Surface Pro 4 (Windows 10) - Remote desktop, other programs appear too small

Here is what I did to solve the issue.  It also works with older apps that don't handle high dpi scaling well.

First one must tell Windows to look for a manifest file for an application by default – a registry entry. 

Next is to provide a manifest file for a given application – the executable file name followed by .manifest.

Open regedit and navigate to the registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > 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.

The RDP app is %windir%\System32\mstsc.exe so the manifest file is mstsc.exe.manifest.

I can't attach the manifest file so here is the contents:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>

<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0" xmlns:asmv3="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">

<dependency>

  <dependentAssembly>

    <assemblyIdentity

      type="win32"

      name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"

      version="6.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="*"

      publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"

      language="*">

    </assemblyIdentity>

  </dependentAssembly>

</dependency>

<dependency>

  <dependentAssembly>

    <assemblyIdentity

      type="win32"

      name="Microsoft.VC90.CRT"

      version="9.0.21022.8"

      processorArchitecture="amd64"

      publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b">

    </assemblyIdentity>

  </dependentAssembly>

</dependency>

<trustInfo xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">

  <security>

    <requestedPrivileges>

      <requestedExecutionLevel

        level="asInvoker"

        uiAccess="false"/>

    </requestedPrivileges>

  </security>

</trustInfo>

<asmv3:application>

  <asmv3:windowsSettings xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SMI/2005/WindowsSettings">

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

  </asmv3:windowsSettings>

</asmv3:application>

</assembly>

Copy the above into notepad and save the file with the appropriate name to the same folder as the executable.

I have experienced the same issue, even with RD Connection Manager. Oddly enough, we have discovered that the screens scale properly when using the application, RD Tabs.

copy the following between the **** to notepad

********************************

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide]

"PreferExternalManifest"=dword:00000001

********************************

save as preferextman.reg

then double click/tap to run and ack yes to the prompt.

A manifest file will fix the issue in many, but not all, programs.

See this thread.

I found another alternate solution.  Remote Desktop Connection Manager version 2.2 scales quite nicely.  Version 2.2 is no longer available from Microsoft.  The version available from Microsoft, 2.7 does not work and had the same scaling limitations as the latest RDP versions.  Don't waste your time with 2.7 .

I was able to find a 2.2 download by searching via google.  I got mine at download.com

Remote Desktop Connection Manager 2.2

Hi Nate, it sounds like you are referring to remote PC's desktop and not that of your Surface Pro 4. Since the Surface Pro 4 has a very high resolution display, you may need to specify a lower resolution for your Windows 7 remote desktop to use instead of using that of your Surface Pro 4. You can do this in the Remote Desktop options by sliding the Display resolution lower and ideally to the same resolution you have it set to if you are actually sitting in front of it. If you are using the Modern Remote Desktop app, then if you put it in a windowed mode you can drag to scale and also right click the session to open a Zoom control to adjust sizing.

Depending on how things look, you may also need to adjust the "size of text, apps, other items" scaling found on the Surface Pro 4's Settings screen under Display.

Hope this helps,

Greg