Ori and the Blind Forest Resolution Bug: PC Fix Guide

How to Fix the Ori and the Blind Forest Resolution Bug

The Ori and the Blind Forest resolution bug can leave you unable to select the display resolution you want. That gets frustrating when your monitor supports a sharper picture but the game’s settings won’t cooperate. For the Ori and the Blind Forest resolution bug in Definitive Edition on Windows, start by setting the executable’s high DPI scaling override to Application, then check your desktop resolution if the problem remains.

These are separate adjustments, so test them individually. The DPI override has resolved resolution problems on multiple Windows setups, including systems connected to 4K monitors. However, another successful fix involved changing the desktop resolution before selecting the desired resolution inside the game.

Set the DPI Override to Application

Exit the game completely before changing its executable properties. For Definitive Edition, locate OriDE.exe inside your installation directory. Your Steam library location determines where that directory sits, so use the executable’s name to identify the correct file.

Follow these steps:

1. Right-click OriDE.exe and select Properties.
2. Open the Compatibility tab.
3. Select Change high DPI settings.
4. Under High DPI scaling override, enable Override high DPI scaling behavior.
5. Set Scaling performed by to Application.
6. Click OK, then Apply.
7. Relaunch the game and check its resolution settings.

Use this table to double-check the relevant options before launching:

Item	Selection
Definitive Edition executable	OriDE.exe
Properties tab	Compatibility
Settings window	Change high DPI settings
High DPI scaling override	Enabled
Scaling performed by	Application

The important selection is Application. Simply opening the compatibility panel or enabling an unrelated compatibility option does not complete this adjustment.

Once the game opens, return to its graphics settings and try selecting your intended resolution. Check the result on screen, then close and reopen the game to see whether the setting remains usable. If the override does not resolve the issue, move to the desktop resolution check below.

Official page: Ori and the Blind Forest (store.steampowered.com)

Match Your Desktop Resolution Before Launching

If the Ori and the Blind Forest resolution bug persists after the DPI adjustment, check the resolution Windows is using for your desktop.

For a 4K setup, changing the desktop to 4K before launching Definitive Edition has resolved a case where the in-game resolution could not be changed. The sequence matters: adjust the desktop, launch the game, and then select the resolution inside Ori.

Keep desktop resolution and DPI scaling separate while troubleshooting. The desktop resolution determines the display resolution Windows is using. The Application override is a setting attached to the game executable. Changing one does not mean you have changed the other.

Follow the Desktop-to-Game Sequence

1. Exit Ori.
2. Check your current Windows desktop resolution.
3. If you are trying to play at 4K on a compatible display, set the desktop to 4K.
4. Launch Ori again.
5. Open the game’s graphics settings and check for the desired resolution.
6. Select that resolution and inspect the resulting image.

The following comparison keeps the two fixes distinct:

Adjustment	Where you make it	What to check afterward
Application DPI override	OriDE.exe compatibility properties	Whether the game lets you change resolution
Desktop resolution change	Windows display settings	Whether the desired resolution becomes available in Ori
In-game resolution selection	Ori’s graphics settings	Whether the selected resolution displays correctly

Do not assume the DPI adjustment failed just because it did not solve everything by itself. Work through the desktop setting next, keeping track of what you changed.

Likewise, avoid repeatedly selecting the same unavailable option inside Ori without checking Windows. In the successful 4K case, the necessary change happened outside the game before the in-game setting could be selected.

After making a desktop adjustment, relaunch Ori before judging the result. That follows the sequence that resolved the resolution-selection problem.

Try the Launch Graphics Box and Fullscreen Shortcut

There are two additional controls worth separating: the graphics settings box accessed during launch and the fullscreen toggle used while the game is running.

For Definitive Edition, try holding Shift while launching the game to bring up a separate graphics settings box. If it appears, check the resolution options there and select the setting you want.

For the original Ori and the Blind Forest, Alt+Enter toggles fullscreen and windowed mode. Its Patch 1 improvements specifically addressed this transition, along with resolution switching and Alt+Tab behavior.

Control	Edition discussed	Purpose
Hold Shift during launch	Definitive Edition	Try opening a separate graphics settings box
Alt+Enter while running	Original edition	Toggle fullscreen and windowed mode

Use these controls for the problem each addresses. Switching between fullscreen and windowed mode changes the presentation mode; selecting a resolution changes the resolution setting. Check both when diagnosing the Ori and the Blind Forest resolution bug, but record their results separately.

Make One Change per Test

Keep each attempt easy to evaluate:

• Apply the DPI override, then relaunch and check resolution selection.
• Check the desktop resolution before changing more compatibility settings.
• Try the Shift launch option separately.
• In the original edition, test Alt+Enter if fullscreen switching is the problem.

