For those not in the know, DPI setting can be changed on Android devices so that you can basically fit more on the screen. I must warn you that sometimes some apps might not show up in play store as your device is treated like a tablet (for example) - although I personally never had a problem resulting from this.
To change it you need to edit ro.sf.lcd_density=420 line in the build.prop file that is located in the system folder. As long as you can get to that file you can use any text editor to change the line
The default is 420, I changed it to 320 and you can see the results in the attached screes shot. Don't forget to restart the phone for changes to take effect.
Oh you live dangerously.
Mine is at 360 and it's the best for me .
For other people; you can also change it without having to root by using adb.
Holy crap do you guys have Superman vision? I'm in my 20's and I almost had to squint for the 420 density lol.
Mine is currently set to 480, the default for the G2 which has the same physical dimensions for the LCD.
badenglishihave said:
Holy crap do you guys have Superman vision? I'm in my 20's and I almost had to squint for the 420 density lol.
Mine is currently set to 480, the default for the G2 which has the same physical dimensions for the LCD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You made yours BIGGER? Oh man that's crazy. Making the don't bigger wasn't working out for you?
I get "could not save file" tried with ES and build Prop editor, the file has r/w enabled to.
dannydogg said:
I get "could not save file" tried with ES and build Prop editor, the file has r/w enabled to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using Root Explorer. I've run into issues using anything other than that for things like this.
I'm just glad Google added official support for 420. Looks great with all apps.
480
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
I use 320 on my N5x as well. I accidentally set it to 220 since that was what I used on my N4 and I didn't realize the resolution was different. I would say 220 is at the bottom end of what I would consider to be usable. It basically fits what would normally be on a 8" tablet on a 5" phone.
bblzd said:
I'm just glad Google added official support for 420. Looks great with all apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. At 420dpi I have no desire to make it smaller.
I settled on 440 and changed font size to large. 480 made the status bar too big imo. Some of my older apps have too tiny text for my aging 40+ year old eyes :sly:
420pi seems to be pretty solid for me, I truly wouldn't want it any smaller or larger than what it is at.
I use Nova Launcher to set icon size to 145% and system settings to set font size to large. Looks just right to me. Out of the box both icons and font sizer were too small and uncomfortable. Years ago I was an iPhone user and I'm sure I still have some of the DNA, lol. I fill my homescreens with icons - hate wasted space.
jbdan said:
I settled on 440 and changed font size to large. 480 made the status bar too big imo. Some of my older apps have too tiny text for my aging 40+ year old eyes :sly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also think 440 is the best size. I'll probably need to resize all of my ROMs I flash. But it's not too much or too little.
I don't want to root my phone, but I definitely want to change my DPI a little
Rado_vr6 said:
I don't want to root my phone, but I definitely want to change my DPI a little
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to root to change dpi. I used adb. There are a lot of guides out there. It's very simple imo. Google "how to change dpi without root" good luck!
jbdan said:
You don't have to root to change dpi. I used adb. There are a lot of guides out there. It's very simple imo. Google "how to change dpi without root" good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forgot all about that method. Using it now good sir
Does the build.prop method make all apps behave properly? I tried using the adb method, but I had a few apps which didn't handle it properly (not the least of which was the Play store).
440. That matches roughly to the same estate as Galaxy S4 - just a tad bigger (as I expected when upgraded 5.0" to 5.2")
I was psyched when my Nexus 5X arrived and I saw that the stock DPI was 420. For the past two years, I've been changing the DPI on my Nexus 5 from 480 to 420...
Related
The proper lcd density seems to be 270 for this build.
download 'LCDDensity for Root' by Elviss Kustans from market and set density to 270dpi.
solved the weird positioning of shortcuts and widgets on stock launcher
alternatively you can edit the build.prop
I chose this method to quickly find the proper number
NOTE: The Change in density is required for the stock launcher of 2.3.4 HKTW rom. The device is otherwise crisp at default with other launchers.. So do not bother incase you dont want to use stock launcher.
I'm still trying to decide between 270 and 275.
