The DPI Synchronization feature ensures that the DPI setting in a remote desktop or published application matches the client system's DPI setting.

Like the Display Scaling feature, the DPI Synchronization feature can improve the readability of text and icons on high-DPI displays. Unlike the Display Scaling feature, which increases the size of fonts and images and can make them blurry, the DPI Synchronization feature increases the size of fonts and images, keeping them sharp. For this reason, the DPI Synchronization feature is generally preferred for an optimal user experience.

Because Windows does not allow users to change the system-level DPI setting for the current user session, DPI synchronization occurs only when you log in and start a remote session. If you change the DPI setting during a remote session, you must log off and log in again to make the remote desktop's DPI setting match the client system's new DPI setting.

The agent DPI setting is located in the Windows registry at Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop: logPixels.

Horizon Client supports synchronization only to the system DPI setting.

Note: The system DPI setting might not be the same as the main monitor's DPI setting. For example, if you close the main monitor and the system switches to an external display that has a different DPI setting than the main monitor, the system DPI setting is still the same as the DPI setting of the previously closed main monitor.

When the DPI Synchronization feature and the Display Scaling feature are both enabled, only one feature takes effect at any given time. DPI Synchronization happens during the initial connection, and Display Scaling works in case of reconnection, if required. When DPI Synchronization works and the client system's DPI setting matches the remote desktop's DPI setting, Display Scaling cannot take effect, even if you select the Allow Display Scaling option in the user interface.

The DPI Synchronization agent group policy setting determines whether the DPI Synchronization feature is enabled. The feature is enabled by default.

To improve the user experience of DPI synchronization, configure the DPI Synchronization Per Connection agent group policy setting. If the DPI Synchronization Per Connection group policy setting is enabled in addition to the DPI Synchronization group policy setting, the DPI settings are synchronized when you disconnect and then reconnect to a remote desktop. You do not need to log off and log in again. This feature is disabled by default. The DPI Synchronization Per Connection group policy setting requires Horizon Agent 7.8 or later.

The DPI Synchronization Per Connection group policy setting is not supported for published desktops and published applications.

For more information about the DPI Synchronization and DPI Synchronization Per Connection group policy settings, see the Configuring Remote Desktop Features in Horizon document.

Supported Guest Operating Systems for Virtual Desktops

For virtual desktops, the DPI Synchronization feature is supported on the following guest operating systems:
  • 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7
  • 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 8.x
  • 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 configured as a desktop
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 configured as a desktop
  • Windows Server 2016 configured as a desktop
  • Windows Server 2019 configured as a desktop
For virtual desktops, the DPI Synchronization Per Connection group policy setting is supported on the following guest operating systems:
  • Windows 10 version 1607 and later
  • Windows Server 2016 and later configured as a desktop

Supported RDS Hosts for Published Desktops and Published Applications

For published desktops and published applications, the DPI Synchronization feature is supported on the following RDS hosts:
  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows Server 2019