***REQUIRES ROOT***
This thread will serve as a discussion for modifying the LCD Density of the Samsung Glaxy Nexus. Stock density is 320 dpi, and the preferred modded density is 240 dpi. Please feel free to discuss lcd density, and notify me of anything you want added to the list.
Why modify the lcd density of your phone? Simple answer: more screen real estate.
1. How to modify you lcd density
Note: You can always go back to 320 dpi at any time by following these same steps and putting 320 back in for 240!
240 dpi is the recommended modded dpi for the Galaxy Nexus. You can however set it to whatever you want. Just know that many dpi's will cause the on screen buttons to disappear, and even possibly cause the launcher to crash. In both cases you can use the adb method to restore to 240 or 320.
241 dpi is also a good number to try. It fixes the problems some apps have when running at 240 dpi. Credit goes to g33k3r. However it will cause market incompatibilities. Read #6 to fix this.
246 will fix the contact widget, and quick contact, but it will use the old style contact info which shows a large contact image above their info, not small and to the side. Credit goes to maddler.
250 dpi OR 260 dpi OR 280 dpi are also good values if you would like a smaller than stock value, but 240 is too small for you.
Method 1 (Using an app):
Download LCD Density Modder (Free) / LCD Density Modder Pro from market. Set density to 240 or 241, apply, then reboot. There are multiple different apps that can change your dpi, but this app is guaranteed to work on the Galaxy Nexus.
Method 2 (Modify a file):
Using Root File Explorer or a similar program, modify /system/build.prop file (must mount /system as r/w).
Replace:
ro.sf.lcd_density=320
With:
ro.sf.lcd_density=240
Save and reboot.
Method 3 (Using adb):
adb pull /system/build.prop C:/build.prop
In build.prop, replace:
ro.sf.lcd_density=320
With:
ro.sf.lcd_density=240
adb remount
adb push C:/build.prop /system/build.prop
Reboot phone.
2. Apps where UI is different on 240 dpi (for better or worse, ui elements have been rearranged, but none are broken)
Launcher: Home screen icons are still 4x4 and squished into the center of the screen. App drawer and Widget drawer do not fill. There is a mod that fixes this in this thread: FIX HERE
Market: Now has 2 columns instead of one when listing apps.
Gmail: Quick access icons have been romved from the bottom and placed on the top. Only first two icons are visible, other are collapsed into the drop down menu.
People: Contact info now has a two column layout: a small icon of contact on left (static) with all of the contact info as a scrolling pane on the right (no visible divider). Favorite contact icons are much smaller.
3. Apps where UI is broken, but still useable
Sports Tracker: Some interface items dont stretch to fill the screen.
ADW /ADW Ex Launcher: There is a blue line and a menu icon above the homescreen at all times.
Speedtest.net: App shows up centered on screen, not filling whole screen.
Kindle: It still works but the text is now centered in the middle and there is a large amount of paddling around it.
4. Apps where UI is completely broken
Music: App displays incorrectly at 240 dpi. Run at 241 to fix this
5. Android UI glitches
Sometimes when selecting text the menu bar on the top of the screen will have a weird blue streak across it.
Stock ICS keyboard the popup when you press a key seems like it gets clipped off a little on the bottom.
Clicking the picture of a contact either from the people app, or from a 1x1 contact widget you no longer get the quick access popup, instead it is now the person's contact picture blown up to full screen and half cut off on the right side.
6. Market apps incompatable with device (according to market)
None that I know of. Since 240 dpi is a standard dpi for most android phones, I don't envision very many apps being incompabile. If you find an app that the market say is incompatible, you can try setting your density back to 320 temporarily in order to download it.
For those with market issues on a non-standard dpi (241, 250, 260, 280 etc.), try this:
1. Boot your phone into 320 or 240 dpi mode (depending on which kind of compatibility you want).
2. Find the Market app under manage apps. Click uninstall updates, clear data, clear cache.
3. Find Market Updater under manage apps and click Disable.
4. Open Market and accept terms of service.
5. Change dpi back to 241 and reboot.
Alternatively, LCD Density Modder Pro has the ability to download and install a modded market apk to fix market compatibility issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
7. Apps that crash (with possible workarounds)
Youtube: Will crash on start. Open from landscape mode! Youtube will not crash if openened in landscape mode. You can also open youtube links from the browser and other apps just fine.
