moved from your 24" 1080p monitor to your 32" 1440p monitor are not scaling down in size as expected. This is likely due to Windows display scaling settings not being configured optimally for your dual-monitor setup.

    This happens because, your 24" 1080p monitor has a lower pixel density (PPI) than your 32" 1440p monitor. By default, Windows may apply the same scaling e.g., 100% to both monitors, causing windows to appear larger on the 1080p screen and smaller on the 1440p screen since more pixels are packed into the 1440p display. If windows stay the same physical size when dragged between monitors, it means Windows is not adjusting scaling dynamically.

    You can try these fix.
    Adjust Scaling Settings. Right-click on your desktop and choose Display settings.
    Select each monitor and adjust the Scale and Layout settings (e.g., 100%, 125%, etc.) to find the right balance. Ensure the Resolution for each monitor is set to its native resolution (1920x1080 for the 24” and 2560x1440 for the 32”). Consider Positioning. In Display settings, you can rearrange how the monitors are aligned (e.g., top-to-bottom or side-by-side). This can help reduce the scaling differences when dragging windows between them.

    Check GPU Control Panel Settings
    NVIDIA: Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Adjust desktop size and position → Ensure "No Scaling" or "GPU" scaling is selected.
    AMD: Open Radeon Settings > Display > Scaling Mode → Try "Preserve aspect ratio" or "Full panel".
    Intel: Open Intel Graphics Command Center > Display > Scaling → Try different modes.

    If certain apps (like games) behave strangely:
    Right-click the app’s shortcut → Properties > Compatibility.
    Check "Override high DPI scaling behavior" and select "Application" or "System".

    Expected Behavior After Fixing:
    When you drag a window from the 24" 1080p lower PPI monitor to the 32" 1440p higher PPI monitor, the window should appear smaller because the same content is spread over more pixels.
    If you prefer windows to stay the same physical size but sharper, adjust scaling so that both monitors have similar perceived size e.g., 100% on 1080p, 125% on 1440p.

    If still not working, Try switching cables sometimes HDMI vs. DisplayPort can affect scaling behavior.
    Test with only the 1440p monitor connected to see if the issue persists.
    Check if your monitor’s OSD settings have a scaling or input scaling option.

    I hope this helps! If this was useful, please hit 'Yes' or 'Like'! Thanks! 😊

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