If you have trouble reading text on your Windows computer screen, use the built-in ClearType feature.
Tired of reading a text on your Windows computer screen? Can't see it clearly enough? You can use the ClearType Text Tuner to improve the readability of text displayed on your screen.
The ClearType text editor can be used to activation or disabling ClearType, a technology developed by Microsoft to increase the readability of text on modern screens, such as your laptop.
But let's see what ClearType is, what it does, and how to enable or disable it in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
What is ClearType
The ClearType is a Microsoft technology to improve text readability on modern screens such as your laptop screen.
It tries to reduce visible artifacts when text is rendered on screen and make text appear smoother and less jagged. To achieve its goal, ClearType sacrifices the color accuracy of the image displayed on the screen for improved brightness during appearance text. However, this trade-off results in improved text display on computer screens.
ClearType was first implemented in 2000 in a free application called Microsoft Reader, which was designed for e-book reading and was originally available for Windows 95 computers.
Microsoft improved this technology over the next few years and made it available as part of Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, and many other products. Today, if you enable ClearType in Windows, your settings are automatically applied to all applications that support this technology.
Should you enable ClearType or not?
To answer this question, just look at the image below. First, you see how the same text is rendered with ClearType on and then off.
It is visible that ClearType makes the text sharper and easier to read. Enabling it is a good idea if you spend a lot of time on your computer, often reading text, and want your eyes to read what's on your screen more easily.
It is especially useful for people who wear glasses, as it makes their eyes less tired.
However, if you're a graphic designer or do some work where color accuracy is paramount, you don't want ClearType on and it's better off.
How to open ClearType in Windows 10 and 11
Enabling and disabling ClearType is done using the ClearType Text Modifier.
To open it, in Windows 10, click or tap inside the search box on the taskbar, type cleartype and open the closest result. In Greek you will see it as “Customize ClearType text”
In Windows 11, the steps are the same: click or tap the Search icon inside the Search box on the taskbar, type cleartype, and click or tap “Customize ClearType Text”.
How to enable ClearType in Windows 10 and 11
The ClearType Text Tuner wizard is the same in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. At the beginning you have a check box with which you can enable ClearType or not, and at the same time you are informed that ClearType makes the text you see on the screen sharper , cleaner and cleaner and easier to read.
Check the “Enable ClearType” box and click “Next” to enable this feature.
Your screen appears and Windows checks if it is set to its original resolution. If it is not set to the maximum native resolution, the wizard gives you two options: change to its native resolution; screen or keep the current resolution.
If native resolution is already selected, you have no choice.
If you're using two or more monitors, all connected monitors are shown and you're prompted to choose whether you want to sync all monitors now or just the one you're selecting.
Here you can choose to keep your current analysis or not. When you have completed your selections (if any), tap Next.
Then five screens with different text samples appear. For each sample, the ClearType Text Adjuster uses different settings.
At first screen, you will only get two text samples. Take a close look at these swatches and pick the one that looks the cleanest.
At second screen you will see five samples. Again, try to read them all, see which one looks cleaner and more comfortable to your eyes, select it and click Next.
The third set includes three different text samples. Choose the one you prefer and press Next.
The quarter set includes six text samples. Repeat what you did before and click Next.
In fifth sample set you will see six samples. Choose the one that looks best to you and is easiest to read and press Next for the last time.
You will be notified that you have finished adjusting the text on your screen. Your screen name and a green check mark appear, indicating that you are done. Press "Done" and you're done.
note: If you have a computer with multiple monitors and choose to fine-tune them all, the wizard will walk you through the same steps for all your other monitors.
