Owners of modern smartphones Honor often face a situation where standard interface elements seem too large for comfortable use. This is especially true for models with large screen sizes, where it is difficult for your fingers to reach the upper corners of the display. The solution lies not in the physical replacement of the device, but in the correct software configuration of the operating system Android and shell Magic UI.
There are several effective ways to change the visual perception of content: from a banal reduction in font size to changing the pixel density (DPI) through the engineering menu. Scaling the interface allows you to place more information on one screen, which increases the productivity of working with text and tables. However, it is worth remembering that excessive reduction can make the text unreadable for people with low vision.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for customizing the display on brand devices. You will learn how to activate hidden developer features and what parameters are responsible for the physical size of application icons and windows. Proper setup will help you adapt the gadget to your individual needs.
Setting the font size and display in the menu
The safest and easiest way to change visual parameters is to use the standard system settings. Manufacturers have provided this tool for basic adaptation of the interface to the user. You do not need to install third-party software or obtain root access.
First, you need to go to the main settings menu of your smartphone. Find the section responsible for the appearance of the system. The path may differ slightly depending on the firmware version Magic UI or MagicOS, but the logic remains the same. Typically this item is located in the general settings category or in the display section.
⚠️ Attention: Changing the font size only affects text in system menus and supported applications. The icons and size of app windows will remain the same.
Inside the section you will see two main sliders: one is responsible for the text size, the second is for the display size (interface scale). Moving the "Display Size" slider downward (Less) will make all elements, including buttons and input fields, more compact. This is ideal if you need more lines of text or list items to fit on the screen.
Experiment with the position of the sliders, watching the changes in real time. The system will immediately show a preview of what the text will look like after confirmation. Don't be afraid to try extreme values to see your limits. After setting, click the confirm button or just go back, the changes are applied automatically.
If the standard settings do not give the desired effect, try changing the viewing mode. In some versions of Magic UI, a “Simple Screen” mode is available, which, on the contrary, enlarges the elements - make sure that it is disabled.
Using the one-handed control mode
Often the desire to “shrink the screen” is not dictated by the need to see more content, but by the physical impossibility of reaching the desired area with your finger on a large display. For such cases, the Android shell provides a special function - Honor there is a special function - One-handed mode. It temporarily shrinks the active application window, moving it to the bottom of the screen.
This feature is activated through the accessibility settings or gestures. You need to find the corresponding item in the menu and enable it. Once activated, there is a convenient way to quickly access the top of the screen without changing the actual resolution or system scale. This is a temporary measure that can be activated by a gesture or by pressing a special navigation button.
To use the mode, swipe on the bottom navigation bar (in the area of the "Back", "Home" buttons) towards the center of the screen. Or, if you have control gestures enabled, swipe down from the bottom of the screen (the gesture bar). The working area will be reduced, and you will be able to comfortably click on elements at the top of the display.
- 👆 Swiping from the bottom edge towards the center will activate screen compression.
- 🔄 Repeated swipe or clicking on the darkened area returns the full size.
- ⚙️ In the settings you can choose which side (left or right) the window will move.
- 📱 The function works in almost all applications, except full-screen games and videos.
This method does not change the global font or pixel density settings. It solves the problem of ergonomics, allowing large smartphones Honor to be used even by people with small hands. If your goal is ease of clicking, and not visual reduction of content, this option is preferable.
Changing pixel density (DPI) through the developer settings
For advanced users for whom the standard scaling sliders are not enough, there is a more powerful tool - changing the minimum width (or DPI density). This parameter directly affects how many pixels are allocated to display one interface element. Increasing the DPI value visually shrinks all elements on the screen, making them more compact.
To access this setting, you must first activate Developer Menu. By default, it is hidden from the eyes of the average user to prevent accidental changes to critical system parameters. The activation process is simple, but requires care when entering numeric values afterwards.
⚠️ Attention: Setting the DPI value too high can make the interface so shallow that you can't change the settings back through the touch screen. Write down the original value before changing!
To activate the menu, go to the section About phone and find the item Build number. Quickly click on it 7 times in a row. The system will ask for your screen unlock password and then inform you that you have become a developer. Now a new section will appear in the main settings - System and updates -> For developers.
Inside the developer menu, scroll down the list to the "Drawing" section. Find the item Minimum width (or Smallest width). The default value varies depending on the model Honor, usually it is a number from 360 to 400 dp. By increasing this number (for example, to 450 or 500), you reduce the scale of the interface. Be careful: do not change the value sharply by more than 50-80 units at a time.
How to return the settings if the screen has become too small?
If you have set the DPI value at which it is impossible to press the buttons on the screen, you can reset the settings via your computer using the ADB command: adb shell wm size reset. Or perform a complete reset of the device (Hard Reset), but this will delete all data.
