cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
ThomaStudios
Level 3

Font sizes on screen ONLY

I am using QB2016, Windows 10 here.

 

Something occurred last week, not sure what, but suddenly the fonts on screen changed dramatically.  The font in the windows looks different than previously and the main issues are some things are too small, or too large.  For example, in the Pay Bills window, the checkboxes no longer line up with each bill; some of the labeling in the window is far small than others, and this is in the same window!  The popup calendar window is virtually unreadable no matter what;  all of the date numbers crash together, overlapping slightly.  There are myriad other issues like this thruout the application.

I tried resetting the display sizing, but that changes everything for every application and QB is the only one affected by this, so it's the only one I desire to change.  I also tried changing the display settings by right-clicking the QB icon and changing things under the Advanced tab.  But then everything became too huge.

 

Is there a default file or preference that I can change back to a default state on this?  This really should be easier, ya know!!

 

J D Thomas ThomaStudios

 

22 Comments 22
JanyRoseB
QuickBooks Team

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Hi there, @ThomaStudios.

 

Good to see you here in QuickBooks Community. I can help and guide you on how to resolve the font size issue on your QuickBooks screen. 

 

QuickBooks Desktop is designed to work with the default settings of Windows DPI. Let me guide you on how to change the font size of your QuickBooks: 

  1. At the top menu bar, click Edit.
  2. Go to the Preferences.
  3. Select Desktop View.
  4. On the My Preferences window, click Display
  5. Once done, click OK.

If the issue still persists, you'll need to process troubleshooting steps to modify your Windows DPI settings. You can check this article for the detailed steps: QuickBooks Desktop display issues

 

You may also contact our QuickBooks Desktop Technical Team if you need further assistance with the troubleshooting steps. 

 

Here's how to contact our support: 

  1. Click this link: https://help.quickbooks.intuit.com/en_US/contact.
  2. Select US version of QuickBooks Desktop, and click Contact us.
  3. Type-in Technical Support on the search bar.
  4. Click Get the Phone number below. 

Please let me know how it goes by clicking the Reply button below. I'm always here to help you out if you have any other concerns. 

ThomaStudios
Level 3

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Well, clearly you either didn't read nor comprehend my original message.  I have done all of what you suggested BEFORE post this week.  I DO NOT want to change the display setting for all applications, only QB.  There is something wrong here and it lies totally in QB, and your suggestion does absolutely nothing.

J D Thomas ThomaStudios

 

ThomaStudios
Level 3

Font sizes on screen ONLY

For the record, the apparent solution was to repair the installation.  I was going to uninstall the entire application when I noticed I also had a repair install option.  Upon the mandatory reboot, that fixed this issue.

 

J D Thomas ThomaStudios

 

Charies_M
Moderator

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Hi there, ThomaStudios.

 

Thanks for responding and for sharing your workaround in resolving your issue with QuickBooks font size display. This will definitely help other customers that are experiencing the same problem.

 

Please know that you're always welcome to visit us again if there's anything else you need or questions about QuickBooks. We're always here to help you out.


 

cirra
Level 2

Font sizes on screen ONLY

And when get to Display Settings?  THe QB fonts withing QB on HD monitors are RIDICULOUSLY SMALL and none of these threads say how to change just QB.  FOr example, this help window on 36ince LG HD monitor is so small, must get two inches from it to even see it.  How fix and don't want to change all display settings for an Inituit flaw?

Anonymous
Not applicable

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Hello, cirra.


Have you tried the steps provided by my colleague above? If so, and still having the issue, I’d recommend uninstalling and reinstalling QuickBooks. For more information about this process, please refer to this article: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/community/Help-Articles/Clean-install-QuickBooks-Desktop/m-p/201980

 

Also, please make sure to secure a backup copy of your company file before performing the steps in the article. 


If these troubleshooting steps won’t work, it would be best to contact our support team. They have extra tools like screen sharing, to help you investigate and fix the issue. Here’s how to reach them:

  1. Click Help at the top.
  2. Select QuickBooks Desktop Help.
  3. Give a brief description of your issue and click Continue.
  4. Select Talk to a Specialist.

