SetProcessDPIAwarevoid

SetProcessDPIAwarevoid is a function that can be called from a Windows application to inform the operating system that the application is aware of the system's display scaling settings, often referred to as Dots Per Inch (DPI) scaling. When an application is DPI aware, Windows will not automatically scale its windows and controls. Instead, the application is responsible for rendering its user interface at the appropriate scale based on the current DPI setting.

Prior to Windows 8.1, applications that were not DPI aware were typically scaled up by Windows at a system-wide level. This often resulted in blurry text and distorted graphics, as the scaling was performed at a bitmap level rather than by the application itself. By calling SetProcessDPIAwarevoid, an application can signal that it will handle its own scaling.

The function is typically called early in the application's startup process, before any user interface elements are created or displayed. This ensures that Windows does not apply its default scaling behavior. Applications that implement DPI awareness need to adjust the sizes and positions of their UI elements dynamically when the DPI settings change. This can involve using logical units rather than fixed pixel values and recalculating layouts based on the current DPI.

Modern Windows applications, particularly those developed using frameworks like .NET or UWP, often handle DPI awareness automatically or provide mechanisms to facilitate it. However, for older Win32 applications or those with custom UI rendering, explicit calls to SetProcessDPIAwarevoid or similar APIs might still be necessary to ensure a crisp and clear user experience on high-DPI displays.