Windows DPI scaling issues

Having problems with lazy developers not properly supporting HiDPI on Windows? There is seriously no excuse for this, especially since now almost every user have to fix these developer’s software themselves. Luckily it is possible to work around the scaling issues with just a few simple steps, and I believe the procedure should work for most/all software lacking this ability. You can find the steps posted several places on the net, e.g at https://blog.brankovucinec.com/2016/03/19/fix-remote-desktop-dpi-scaling-issues/.

Let me summarize:

1. Open regedit and navigate to the registry key:
   HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide
   Right-click, select NEW -> DWORD (32 bit) Value
   Type PreferExternalManifest and then press ENTER.
   Right-click PreferExternalManifest, and then click Modify.
   Enter Value Data 1 and select Decimal.
   Click OK. Exit Registry Editor.
2. Add a properly concocted manifest file (you can e.g use this) to the software installation, store it together with the troublesome application, just rename it to exactly match the name of that application, e.g gimp-2.8.exe.manifest. The crucial thing in the manifest is the part which says “dpiAware”, to tell the system this application is NOT dpi aware:

   <ms_windowsSettings:dpiAware xmlns:ms_windowsSettings=
       "http://schemas.microsoft.com/SMI/2005/WindowsSettings">false
   </ms_windowsSettings:dpiAware>