Black boxes and incorrect viewport scaling appear in 3ds Max when using 4K monitors

Autodesk Support

Oct 8, 2023

Products and versions covered

Issue:

When launching 3ds Max, the application starts but the UI and Viewport are scaled incorrectly and have black areas within the Viewport, Command Panel, and Toolbar Ribbons. This issue may occur on single- or dual-monitor setups.

User-added image
3ds Max issue-inline1.jpg
 

Environment:

4K monitor (or multiple-monitor setup mixing 4K and HD monitors)

Causes:

Third-party software that has installed the following Windows Environment Variable on the machine:  
QT_DEVICE_PIXEL_RATIO = auto

Solution:

To address this issue, try the following:

Update 3ds Max:

  1. Log into your Autodesk Account > All Products and Services > 3ds Max 20XX > Updates and Add-ons.
  2. Search for and download the 3ds Max 20XX.X update. (Note: 3ds Max updates are inclusive of all earlier update feature improvements and fixes. If getting a "missing files" message after downloading the update, see Can't download 3ds Max 2022 updates from my Autodesk Account .)
  3. Install the update, then reboot the PC and relaunch 3ds Max.
  4. If the problem persists, see How to reset 3ds Max user preference settings back to default.


For 3ds Max 2019 or earlier

Do the following:
  1. In Windows, go to the Start menu.
  2. Type "Environment".
  3. Choose the option Edit the System Environment Variables.
  4. In the System Properties window, select the Advanced tab.
  5. Click the Environment Variables... button.
  6. In the Environment Variable window, search the User variables list for the following variable:
QT_DEVICE_PIXEL_RATIO = auto
  1. Select the Environment Variable and click Delete.
User-added image
  1. Click OK.
  2. Restart the Windows machine.
  3. Restart 3ds Max. The UI should scale normally after the Environment Variable is removed with a reboot of the machine.

Products:

3ds Max;

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