Comparison of interface scaling methods
Various methods of reducing the screen have their advantages and disadvantages. The choice of a specific method depends on what specific problem you are trying to solve: lack of space for content, inconvenience of navigation, or specific requirements for reading text.
Standard settings are safe and reversible in one click, but provide a limited range of changes. One-handed mode solves the ergonomics problem, but does not change the content density. Developer settings provide maximum flexibility, but carry the risk of breaking the interface if handled improperly.
| Setting method | Complexity | Impact on the system | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size font | Low | Text only | None |
| Display size | Low | Icons and windows | Minimal |
| One-handed mode | Medium | Time compression | None |
| Change DPI | High | Global scale | High (impossibility of control) |
When choosing a method, use common sense. If you just need to make the icons on your desktop a little tighter, the standard “Display Size” slider is enough. If you are preparing your phone to work with huge tables or code, then using DPI settings is justified.
The optimal balance between readability and screen capacity is achieved by a combination: standard font size + slightly increased minimum width (by 20-30 units).
Setting features on different versions of Magic UI
Smartphone interface Honor has undergone changes over time. Old models worked on the shell EMUI, then switched to Magic UI, and new flagships use MagicOS based on the latest versions Android. The location of the settings may vary depending on the software version.
On devices with Magic UI 4.0 and 5.0, display settings are often grouped in the Screen and brightnesssection. There you can find the item Text and display size. In newer versions MagicOS 7.0 and higher, the logic has become closer to pure Android, and the settings can be moved to the section Special features or Display.
If you cannot find the item you need in the usual place, use the search in settings. At the top of the settings menu there is a search bar (magnifying glass). Enter the query "size", "font" or "scale" there. The system itself will prompt you for the required partition, regardless of the firmware version. This is a universal navigation method for all models Honor.
It is also worth noting that some applications may ignore system scale settings. For example, instant messengers or social networks often have their own internal font size settings. In this case, changing the system DPI will not affect the text size within a particular application - it needs to be changed in the settings of the application itself.
☑️ Check before changing DPI
Solving scaling problems in individual applications
Sometimes global screen reduction causes some applications to start work incorrectly. Buttons may overlap each other, text may extend beyond the screen, and images may become distorted. This is due to the fact that application developers test them at standard pixel densities.
If you notice problems with a particular software after changing the settings, try excluding this application from global scaling. There is a function in the developers menu Force resizing (Force allow apps to be resizable). Enabling this option allows many applications to display correctly in split screen mode or with a changed DPI.
It is also possible to reset the scaling settings for a specific application only. Go to Settings -> Applications -> select the problematic app -> Memory -> Reset settings (or Clear data, but this will delete logins and settings inside the application). Often this returns the application to the standard view, ignoring system scale changes.
⚠️ Attention: Interfaces of mobile operating systems and shells are regularly updated. The location of menu items may change after the next software update. Always check the current menu on your device.
If none of the methods helps achieve the desired result, you can consider installing third-party launchers (desktop shells). Applications such as Nova Launcher or Lawnchairallow you to flexibly customize the size of the desktop grid and icons regardless of system settings. Honor.
Before installing a third-party launcher, take a screenshot of the current arrangement of icons. After changing the shell, you will have to re-arrange widgets and shortcuts manually.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to reduce the screen without losing picture quality?
Yes, changing the scale settings (DPI or display size) does not affect the physical resolution of your screen matrix. The pixels remain the same, only the software calculation of how many pixels are allocated to display one element changes. The image quality remains native to your model Honor.
Why did the keyboard become too small after changing the settings?
The keyboard is a system application and is subject to general scale settings. If you increase the DPI, the keys become smaller in proportion to the entire interface. Return the "Minimum Width" value to its original value or adjust the keyboard size in its own settings (usually by long pressing the comma or using the gear in the input panel).
Are the scale settings reset when updating the system?
In most cases, firmware updates Magic UI save user settings, including developer options. However, with major major updates (for example, the transition from Android 12 to 13), the system can reset non-standard DPI values to factory settings. It is recommended to remember your comfortable values.
How to return all the settings if I accidentally set a huge DPI and can’t see anything?
If the sensor does not respond due to the interface being too small, the only quick way is to use hardware buttons. Try holding down the power button and the volume up button to enter Recovery mode, then select reset settings (Wipe Data). This will delete all data from the phone. An alternative is to connect a mouse via an OTG cable, the cursor will allow you to get to the settings and correct the value.
Does scaling down affect battery consumption?
No, software scaling of the interface does not have a noticeable effect on power consumption. The processor does not require more resources to render the reduced elements. Battery consumption depends on the brightness of the backlight, the operation of radio modules and running applications, and not on the size of the icons on the screen.