Tablet UI on Nexus 7 [How to / Video / Build.prop Modification]

SladeNoctis · Jul 3, 2012

So tablet ui is possible by a simple editing of the dpi of you Nexus 7.
Here's how you can do it yourself with an file explorer of your personal preference of file explorer.

For those wanting a explanation of what dpi does for your device read below

SilentMobius said:
You are lowering the _value_ that Android _reports_ as it's DPI, you are not changing the screen at all. In effect you are lying about the physical size of the screen

The default is 213dpi with a resolution of 1280×800 hence it's claiming that the display is 6in x 3.75in (7 inch diagonal)
If you alter the DPI to 160 you are lying to the system (and apps) and claiming that the 1280x800 display is actually 7.5in x 4.7in (8.8 inch diagonal)

When the apps think the screen is bigger they make the icons smaller and enable extra features (like multi-pane UIs)

Requirements

1. Rooted Nexus 7
2. Have a nandroid backup and a backup of your original build.prop(just in case)
3. Any file explorer that has root access to your system files
4. A bag of jelly beans for a few snack moments

Note: i'm not responsible if your Nexus 7 explodes into a bunch of jelly beans.

Tip: once you have tablet ui change you font size by going into display settings to your preferred size.

Video Guide i made, late at night from a busy day...so if i talk funny blame the lack of nutrition and sleep

Method 1(Recommended)

1. Get Rom Toolbox Lite or Pro if you want to support awesome app
2. Swipe to performance and press build.prop editor
3. Now scroll down to ro.sf.lcd_density
4. Press on it and change the dpi to 160 dpi
5. After doing that press ok and back out
6. Reboot your Nexus 7 and enjoy some tablet ui goodness.

Method 2

Note: I'll be using ES File Explorer as my file explorer in this method
1. Get a file explorer such as MIUI File Explorer, File Expert, ES File Explorer
Note: For ES File Explorer go to settings allow mount rewritable and root access
2.Then go to system
Note: ES File Explorer just go to the star button on the top left hand side and click on the phone button and you will see the system folder
3.You will find a build.prop file make sure to make a copy of it and save it somewhere just in case for a backup.
4.Then click on the build.prop and open it with a text editor. (ES file manager has its own text editor called ES Text Editor...go figure

)
5. Now scroll down to "ro.sf.lcd_density"
6. Now the original lcd density is 213 so the best result for tablet mode is 160 dpi
7. Save the file by press the menu button.
8. Reboot your N7 and then you got Tablet UI.

Method 3

1. Get Buildprop Editor
2. Navigate to system and find the build.prop
3. Then find the line with "ro.sf.lcd_density"
4. Now the original lcd density is 213 so the best result for tablet mode is 160 dppi
5. Now save the file and reboot your device. Enjoy

Update 07/05/2012 In my personal experience with LCD Density Modder, changing dpi works and will cause you issues(lost root, bootloop, softbrick).

Will update if the app gets updated for support.

Update 07/18/2012 Working on a way to get tablet ui without touching the build.prop. Its going to take some time with my tight schedule but i'll do my best. For those that experienced no boot, or lost root

To gain root access / obtain clockworkmod / unlock bootloader with toolkit

To return to stock / unbrick you device

Now all thats left is to edit the systemui to get a more clean result. That will come soon.

If there's others ways to do this without causing harm to our tablets shoot me a pm and ill post it in the first post. Hope you guys find this helpful.

Enjoy some screenshot of tablet ui.

brokentoaster24 · Jul 3, 2012

Awesome. I know many of us will be wanting this when the 7 ships. Is the text still large enough to be easily read?

sent from my evo 3d

CiDhed · Jul 3, 2012

Try 160? That is the default, maybe it will look better.

markp1989 · Jul 3, 2012

How it should have been in the first place, probably one of the first things I will do when I get my 7 through the post.

iwantanandroid · Jul 3, 2012

SladeNoctis said:
Just change the density to 170- in the build.prop and you got yourself Tablet UI. May need a bit of a System UI modification do to the previews in certain things dont look right. [/IMG]

May I ask how you go about changing the dpi?

Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app

CiDhed · Jul 3, 2012

iwantanandroid said:
May I ask how you go about changing the dpi?

Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app

It's in /system/build.prop

ro.sf.lcd_density=

I bought an app called LCD Density Switcher because it cracks the market to still show all the apps that disappear when you mod the density.

h3r3tic · Jul 3, 2012

How do u have the nexus 7 already

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app

morell2 · Jul 3, 2012

Awesome.

RMXO · Jul 3, 2012

I would suggest ROM Toolbox over LCD density due to it having more options in controlling aspects of your phone

SladeNoctis · Jul 3, 2012

brokentoaster24 said:
Awesome. I know many of us will be wanting this when the 7 ships. Is the text still large enough to be easily read?

Its pretty good but in some cases..due to some apps not ready for tablets you make have to look a bit closer. Changing the font size will fix most thing just haven't had the chance to dig deeper yet.

sent from my evo 3d

CiDhed said:
Try 160? That is the default, maybe it will look better.

Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app

Tried it, both are pretty much the same with 160 being a bit smaller in text.

iwantanandroid said:
May I ask how you go about changing the dpi?