Build.prop says 275 is correct for qHD screens, but 270 fits a little better.
rjohnstone said:
I'm still trying to decide between 270 and 275.
Build.prop says 275 is correct for qHD screens, but 270 fits a little better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
content on the right edge goes out of the screen
add some 4x1 size widget so that you can compare the space left on both edges.. 270 looked perfect
IMO 260 is ALMOST perfect
would love to try this if i can get one of the root methods to work but thanks for the info! more motivation to try harder lol
270 or 275 I still have the huge space in the bottom part.
Yeah I'm going to use a launcher until the vertical spacing can get worked out.
pmcnano said:
270 or 275 I still have the huge space in the bottom part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's an issue with the launcher itself.
270 makes all the text bigger. Not digging it
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
neer2005 said:
270 makes all the text bigger. Not digging it
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, 270 looks way too big for me. Sticking with the default 240 for now.
Jotokun said:
Yeah, 270 looks way too big for me. Sticking with the default 240 for now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, i really don't see anything wrong with 240 either. 270 is definitely too big for me though
I'm using 268 o.o
updated OP with the note
NOTE: The Change in density is required for the stock launcher of 2.3.4 HKTW rom. The device is otherwise crisp at default with other launchers.. So do not bother incase you dont want to use stock launcher.
anyone know how to remove the black bar in notifications?
Problem is whenever you change the lcd density on atrix the dialer crashes. I've been trying to do this since atrix first came out and knowone has been able to make it work. Are you saying u can change the density on this new build and the dialer does not crash!!??
DukeL said:
Problem is whenever you change the lcd density on atrix the dialer crashes. I've been trying to do this since atrix first came out and knowone has been able to make it work. Are you saying u can change the density on this new build and the dialer does not crash!!??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes 10char
DukeL said:
Problem is whenever you change the lcd density on atrix the dialer crashes. I've been trying to do this since atrix first came out and knowone has been able to make it work. Are you saying u can change the density on this new build and the dialer does not crash!!??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
The dialer on 2.3.4 works fine at higher pixel densities.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Wow that is really good news! I always wanted to make everything a bit bigger as I thought the icons always looked a tad too small on the qHD resolution. That alone makes it worth upgrading!
Off topic but if you use the stock launcher simply for the new app drawer then this tip may help.
It is possible to use the new MotoBlur app drawer with any launcher. Simply replace the new launchers app drawer with a shortcut to 'all apps' app group.
Nottach said:
Off topic but if you use the stock launcher simply for the new app drawer then this tip may help.
It is possible to use the new MotoBlur app drawer with any launcher. Simply replace the new launchers app drawer with a shortcut to 'all apps' app group.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mind explaining how to do that exactly? I'm on ADW EX and I have no clue lol
Hi there,
is there a way to get the Tablet UI without changing the DPI? I just changed it to 160 and eveything is really, really small Too small for my taste. So I was wondering if there is a way to get the Tablet UI without shrinking everything down?
Janzomaster said:
Hi there,
is there a way to get the Tablet UI without changing the DPI? I just changed it to 160 and eveything is really, really small Too small for my taste. So I was wondering if there is a way to get the Tablet UI without shrinking everything down?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1780970
But I didn't tried it yet.
Team EOS's nightly ROM's have a toggle for changing the systembar setup (from phatblet to tablet), but this doesn't activate system-wide tablet UI.
Are you rooted. I am running the latest AOKP and it has Tablet UI baked in.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I use Paranoid Android which allows you to use tablet ui with a dpi of your choice.
I use 190.
*Sent from N7*
You can apply barrmullio's tabletUI code changes on any deodexed rom in the Dev section using my tool the autopatcher.
The tool works on CM10, AOKP and AOSP, and their derivative roms. It can be run on any PC, OSX, Linux or Windows. There is a GUI for Windows, but OSX and LInux will need to enter ONE command on the command-line.
I own a Nexus 7, so I added a bunch of the most useful code changes for our device to the tool.
No dpi ot build.prop edits needed, no market issues at all.
