How to Fix Blurred Images on Internet Explorer 7

Blurry images in Internet Explorer can be solved in a variety of ways.

On some installations of Internet Explorer 7, web fonts and images may appear blurred or distorted. There are various reasons for these problems. Among them are manufacturer-adjusted settings to the screen resolution to ensure that text does not appear too small, registry errors with Internet Explorer or font smoothing issues relating to ClearType technology. Whatever the cause, fixing the problem should take only a few minutes.

Instructions

Adjust Internet Explorer Registry Settings

1. Close Internet Explorer.

2. Select "Start," then "Run."

3. Type "regedit" (without quotes) and click "Run."

4. From the navigational tree, select "HKEY_CURRENT_USER," "Software," "Microsoft," "Internet Explorer," "Main" (all without quotes).

5. Double-click "UseHR" and change the value from "1" to "0." The blurred image problem should be resolved the next time Internet Explorer is opened.

Adjust Display Settings

1. Right-click on the desktop.

2. Select "Properties."

3. Change the "DPI Setting" from "Large Size" to "Normal Size."

Adjust Font Smoothing

1. Launch Internet Explorer.

2. Select "Tools," then "Internet Options."

3. Select the "Advanced" tab.

4. Uncheck "Always use ClearType for HTML" and then restart Internet Explorer.

References

• Microsoft: Web fonts may appear blurry with Internet Explorer 7
• TechBytes: Internet Explorer Pictures Look Blurry when Using High Resolution
• University of Wisconsin: Internet Explorer 7--Turning off Clear Type

Resources

• Internet Explorer 8: Help and Support