FunOS

Using a HiDPI display—such as a Full HD, QHD, or 4K laptop screen—often makes text and interface elements appear too small at the default scaling level. On FunOS, which is designed to be lightweight and minimal, there is no built-in graphical option for fractional scaling like 125% or 150%.

However, FunOS provides a safe, clean, and effective alternative using DPI (Dots Per Inch) scaling. This method keeps the system fast, sharp, and stable, while significantly improving readability on HiDPI screens.

This article explains what fractional scaling is, why it works differently on FunOS, and how to properly configure DPI-based scaling step by step.

What Is Fractional Scaling?

Fractional scaling is a display feature that allows the desktop interface to be scaled to non-integer values, such as 125%, 150%, or 175%, instead of only using 100% or 200%.

Fractional scaling is commonly used on HiDPI displays, where:

• 100% scaling makes text and icons too small
• 200% scaling makes everything too large and wastes screen space

By using intermediate values, fractional scaling improves readability while preserving usable screen area.

Modern desktop environments like GNOME and KDE (when running on Wayland) support true fractional scaling out of the box.

Fractional Scaling on FunOS (Important Note)

Before proceeding, it is important to understand how scaling works on FunOS.

• FunOS uses the JWM window manager
• JWM runs on X11, not Wayland
• True fractional scaling is not supported on X11

Because of this limitation, FunOS does not provide native 125% or 150% scaling options like GNOME or KDE.

Instead, FunOS uses DPI scaling, which is:

• Lightweight
• Sharp (no blur)
• Stable
• Fully compatible with JWM and X11

DPI scaling is the recommended and officially supported approach for achieving fractional-scaling-like results on FunOS.

How to Do Fractional Scaling on FunOS (Using DPI)

In FunOS, scaling is achieved by setting a custom DPI value using Xresources.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

You can open a terminal using one of the following methods:

• Click Menu in the lower-left corner of the screen, then click Terminal
• Click the Terminal icon in the tray
• Press Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 2: Set the DPI Value

DPI (Dots Per Inch) determines how large text and interface elements appear on the screen.
Higher DPI values result in larger UI elements.

Common examples:

• 120 DPI ≈ 125% scaling
• 144 DPI ≈ 150% scaling

The full list of DPI values is provided in the DPI Scaling Reference Table below.

Open the Xresources file

Run the following command:

mousepad ~/.Xresources

If the file does not exist, Mousepad will create it automatically.

Add the DPI setting

Add the following line:

Xft.dpi: 120

Note:
The value 120 is just an example.
You can replace it with any DPI value from the table below to suit your needs.

Save the file and close Mousepad.

Step 3: Apply the Setting

Apply the new DPI setting by running:

xrdb ~/.Xresources

For best results:

1. Click Menu → Log Out → Logout
2. Log back in

After logging in again, the new scaling level will be active.

DPI Scaling Reference Table

On Linux (including FunOS), 100% scaling is based on 96 DPI.
All other scaling values are calculated relative to this default.

DPI Calculation Formula

DPI = 96 × (scaling percentage ÷ 100)

DPI Values for Common Scaling Percentages

Scaling Percentage	DPI Value	Description
50%	48	Extremely small, not practical
75%	72	Very small UI and text
100%	96	Default FunOS / Linux scaling
125%	120	Most common HiDPI adjustment
150%	144	Ideal for QHD laptop screens
175%	168	High-density displays
200%	192	Equivalent to 2× scaling
225%	216	Very large UI
250%	240	Accessibility use
275%	264	Rare, extreme scaling
300%	288	Maximum practical scaling

Recommended DPI Range for FunOS

Because FunOS uses JWM on X11, the most practical and stable range is:

• 110–168 DPI (115%–175%)
• Most users prefer 120 DPI or 144 DPI

How to Reset DPI to Default (100%)

If you want to return to the default scaling, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

Use any method described earlier in this article.

Step 2: Remove the DPI Setting

Open the Xresources file:

mousepad ~/.Xresources

Delete the line:

Xft.dpi: 120

(Or any other Xft.dpi line you previously added.)

Save the file and close Mousepad.

Step 3: Apply the Change

Run:

xrdb ~/.Xresources

Then:

1. Click Menu → Log Out → Logout
2. Log back in

FunOS will now use the default 96 DPI (100%) scaling.

Conclusion

FunOS does not support true fractional scaling because it uses JWM on X11, but this is a deliberate design choice to keep the system lightweight, fast, and stable.

For HiDPI users, DPI scaling is the correct and recommended solution. By adjusting the Xft.dpi value, you can achieve a comfortable, fractional-scaling-like experience without blur, performance loss, or instability.

With the right DPI value, FunOS remains:

• Fast
• Sharp
• Minimal
• Highly usable on modern HiDPI displays