Curious about text size. I'm not rooted and think text on many apps is way small. If changing to 160 makes it smaller, can I assume changing it to 240 makes it bigger? Moon Phase Pro, and Amazon Appstore are 2 in particular that I find difficult to read.
Everything is much larger on my 5" screen Galaxy Player.
tcat007 said:
Curious about text size. I'm not rooted and think text on many apps is way small. If changing to 160 makes it smaller, can I assume changing it to 240 makes it bigger? Moon Phase Pro, and Amazon Appstore are 2 in particular that I find difficult to read.
Everything is much larger on my 5" screen Galaxy Player.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeap. they will be bigger but I think a lot bigger, since stock dpi is 213.
Thanks a lot guys! I used Barmullios mod linked by Glimmling, doing just what I want.
Hi, i'm planning to buy the S4 this weekend..
I see i allready can root the device.. Is it also possible to change to 240dpi? Or is it to early
Greetings
I tried to switch to 240 dpi, but got ui errors after a reboot?
probably, but not for a little while. wait until all the hacks are released, and enjoy it for awhile first. lol
240 dpi is optimal for s3 , as s4 comes with 4xx dpi by default, id suggest you to change it to 320 dpi which would be optimal
I read somewhere that the S4 comes at 320dpi just like the S3.
type R-blood
Hi bala-gamer is it you who did the 240/180dpi modded apps for SGS3? If so I cant wait to do it for SGS4 I was very satisfied with your work and with the amount information displayed on SGS3 HD display on 240dpi...
You can always use another launcher which works on 240 dpi and use an others keyboard i guess .
No I tried all of the "best" launchers on SGS3 and ended with touch wiz...and bala modified problematic apps to work...
Help me to understand what is the discussion here.
DPI? Isn't that a print value?
BoneXDA said:
Help me to understand what is the discussion here.
DPI? Isn't that a print value?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DPI = printing
PPI = displaying
DPI=PPI moreless
but both means same = resolution of viewing doesn't matter the way
Actionx1 said:
I read somewhere that the S4 comes at 320dpi just like the S3.
type R-blood
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think there is even a hint of truth to that. Its like 441 dpi
Provide a link if you've got one. . .
sharkeecz said:
DPI = printing
PPI = displaying
DPI=PPI moreless
but both means same = resolution of viewing doesn't matter the way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But what is the point of changing it?
Icons and everything are displayed smaller so there will fit more info on the screen.
rauschkugl said:
Icons and everything are displayed smaller so there will fit more info on the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, this is the reason for somebody who need it
I have tried
LCD Density Modder Pro - hangs on boot
A build.prop editor - boots fine, but dpi looks exactly the same. When I go back into the app, it says 480 dpi... as if I didn't change it
Xposed - hangs on boot
Anything that works?
3473 said:
I have tried
LCD Density Modder Pro - hangs on boot
A build.prop editor - boots fine, but dpi looks exactly the same. When I go back into the app, it says 480 dpi... as if I didn't change it
Xposed - hangs on boot
Anything that works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here, any infos?
ah ok i've got it.
my problem was that i added a line on the end of the build.prop -> i had to edit the one that was already there.
I used rom toolbox from the play store and changed mine to 320dpi and it's worked fine for the last 24hrs...
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
jongilluley said:
I used rom toolbox from the play store and changed mine to 320dpi and it's worked fine for the last 24hrs...
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what line did you change?
zincsnow said:
what line did you change?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Within rom toolbox go to build prop editor and click the search icon and enter lcd. It should return a few lines but one will be lcd. Density at 420. Just click that one and change to 320 and reboot...
Need to be rooted as well.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
rauschkugl said:
Icons and everything are displayed smaller so there will fit more info on the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So how does going from a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch to fewer PPI (I've seem people talking about 240, 320, etc.) make things take up less room?
If an icon was 441 pixels wide, it'd take up an inch of screen space at native resolution. Change screen to 240 pixels per inch, and now that same icon takes up almost two inches.
