Changing the DPI/"display size" on the stock global rom without root

[ldrn]

tldr; the stock global MIUI rom lacks a display size setting, but an awesome free option by zacharee1 lets you set it anyway, even without root, and with no need to reboot or anything:
https://labs.xda-developers.com/store/app/com.zacharee1.dpichanger

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I love the Max 2 -- way more than I thought I would! I bought it as a replacement for my old, sadly dead Nexus 7 tablet, but if it had LTE bands for US T-Mobile, this might have been my next phone. But for all that, MIUI made some "customization" decisions to android that I just don't understand... like two finger drag for expanding a notification... and removing the "Display Size" setting.

On other Android N roms, you can easily adjust the zoom/DPI/display size, making things smaller or larger. The stock global MIUI version on the Max 2, however, is missing the setting (and the "Smallest width" setting in developer options.) I thought I was out of luck after trying an option from the play store that failed, but found an app in XDA Labs from zacharee1 that worked!

It did require enabling adb, and developer options; in addition steps, I had to go to developer options and enable "USB debugging (security settings)" with a sim card inserted. Normally I used the Max 2 without one, but if you don't have a sim card inserted it will tell you to insert one, then fail.

Anyway, if anyone else would like to fit a bit more content on the screen, I'm really happy with this app so far! Some of Xiaomi's own apps don't quite scale well, which is probably why they disabled it, but they just have extra padding around the content. They still work just fine.

 

[shin0327]

Awesome!

 

[user4001]

Sorry, noob here. When I run the command it tells me "error : no devices/emulators found"

I have turned on both USB debugging options in developer options and am using Minimal ADB and Fastboot. No Root.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[whd5015]

Worked well!

Just chiming in and letting you guys know that the app package is zacharee1 (one), not zachareel (L). Gave me some problems for a bit!

 

[ldrn]

I have turned on both USB debugging options in developer options and am using Minimal ADB and Fastboot. No Root.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Oh, sorry. I've never used minimal adb before -- have you tried running the adb command as an administrator? (You might have to run "adb kill-server" first, it will used an existing adb server with fewer privileges if it exists.)

Worked well!

Just chiming in and letting you guys know that the app package is zacharee1 (one), not zachareel (L). Gave me some problems for a bit!

Nice! That's a good tip, too, thanks. (I've wasted hours before figuring out a capital O wasn't a 0 before...)

 

[user4001]

Oh, sorry. I've never used minimal adb before -- have you tried running the adb command as an administrator? (You might have to run "adb kill-server" first, it will used an existing adb server with fewer privileges if it exists.)

Nice! That's a good tip, too, thanks. (I've wasted hours before figuring out a capital O wasn't a 0 before...)

I'll try the administrator thing, thanks. I have no idea what
what ADB kill server is but will Google when I get home.

 

[ruairi]

I tried it without root. I using adb in administrator mode, but it gives me an error:

C:\adb>adb shell pm grant com.zacharee1.dpichanger android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
Operation not allowed: java.lang.SecurityException: grantRuntimePermission: Neither user 2000 nor current process has android.permission.GRANT_RUNTIME_PERMISSIONS.

Any suggestions?

 

[ldrn]

Operation not allowed: java.lang.SecurityException: grantRuntimePermission: Neither user 2000 nor current process has android.permission.GRANT_RUNTIME_PERMISSIONS.

Actually, yep! In developer options, there is a "USB debugging" toggle, then three lines down a "USB Debugging (Security settings)" toggle, that's the error you get when you have the first one toggled but not the second. You need both turned on.

(I'm speaking from personal experience, I made that same mistake at first; it's a bit confusing that the names are almost the same!)

 

[ruairi]

thanks @ldrn, I'll give it a shot.

 

[jordann_f1]

Works like Charm. I have set the DPI to 410 Thanks!

 

[inunt]

adb shell wm density XXX

i use "adb shell wm density 420"
display will refresh every time i change dpi. no sestart require

 

[w4h1d]

Is this safe for MIUI rom?

 

[reversegear]

Is this safe for MIUI rom?

Yes it is safe tested in MIUI Global 8.5 | Stable

make sure USB debugging (Security settings) is enabled in developer options

 

[stormysea94]

The link is dead. Where can I download the app?

 

[siemen86]

i use "adb shell wm density 420"
display will refresh every time i change dpi. no sestart require

So do I have to write this command on my computer? No app needed? If app from first post is needed, where can i find it?

 

[kaiparker]

Link is not working. Please new link? Thank you.

 

[Hellboy880]

Link dont work

 

[reversegear]

Can some one tell me what is the stock value of DPI

 

[rjsk37]

Can some one tell me what is the stock value of DPI

stock value of dpi is 440

 

[radhesh2204]

Link does not exist

The link to above app says that the file does not exist on the server. Can anyone please give me the valid link for it?