This order gives you a useful record of what helped. If resolution selection starts working after the desktop change, you can identify that adjustment instead of attributing the result to several settings changed together.

Avoid adding unrelated launch commands or editing configuration files during these checks. The executable setting, desktop adjustment, and documented keyboard controls give you concrete options to work through without guessing at additional parameters.

Check Your Edition and Understand the Display Patches

Before applying another fix, check whether you launched Ori and the Blind Forest or Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition. The executable and troubleshooting details differ.

The DPI override steps above target OriDE.exe. The original edition uses Ori.exe. Apply executable properties to the edition you actually launch, especially if both versions are installed.

The original edition also received display-related improvements through Patch 1. Those changes covered more than resolution selection:

Original-edition change	What it addressed
Improved resolution switching	Faster, better handling of resolution changes
Improved fullscreen/windowed transitions	Faster toggling with Alt+Enter
Better multi-monitor handling	Fullscreen play on any monitor
Improved Alt+Tab behavior	Faster switching between the game and other windows
Fixes for fullscreen-related hangs	Hangs associated with fullscreen toggling, the Windows key, or Alt+Tab

These improvements help distinguish a resolution-selection problem from a fullscreen transition problem. For example, a game that hangs when changing display mode has a different immediate symptom from a game that runs normally but refuses your preferred resolution.

Patch 3 for the original edition also fixed a screen-flipping issue during cutscenes. An upside-down cutscene image is therefore another distinct display problem; it should not automatically be grouped with missing resolution options.

When troubleshooting the Ori and the Blind Forest resolution bug, describe the behavior precisely. “The resolution cannot be changed” is more useful than “the graphics are broken,” because it points directly toward the settings covered here.

Keep the edition name alongside that description. An adjustment to OriDE.exe does not change the compatibility properties of Ori.exe.

Separate Resolution Problems From a Black Screen

A startup black screen with music still playing needs its own diagnosis. The same applies when the screen flickers, a gray triangle appears, or menu sounds respond to mouse movement while the picture remains unusable.

Those symptoms have occurred with both the original game and Definitive Edition. They do not automatically share the same solution as the Ori and the Blind Forest resolution bug.

For the original Ori.exe, older Windows compatibility wording includes Disable display scaling on high DPI settings. Toggling that option was suggested for startup display trouble, but it did not resolve every affected setup. Keep that limitation in mind before repeatedly changing the same checkbox.

Reinstalling the game and verifying its files also did not resolve every black-screen case. Avoid treating a fresh installation as proof that the display problem must be fixed.

Keep a Useful Troubleshooting Record

If the picture still fails, write down the information needed to distinguish your setup and symptoms:

• Whether you are running the original edition or Definitive Edition.
• Your Windows version.
• Your graphics card and available VRAM.
• Your graphics driver version.
• Your system RAM.
• Your desktop resolution and the resolution you want in Ori.
• Whether the game displays a menu, plays audio, or responds with menu sounds.
• Which DPI and display-mode changes you have already tested.

Record the outcome of each attempt in plain language. “Application override applied; resolution still unavailable” gives you a clear next step. “Desktop changed to 4K; 4K selectable after relaunch” identifies a successful adjustment.

For the Ori and the Blind Forest resolution bug, the central checks remain the executable’s DPI setting and the desktop resolution used before launch. Once those are tested, use the exact remaining symptom to guide further troubleshooting.

FAQ

What should I try first for the Ori and the Blind Forest resolution bug?

For Definitive Edition on Windows, exit the game and open OriDE.exe → Properties → Compatibility → Change high DPI settings. Enable the high DPI scaling override, choose Application, apply the change, and relaunch. If resolution selection still fails, check your desktop resolution.

Why should I change my desktop resolution before opening Ori?

Changing the desktop resolution before launching Definitive Edition has resolved an inability to select 4K inside the game. Set the desktop to the intended supported resolution, reopen Ori, and then check its graphics settings. Test this separately from the DPI override.

How do I open the separate graphics settings box?

Try holding Shift while launching Definitive Edition. If the graphics settings box opens, check its resolution options. This launch-time option is separate from Alt+Enter, which toggles fullscreen and windowed mode in the original edition.

Does the Application DPI override fix a black screen with audio?

The original edition’s older Disable display scaling on high DPI settings toggle failed to fix a startup black-screen case. Separate that symptom from an unavailable resolution setting, and record your edition, Windows version, graphics hardware, driver version, and display settings. Include whether you hear music or menu sounds while the screen remains black.