1. Get a file explorer such as root explorer or es file manager(go to settings allow mount rewritable and root access)
2.Then go to system(es file manager just go to the star button on the top left hand side and click on the phone button and you will see the system folder)
3.You will find a build.prop file make sure to make a copy of it and save it somewhere just in case for a backup.
4.Then click on the build.prop and open it with a text editor. (ES file manager has its own)
5. Now scroll down to "ro.sf.lcd_density", or something with lcd density(sorry im at work so i dont have my n7 with me)
6. Now the original lcd density is 213 so the best result for tablet mode is going 170 and below.
7. Save the file by press the menu button.
8. Reboot your N7 and then you got Tablet UI.

SladeNoctis · Jul 3, 2012

h3r3tic said:
How do u have the nexus 7 already

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app

Went to Google I/O

iwantanandroid · Jul 3, 2012

CiDhed said:
It's in /system/build.prop

ro.sf.lcd_density=

I bought an app called LCD Density Switcher because it cracks the market to still show all the apps that disappear when you mod the density.

where do i do that process? sorry im new to this all

do i not need to do the first step if i get the app?
if i dont get the app i cant use certain apps?

SladeNoctis · Jul 3, 2012

Here's how you can do it yourself with a file explorer

1. Get a file explorer such as root explorer or es file manager(go to settings allow mount rewritable and root access)
2.Then go to system(es file manager just go to the star button on the top left hand side and click on the phone button and you will see the system folder)
3.You will find a build.prop file make sure to make a copy of it and save it somewhere just in case for a backup.
4.Then click on the build.prop and open it with a text editor. (ES file manager has its own)
5. Now scroll down to "ro.sf.lcd_density", or something with lcd density(sorry im at work so i dont have my n7 with me)
6. Now the original lcd density is 213 so the best result for tablet mode is going 170 and below.
7. Save the file by press the menu button.
8. Reboot your N7 and then you got Tablet UI.

Now everything is not in excellent state, some font sizes need to be adjusted as well as the preview shots for the multitasking. But in due time we will have the perfect Tablet UI most of us actually wanted.

If there's others ways to do this without causing harm to our tablets shoot me a pm and ill post it in the first post. Hope you guys find this helpful.

jabsys · Jul 3, 2012

Wish you could do this without rooting, wasn't going to root mine straight away but I want the tablet UI

SladeNoctis · Jul 3, 2012

RMXO said:
I would suggest ROM Toolbox over LCD density due to it having more options in controlling aspects of your phone

Ill try that out after work, and see if its friendly with my N7

iwantanandroid · Jul 3, 2012

SladeNoctis said:
Tried it, both are pretty much the same with 160 being a bit smaller in text.

1. Get a file explorer such as root explorer or es file manager(go to settings allow mount rewritable and root access)
2.Then go to system(es file manager just go to the star button on the top left hand side and click on the phone button and you will see the system folder)
3.You will find a build.prop file make sure to make a copy of it and save it somewhere just in case for a backup.
4.Then click on the build.prop and open it with a text editor. (ES file manager has its own)
5. Now scroll down to "ro.sf.lcd_density", or something with lcd density(sorry im at work so i dont have my n7 with me)
6. Now the original lcd density is 213 so the best result for tablet mode is going 170 and below.
7. Save the file by press the menu button.
8. Reboot your N7 and then you got Tablet UI.

Awesome.... Thanks so much :good:

---------- Post added at 07:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 PM ----------

SladeNoctis said:
Now everything is not in excellent state, some font sizes need to be adjusted as well as the preview shots for the multitasking. But in due time we will have the perfect Tablet UI most of us actually wanted.

If there's others ways to do this without causing harm to our tablets shoot me a pm and ill post it in the first post. Hope you guys find this helpful.

Sorry to bother you I know your at work, have you managed to adjust the font sizes and preview shots? if so how?

Thanks again dude

lhayati · Jul 3, 2012

Woah!?!? So this is native in JB? Just changing the pixel density will auto switch to tablet UI on reboot?

Oh and I was your 100th thanks

nerfman100 · Jul 3, 2012

lhayati said:
Woah!?!? So this is native in JB? Just changing the pixel density will auto switch to tablet UI on reboot?

Oh and I was your 100th thanks

Well yes. If they didn't keep the old tablet UI, there would be immense backlash from ICS tablet users.

adiliyo · Jul 3, 2012

lhayati said:
Woah!?!? So this is native in JB? Just changing the pixel density will auto switch to tablet UI on reboot?

Oh and I was your 100th thanks

yes, this is essentially the same way ICS works as well, getting a certain pixel density kicks in the tablet UI

the padding on the bottom (in portrait) and sides (in landscape) is kind of annoying, going to try nova launcher to see if it can be lessened.

edit: nova set to a 10x10 with horizontal padding set to small and vertical set to none fixes that

tablet ui seems much more efficient use of screen space compared to the phone UI

Zaim2 · Jul 3, 2012

Do the new expanded notifications work in the tablet ui? Could you take some screenshots?

Tablet UI on Nexus 7 [How to / Video / Build.prop Modification]

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