8. Before and After Photos (320 dpi on left, 240 dpi on right):
***CLICK ANY SCREENSHOT TO VIEW FULL SIZE!***
Settings:
People:
Contact Info (note that the bottom bar has merged into the top bar):
Android Market:
***RESERVED***
can you provide a screenshot?
like a before/after pic.
I think this is crazy.
The stock DPI is amazing.
Get an SGSII if you want an old-school resolution or have bad eyes.
My stock DPI is absolutely beautiful...
ericshmerick said:
I think this is crazy.
The stock DPI is amazing.
Get an SGSII if you want an old-school resolution or have bad eyes.
My stock DPI is absolutely beautiful...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are completely missing the point. On Android when you change the DPI, you are essentially telling android the size at which to "scale" all objects on the screen. Notice how the Galaxy Nexus has a 720p screen yet you can only fit 4x4 icons on the desktop like the Galaxy S2? Well that is because the 320 dpi is telling android to scale those things bigger. Setting it to 240 dpi will make everything smaller and give you more screen "real estate". The resolution is still 720p.
You mention having bad eyes, but when you lower the dpi you actually need GOOD eyes because everything is smaller and harder to read if you have bad eyes.
paOol said:
can you provide a screenshot?
like a before/after pic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am going to post some screenshots later today.
YouTube crashes on launch for me when set to 240 DPI. I have not performed a wipe, though I have tried wiping the settings and cache for the app.
LadFromWales85 said:
YouTube crashes on launch for me when set to 240 DPI. I have not performed a wipe, though I have tried wiping the settings and cache for the app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes, thanks for reminding me. YT crashes for me as well, however if you have the widget you can click one of the videos and it will open that video. You can search for videos from there, but you cant access the home page for some reason.
EDIT: It turns out if you open youtube in landscape mode it will work!
Well thx for the Tip with the density. But however...When I start DPI Changer I get an error "Unable to read configuration file"
Any ideas?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using My Thumb...
Kizura said:
Well thx for the Tip with the density. But however...When I start DPI Changer I get an error "Unable to read configuration file"
Any ideas?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using My Thumb...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you rooted? This requires root.
for sure iam rooted...it was the first thing i have done... and i have ARHD Custom rom installed.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Kizura said:
for sure iam rooted...it was the first thing i have done... and i have ARHD Custom rom installed.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have Root File Explorer? You can use the second method i listed to change the build.prop file. You can also use adb to pull the file locally, edit it, and push it back to the phone.
Oh ok then I will do it manually
I will report back soon ...I hope xD
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Edit: Ok this is more awesome as it was on my DHD !!!
Really thank you for that great Tip and the Help
Kizura said:
Oh ok then I will do it manually
I will report back soon ...I hope xD
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Edit: Ok this is more awesome as it was on my DHD !!!
Really thank you for that great Tip and the Help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Make sure to check out my modified home screen launcher to get the full effect:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1390935
Also, if you find any apps that don't display properly or something else is wrong with them (when running in 240 dpi), please post back in this thread to help inform others.
Mhh I use adb launcher... but on top of the screen is now a blue horizontal line with the three dots for options on the right side....
Will your mod take care of this? I hope you know what I mean...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Kizura said:
Mhh I use adb launcher... but on top of the screen is now a blue horizontal line with the three dots for options on the right side....
Will your mod take care of this? I hope you know what I mean...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have ADW Ex launcher and i see that as well. It is the default titlebar and menu system for apps in ICS. Did you experience this when in 320 dpi as well or only in 240? I haven't tested it in 320.
And no, my mod only affects the stock launcher so it will not fix your problem.
No with 320 dpi that line doesn't appear its there since I have 240 Dpi...