Wouldn't you want to change to some number bigger than 441 pixels per inch to fit more on the screen? What am I missing?
I tried many and settled on 360, the camera is wonky now but everything else feels much better. What is everyone else using?
Update* use xposed framework and app setting module and you can change the camera back to 480, works perfect now!
randyspants said:
I tried many and settled on 360, the camera is wonky now but everything else feels much better. What is everyone else using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm getting my G2 tomorrow, have you noticed any issues with changing DPI? I'd like to do so, but whenever I would change DPI on previous Android devices, a lot of the UI would get messed up.
Why not just change font and icon size in settings?
Sent from my LG-P769 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
The only thing that's weird so far is the camera, the preview when u go to take a picture only takes up about 2/3 of the screen.
I did try originally to just use smaller fonts but everything was still way too big, felt like a fisher price phone for toddlers
guencentHis
You could install Xposed framework and the App Setting module and set camera (and any other apps) back to 480.
psychoace said:
Why not just change font and icon size in settings?
Sent from my LG-P769 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing the DPI is like increasing the resolution, you get more screen real estate as everything is smaller, not just text.
geoff5093 said:
Changing the DPI is like increasing the resolution, you get more screen real estate as everything is smaller, not just text.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you edit DPI resolution on G2 ?
sorry
wolfgart said:
How can you edit DPI resolution on G2 ?
sorry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going to ask the same question, not sure you can do it without root.
geoff5093 said:
I was going to ask the same question, not sure you can do it without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it requires root.
i can root it ! i've F320K korean model
Let me know
i'd like to know how, too. can you also make the height of the navbar smaller so that you have more screen real estate too?
i have the problems with the video player resolution after the change
magikatane said:
i have the problems with the video player resolution after the change
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know you can use texdroider_DPI from the play store to change the density but idk the steps for setting the individual apps like the camera. Can someone give some info here?
Bootloop !!
Hello,
-> I use the official ROM LG.
-> My LG G2 ( D802) is root.
-> I use texdroider_DPI to cross(spend) in 360 DPI.
Unfortunately my G2 no boot not any more ( BootLoop). I restored my image with CWM :good:
How did you modify the DPI in 360 so that it works?
PS: translation with reverso.net
I used texdroider to 400. Looks good. Camera window isn't staying full screen but works.
No other side effects.
I chose 400 because looking through the build.prop, it has notations for 400 being an "alternate_dpi".
I'm assuming for Video out. Anyway no problems.
-sent from my LG G2 using XDA Premium 4
Sitting at 320 here with App Settings/XPosed FW putting the camera back to 480, so you can see the whole preview. At first I thought it was too small but I gave it a day. Now anything bigger just makes me feel like an old person using a phone with huge buttons.
jayochs said:
i'd like to know how, too. can you also make the height of the navbar smaller so that you have more screen real estate too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you change the LCD density it scales everything.
The way to alter it is changing the LCD density in the build.prop file located in /system/
I used ROM Toolbox Lite to change mine.
cron912 said:
You could install Xposed framework and the App Setting module and set camera (and any other apps) back to 480.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much, this fixed it for me as well!
my setup
Hi there,
So this is what I'm on right now and I'm in love with my g2:
-just rooted it, no rom
-xposed framework with the G2 and app settings module
-all-in-one gestures from the playstore!!
so I disabled my softkeys with the G2 module and created buttons with the all-in-one gesture app (menu, home and backbutton). BYE BYE softkeys! and then with app settings module I choose to have full screen and 360 dpi for the most common apps. (browser, phone, facebook, xda, ninja sms,...)
I think the app settings module is great cause you can set it per app.
LOVING MY BIG SCREEN and my invincible softkeys!!!
I'm using 200 dpi. Might change it but so far it ok for me.
Thanks for the tip on using xpose framework and using app setting on the camera.
Now everything looks good.
Edit: i change the dpi to 240 since there's a weird bug where i can't access or use the menu key.
Setting the DPI on the device to 480 doesn't seem to have any harmful affect to stock Motorola Apps (Active Display was the culprit before)..