Visit us again if you have other questions about QuickBooks. 

cirra
Level 2

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Yes - as with others, fully capable of changing Display Settings in Win10 environment with multiple HD screens.  Doesn't matter.  While some of the actual QB functionality is too big - it is serviceable.  What is maddening and useless is that ALL pop-up windows e.g., Help is so small as to be unreadable and there is no onscreen adjustment allowing the user to adjust e.g., as can do in any normal browser.  It is your API for those pop-up utilities. 

And this was an absolute clean install as had to migrate from Premiere to Professional to pay the hostage fees of maintaining Payroll function for company less than 5 people - in an of itself, a ridiculous three year tax.  Since same small font problem was happening in Premiere, was hoping it would be functional in Pro. 

cirra
Level 2

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Yes, and as with others, fully capable of managing Display Settings in Win10 using multiple HD screens - doesn't matter.  While some of QB fonts get distorted, it is still serviceable. What is maddening and useless in that ALL pop-ups e.g., Help have fonts so ridiculously small as to be unreadable.  With no on screen adjustment in pop-ups, simply can't use unless literally two inches from screen.

And this was a complete new install as had to pay the three year hostage fee - err, privilege fee of upgrading to maintain payroll functionality for company less than 5 people.  Went from Premiere (where font problem also existed) to Pro and was hoping programmers had figured out the API faults/flaws in the software/platform.  Nope. 

So yeah, I'll contact support but the fundamental flaw in programming - Intuit side, not client side. 

CameronG
Level 1

Font sizes on screen ONLY

I am running QB Desktop Pro 2018. At least in the Help windows I found out they act like a browser window in that if I click the cursor somewhere inside the pop-up window I can then use the CTRL+mouse wheel to zoom in and out. Hope this helps.

wlgrout
Level 1

Font sizes on screen ONLY

I am experiencing what sounds like the exact same problem. New Dell laptop with Windows 10. 2018 QB. When I open QB, the fonts are very small. Some of it I can't read at all. It is only within QB program. Everything else with Windows is fine. I'm not sure how this guys problem was resolved with an installation repair. Can you please give me an explanation or step by step. Thank you!!

Waylon

JessT
Moderator

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Hi there, Waylon.

 

If you haven't changed the display preference, you can refer to this article: Fix screen issues in QuickBooks Desktop. Then, follow the set of steps in steps 1 and 2,  and re-open QuickBooks to check the display after. 

 

If the fonts are still small, please contact our Support to check your setup. They can use a screen-sharing tool to see your company file and investigate this further.

  1. Click on Help and choose QuickBooks Desktop Help.
  2. In the description field, enter the summary of your concern and click Continue.
  3. Choose from Chat or Get a callback.

Please don't hesitate to visit us back here if you're experiencing other unusual behaviors. Feel free to update us about this as well.

cirra
Level 2

Font sizes on screen ONLY

I started this thread over a year ago.  Forced to upgrade to Desktop Pro19 to maintain Payroll for company of two - a wonderful form of customer abuse.  Completely new install, all updates, quite savvy on Windows10 Settings so please don't insult me with a client side setting response.  Attached screen shot of QB Help window pop-up which doesn't even contain Contact Us from instructions above. 

As someone who has built and sold three software companies, this is completely a QB programming issue - NOTHING to do with client-side installation, settings or anything even remotely attributed to operator error.  

As a publicly traded company with serious product development capital, it is criminal that can't fix a relatively simple problem. 

And since Contact Us doesn't work, how does one talk to an actual problem solver?  

cirra
Level 2

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Attached is another screen shot of why this isn't client side.  The navigation panel (fine) has QB pop-up below it (can't read) in a completely different font size.  Same Windows10 display setting, same QB Desktop Pro19 clean installation - same QB programming flaw.  How much more evidence do you need to fix the problem? 

Adrian_A
Moderator

Font sizes on screen ONLY

I appreciate your time for taking all the steps above, cirra.

 

This isn’t the kind of experience that we want you to encounter. I know this isn’t easy for you since you’ve been experiencing this issue for a year. 