Tested your Launcher replacement...
Great Work
But as you said it will not fix this "line affect" in adw
Maybe in a future update in adw launcher it will be fixed.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
I added photos to the main post now. Click on any photo to view the original size image!
Awesome, really cool. Trying it out today to see if I like it.
Another noticed bug - if you have a contact on your home screen (single icon version), which normally pops up the quick box for the contact, this now just seems to pop up their display picture and nothing else.
I see what you mean about the contact. It also happens when in the people app and you click their picture. I added it to the first post. thanks.
I thought changing the DPI would enable the ICS for tablets UI?
Hi all,
I notice when I change my DPI to 240, Google Music switches to its tablet interface. It's obviously awful on a phone. Is there any way to manually switch which interface Google Music is using?
Either that or somehow spoof a specific app into thinking the DPI setting is 320?
Thanks,
Giancarlo
MrBig0 said:
Hi all,
I notice when I change my DPI to 240, Google Music switches to its tablet interface. It's obviously awful on a phone. Is there any way to manually switch which interface Google Music is using?
Either that or somehow spoof a specific app into thinking the DPI setting is 320?
Thanks,
Giancarlo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have noticed the same thing on my gs2 though I am switching from 240 to 182. Your post is the only I've found about the issue and it's driving me crazy. If anyone has ideas where to even look in the apk to adjust this it would be extremely appreciated.
I've noticed a few problems from it. Music Playerpro has some display issues, and the Youtube app crashes as soon as I open it. Both work fine with the native DPI.
If you switch to 241 dpi g-music works
You're a genius! Thanks!
Change to 240, open market, then freeze market updater so you don't lose the applications available, change to 241.
To keep this short... I've used multiple density changing apps on the market, and also modified the build.prop but nothing seems to change with a DPI change.
I'm on Jellybomb 4, btw.
Make sure you are saving before you reboot. I tried 160 and it breaks ui and keyboard. 360 broke keyboard only.
I just found out that some of apps (Dialer One, The Adventures of Tintin, 9mm, Need for Speed Most Wanted, The Bard's Tale) are hidden to me.
I have rooted device with changed LCD Density to 220.
In build.prop there are two lines with density. Only the first one changed the view of device.
Reverting back to 320 makes app available for install.
Did you encounter the same problem? How to deal with it?
(changing need restart which is lot of work for searching of one app)
Thank you
mech1
I can't find solution :-C
Solution with reseting Market, chancung LCD Density, run market, change LCD to favourite doesn't work.
LCD Density Modder Pro doesn't work on Jelly Beam.
I can't find modified Market 3.10.10 for density 220.
thx
I have two questions for you guys about the G Pad 8.3:
1. The default LCD density on this thing is 320 which puts the UI into phone vs. tablet mode (no dual-pane view for Gmail, Email, etc.). The physical density is 273, though, which should activate the tablet (actually phablet) UI. I'm rooted and I've tried changing ro.sf.lcd_density through BuildProp Editor, but on each reboot it reverts to 320. Has anyone else successfully done this? What process (and LCD density value) did you use?
2. Is it possible to customize the quick launch buttons that are activated when you swipe up from the navigation bar? The default ones are Google, Voice Mate, and Quick Memo, and I'd like to change those last two if possible. I can't find anywhere in settings to change those, though.
Thanks much!
The screen density should be easily possible with apps like LCD Density, free on the Play Store (survives one reboot). Alternatively you can also change the dpi for every individual app, by installing the xposed module App Settings.
I don't know a way the quick launch shortcuts can be changed, although there are also apps in the Play Store as well that allow modifications to some extent.
True, I changed the density in build.prop, with editor, restart the tablet has gone a bit 'in bootloop, I rebooted again and everything is restored.
I tried to put 240.
Palux said:
True, I changed the density in build.prop, with editor, restart the tablet has gone a bit 'in bootloop, I rebooted again and everything is restored.
I tried to put 240.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, this tablet seems pretty resistant to changing the LCD density for some reason. Thanks for confirming!