I'm trying to run a Java application with -Dsun.java2d.dpiaware=false argument but nothing happens.

I expect to have a blurred UI but with normal size of icons and fonts, it seems that this flag does not work.

I'm using JDK 1.8.0_45 on Windows 8.1.

I found this bug https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8080153 but I don't understand how to workaround it.

Fix for Windows, follow these steps:

• Create a windows regedit new DWORD

  1. Press Windows Button + R, type “regedit”, and then click OK.
  2. Navigate to the following registry subkey:
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > SideBySide
  3. Right-click, select NEW > DWORD (32 bit) Value
  4. Type PreferExternalManifest, and then press ENTER.
  5. Right-click PreferExternalManifest, and then click Modify.
  6. Enter Value Data 1 and select Decimal.
  7. Click OK.

• Create the two .manifest file (JDK)

  1. Go to your java JDK installation folder and open the bin directory
  2. Create a first file called java.exe.manifest (add the code at the end of this post).
  3. Create a second one called javaw.exe.manifest (add the code at the end of this post).

• Create the two .manifest file (JRE)

  1. Go to your java JRE installation folder and open the bin directory
  2. Create a first file called java.exe.manifest (add the code at the end of this post).
  3. Create a second one called javaw.exe.manifest (add the code at the end of this post).

• Restart your java application.

Code to Paste into the .manifest files

<?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>

This fix can be used for any program, not only Java.

If you need to fix the DPI for a JNLP application launcher, you have to add the following key to the resources section inside the .jnlp file :

<property name="sun.java2d.dpiaware" value="false"/>

After Upgrading Windows (e.g from win10 to win10 1607), you should apply this fix again if it doesn't work anymore.

** Afer Updating Java, you should copy&paste .manifest files into new Java's directory.