Anyone else see anything at alternate DPI's?
How are you changing the DPI?
Wait... you have root? How are you changing it?
No root... Just Developers Mode turned on and USB Debugging available...
Then you can do:
Code:
adb shell wm density 480
from a computer ....
jeffreycentex said:
No root... Just Developers Mode turned on and USB Debugging available...
Then you can do:
Code:
adb shell wm density 480
from a computer ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does 480 get you 5 icons side by side on a screen? Also what is the native DPI for the x?
Sent from my A0001
I put Nova back on just to get the home screen reorganized. The stock icons are grandma like sized...waaaaaay too big. I may play with DPI later if I still want to change more.
Stock DPI is probably 640 like other qhd phones (G3 etc).
PiousInquisitor said:
Stock DPI is probably 640 like other qhd phones (N6, G3 etc).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock DPI is 560.
teewhiskey said:
Stock DPI is 560.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything must be really small.
PiousInquisitor said:
Everything must be really small.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Larger or smaller DPI alone does not determine how small or large everything is on the display. In fact, an accurate DPI setting is what allows Android to draw things the right size, regardless of the screen size and resolution.
jswclw said:
Larger or smaller DPI alone does not determine how small or large everything is on the display. In fact, an accurate DPI setting is what allows Android to draw things the right size, regardless of the screen size and resolution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should read this: http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html
BTW, what is the right size?
---------- Post added at 08:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 AM ----------
Edit N6 is also 560. The G3 really is an oddball.
480 is, in my opinion, a decent size. But it doesn't play nicely with SwiftKey. (if you're a SwiftKey user)
PiousInquisitor said:
You should read this: http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/screens_support.html
BTW, what is the right size?
---------- Post added at 08:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 AM ----------
Edit N6 is also 560. The G3 really is an oddball.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See figures 2 and 3 on the page you referenced. They demonstrate exactly how DPI allows Android to paint display elements the right size, or as they say "appropriate size". BTW...read it long ago.
FWIW actual pixels per inch for the Moto X Style is reported to be ~520 by GSMArena. Actual on the Nexus 6 is ~493, same QHD pixels over a larger area. In all cases, declared DPI should be something close to reality.
jswclw said:
See figures 2 and 3 on the page you referenced. They demonstrate exactly how DPI allows Android to paint display elements the right size, or as they say "appropriate size". BTW...read it long ago.
FWIW actual pixels per inch for the Moto X Style is reported to be ~520 by GSMArena. Actual on the Nexus 6 is ~493, same QHD pixels over a larger area. In all cases, declared DPI should be something close to reality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct. The observed size is a function of PPI and DPI. Hold the PPI constant and reduce the DPI and the observed images are smaller, hold the DPI constant and reduce the PPI and the observed images increase in size? RIght, or do i have that backwards? I cant wrap my head around what is the "right size" or "appropriate size" or "close to reality". Whats the reference? For example is the home button on the X the "right size" or is the one on the N6 or G3?
I set my dpi to 420, but the icons on the camera app got messed up.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Jaivan said:
I set my dpi to 420, but the icons on the camera app got messed up.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Due to some of Android's inner workings, the DPI setting should ideally be a multiple of 160. That's not always realistic since it should also be close to the actual screen pixel density. As a compromise, a multiple of 40 is often used. The Moto X stock setting of 560 is at 3.5 * 160, so results in fairly clean scaling when necessary.
If you are using the smaller DPI to squeeze more onto the screen, 480 should be pretty good, with the next 2 stops being 440 and 400.
I tried 440 and updated the camera app the icons work properly now.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
can yall post pictures of before and after please
Big bump here, sorry for that. I keep changing my DPI and even when I set it back to the default (560) Swiftkey and the dialer app look awful. My pictures in the dialer app looked warped and awful, and SwiftKey is unusable. Any ideas how to fix this? I really want a DPI of 500 but I don't want those two apps looking funky. And even set to default they look funky now.
Another bump.
Has anyone got the pictures for contacts showing ok on any DPI other than stock?