 

Getting in touch with one of our support will help you verify this matter. Since the contact steps above don’t work on your end, I have an alternative way. I'll show you how:

 

  1. Go to this page: Contact QuicBooks.
  2. Select QuickBooks Desktop as your product specification.
  3. Choose your desktop version.
  4. Click the Search for something else field.
  5. Enter different font size on screen as your keyword.
  6. Click Search.
  7. Click the Start a Message button.
  8. Follow the on-screen instructions to successfully contact them.

Please let me know if you have additional comments. I'll be sure to take note and add them on the details.

cbcavnar
Level 5

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Was reminded today about the fix for this issue:

Change your screen resolution to 1600 x 900, or 1920 X 1080. 

Essentially "dumb down" your monitor resolution so that the QB fonts and windows appear correctly.

New monitors are now a much finer resolution, and Intuit is not updating their software to keep up.

 

For some reason, Support will not tell us this.

Good luck!

sayatk
Level 1

Font sizes on screen ONLY

I am having the same issue and can't believe the hours I have spent trying to find a work around.  intuit technical support Tier 1 is just a waste of time and they do not let up speak with Tier 2 to escalate the problem.  It take the Tier 1 about 2 hours each time before they admit that it is an Intuit issue and not a Windows 11 problem.   

I am still waiting for a call back or email with a fix.  Hoping enough of us complain for them the fix it.  WOW Paying almost double for upgrade yet getting nothing but issues. 

sayatk
Level 1

Font sizes on screen ONLY

How did you fix the problem. I am having the same issue on windows 11.

Carneil_C
QuickBooks Team

Font sizes on screen ONLY

Hello, @sayatk

 

I can imagine the hurdle you've been through when trying to find a possible fix to your display issues with your Windows display settings. I'll chime in and lay down a few insights to help.

 

If the issue persists after changing your display and view settings on your QuickBooks Desktop and adjusting the Windows screen resolution to 1600 x 900 or 1920 X 1080, as mentioned by cbcavnar above, I recommend contacting our Customer Care Team Support again. 

 

I understand you've already contacted them, but they have tools for a screen-sharing session to investigate this matter further. I'll show you how:

 

  1. Go to Help, then select QuickBooks Desktop Help/Contact Us.
  2. Click Contact Us.
  3. Give a brief description of your issue, then select Continue.
  4. Choose a way to connect.

 

For more tips on fixing display queries, check out this guide: Fix screen issues in QuickBooks Desktop 

 

Here's a handy resource for you to visit as your reference for future QBDT tasks: QuickBooks Desktop help articles. 

 

Click the Reply button if you need more help managing your preferences. I'll do everything I can to help here in the Community.

cbcavnar
Level 5

Font sizes on screen ONLY

This is the free fix: Dumb down your screen resolution as Carneil writes (and I suggested a couple years ago).

 

Expensive fix: upgrade to a really big monitor. I am now using a 32" 3840x2160 and it works great!

 

sayatk
Level 1

Font sizes on screen ONLY

My screen resolution is 3030 x 1974  but the text size gets even smaller.  My text size on windows 11 is set to 160 and the windows texts are huge, but the quickbooks text size remains small...   I think it has something to do with "A Custom scale factor is set"  " turn off custom scaling and sign off"  .

???????

Maybelle_S
QuickBooks Team

Font sizes on screen ONLY

I want to ensure this is taken care of, sayatk.

 

Despite having a screen resolution of 3030 x 1974, and still encounter an issue where the text size in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) appears smaller. Although you have set the text size in Windows 11 to 160, the QuickBooks text size remains unaffected and appears small in comparison. With that, I suggest reaching Microsoft Support. This way, they can check further as there may be corruption in your Windows Operating System.

 

Additionally, I've added this article to learn more about font, sizing, or other display issues in QuickBooks: Fix screen issues in QuickBooks Desktop.

 

You can count on me if you have some follow-up questions about handling your QuickBooks software. I'll be here to help.

cbcavnar
Level 5

Font sizes on screen ONLY

See the link https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/open-programs/fix-screen-issues-in-quickbooks-desk... 

 

Looks like there has finally been a fix. Works on my Windows 10, although the specific directions don't match.

The "High DPI" settings are there!

 

Need to get in touch?

Contact us