Ever found yourself wanting to change the size of a window quickly without the fuss of dragging corners around? Or maybe you’ve wanted to change the size of everything on your screen, like text and apps, but didn’t know how? While Windows 11 lets you do a lot of things to manage your screen space, usually you have to click around a lot to get it done. This article will show you how to easily resize windows with shortcut keys using a tool called Sizer. Plus, we’ll tell you if you can use shortcuts to change your screen’s scaling settings in Windows 11 or 10. Heads up, the answer might not be what you’re expecting, but keep reading for all the details.
Also see: How to Make Everything Smaller or Bigger on Windows 11
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Is there a keyboard shortcut to adjust scaling settings in Windows 11?
A lot of people wonder if there’s a keyboard shortcut to change the overall scaling settings in Windows. For Windows 11 and its older sibling, Windows 10, the short answer is no. There isn’t a direct shortcut that lets you adjust the “Scale and layout” settings, which affects how big text, apps, and other things look on your screen.
That said, some laptops and desktops come with their own shortcuts for screen settings, including scaling. These shortcuts usually involve the Function keys on laptops. It’s a good idea to check your device’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to see if your device has these shortcuts.
To change these settings manually in a typical Windows setup, you’d do this:
- Right-click on the desktop and pick Display settings.
- Go to the Scale and layout section.
- There, you’ll see a dropdown menu under Change the size of text, apps, and other items. Use this to pick your preferred scaling percentage.
Even though it’s pretty simple, it does take a few clicks and some manual action. This is why tools like Sizer become popular, as they offer quick ways to resize windows, though they don’t handle overall screen scaling.
Useful guide: How to Zoom Out Desktop Screen on Windows 11
What is Sizer and what does it do?
Sizer is a cool tool that helps you change the size of individual windows. It won’t help with changing the overall “Scale and layout” settings in Windows 11, but if you’re looking to adjust the size of specific windows rather than everything on the screen, Sizer could be just what you need.
It’s super handy for web developers, designers, or anyone who works with many windows and needs them to be certain sizes for the best workflow, testing, or other reasons. With Sizer, you can quickly set windows to pre-defined sizes, make your own custom sizes, and even use keyboard shortcuts for fast resizing. It fits right into the Windows right-click menu, making managing windows easy.
In the next parts, we’ll show you how to set up and use Sizer, make custom sizes, and create keyboard shortcuts for resizing windows in a snap.
Pro tip: How to Use Snap Layouts to Snap Apps in Windows 11
How to install and use Sizer in Windows 11
First things first, you need to install Sizer. It’s easy and quick. Here’s how to do it:
Installation steps
- Download the installer from
https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Sizer.shtml, or look for it online. Make sure the source is trustworthy. - Find the file you downloaded and double-click it to start installing. Follow the steps in the wizard.
- After installing, Sizer will usually add an icon to the system tray.
Basic usage
- If Sizer doesn’t open right away, look for its icon in the Start menu or system tray and click it.
- Focus on the window you want to resize.
- Right-click on the window’s top-right corner to see Sizer’s menu.
- Choose a size from the menu, and your window will change size by itself.
Sizer makes resizing windows easy and quick. Just a few clicks and you can have your window at the perfect size, which is great for getting things done faster. To set up shortcut keys for a size, or to add your own custom size, keep reading.
Linked issue: Screen Size Smaller or Larger Than Monitor in Windows 10/11
Configuring keyboard shortcuts to adjust window size
Sizer not only comes with a bunch of handy sizes but also lets you make your own custom sizes and set shortcuts for them. This makes managing your windows even easier. Here’s how to get it set up:
Adding custom sizes and setting keyboard shortcuts
- Right-click on the Sizer icon in the system tray and pick Configure Sizer.
- In the configuration window, hit Add Size to make a new size.
- Fill in the width and height you want, in pixels, and adjust other settings as needed:
- Name your custom size so you can find it in the menu.
- Enter the dimensions in pixels for Width & Height.
- Choose if you want the window to move when resizing, and where in relation to.
- Pick how you want the window positioned.
- While still in that window, you can set a shortcut key for this size. Pick the keys you want to use, including combinations like Shift, Ctrl, Win, and Alt.
- Hit OK to save your custom size. Now you can resize a window to this size right from the menu whenever you need.
Assigning keyboard shortcuts for existing sizes
- Choose the size you want a shortcut for.
- Hit Edit to open its settings.
- Set the shortcut keys you want, including Shift, Ctrl, Win, and Alt.
- Hit OK to save it.
In the Sizer Configuration window, check out the Hot Keys tab to see all your shortcuts and their sizes.
Sizer’s ability to customize makes it a must-have for anyone who wants to quickly change window sizes, whether you’re a developer, a designer, or just someone who likes their workspace just so.
Related resource: Windows 11 Screen Resolution Greyed Out, What to do?
The bottom line
In Windows 11, it’s a bit of a letdown that there’s no built-in way to use keyboard shortcuts for adjusting the “Scale and layout” settings. So, if you were looking for an easy shortcut for this, you’re going to have to go through the Settings menu.
But if you’re more focused on changing the size of individual windows and not the overall scale settings, Sizer is a fantastic option. It doesn’t handle global scaling, but it offers a great set of features for resizing windows. Its easy interface, lots of preset sizes, and custom size and shortcut options make managing windows a breeze.
We hope this guide helped you understand the options for managing window sizes in Windows 11 and how shortcut keys play into it. Now you should have a good idea of what’s possible and what’s not when it comes to resizing and scaling with shortcuts.
