Is there a way to increase the default font size for Java GUI applications?

I am using someone else’s custom Java tool (no, I do not have the source) to perform text annotation for a research project.

The text within the application is painfully small.

For most Windows applications, changing the system font size settings in the control panel will also change the font size in that application.

However, after increasing the default text size (on Windows 7), the text in this Java application remains excruciatingly small.

Solution 1:

For what it's worth, I have seen command-line switches that relate to specific packages.

Swing

java -Dswing.aatext=true -Dswing.plaf.metal.controlFont=Tahoma -Dswing.plaf.metal.userFont=Tahoma

Plastic

java -DWindows.controlFont=Tahoma-plain-11 -DWindows.menuFont=Tahoma-plain-12 -DPlastic.controlFont=Tahoma-plain-11 -DPlastic.menuFont=Tahoma-bold-11

Under Windows 10, this could be easily done:

select jawaw.exe (or jawaws.exe for jnlp files), it is usually under c:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_171\bin\
Right-click and select Properties.
Click the Compatibility tab. Under "Settings," check the Override high DPI scaling behavior option.
Under "Scaling performed by" drop-down menu, select System (Enhanced).

You have to repeat this after updates or create a shortcut. (source:windowscentral.com)