Project Zomboid: Best options.ini for Fullscreen Correction

The primary goal for Project Zomboid display correction is DPI-Aware Synchronization. Zomboid’s engine often struggles with Windows’ “Display Scaling” (e.g., 125% or 150%). This configuration focuses on forcing Exclusive Fullscreen or Borderless via the .ini and ensuring the resolution index matches your actual hardware to prevent the “zoomed-in” bug.

File Path

The options.ini is not in the Steam folder; it is located in your user profile’s Zomboid directory:

C:\Users\[YourName]\Zomboid\options.ini

Technical Configuration (The 2026 “Fullscreen Fix” Template)

Open the file with Notepad. Locate these specific lines at the very top. If they are missing or set to incorrect values, update them manually:

# Project Zomboid Display Fix - GameEngineer.net
version=2
width=1920            # Set to your monitor's native width
height=1080           # Set to your monitor's native height
fullScreen=true       # true = Fullscreen, false = Windowed
borderless=false      # Set to true if you want Borderless Windowed
display=1             # 1 is primary monitor, 2 is secondary
uiRenderOffscreen=true
zoom=true
textureCompression=true
doubleSizedTextures=true
vSync=false           # Disable to reduce input lag
bMultithreadedRendering=true

Parameter Breakdown:

• width/height: Manually entering these values is the only way to fix the “Apply button off-screen” loop. Ensure these match your Windows Display settings exactly.
• fullScreen=true vs borderless=true: For the best performance, use fullScreen=true. However, if you experience a “Black Screen on Alt-Tab,” set fullScreen=false and borderless=true. This mimics fullscreen but keeps the Windows Desktop Manager (DWM) active.
• display=1: If the game launches on the wrong monitor, changing this index is often more reliable than the in-game selector.
• uiRenderOffscreen=true: This is a 2026 optimization that prevents the UI from flickering when zooming in and out during high-zombie-count encounters.

Strategy for 2026 Display Stability

• The “DPI Scaling” Fix: If your game is still zoomed in after the .ini change, find ProjectZomboid64.exe in your Steam folder. Right-click > Properties > Compatibility > Change high DPI settings > Check “Override high DPI scaling behavior” and set it to “Application.”
• Build 42 Resolution Note: With the 2025/2026 updates, resolutions below 1080p are increasingly unsupported for the UI. If you are on a lower-res screen, set “Inventory Font Size” to Large in-game after you fix the fullscreen issue.
• Refresh Rate Locking: Zomboid does not have a native RefreshRate line in options.ini. To prevent your GPU from overworking, use the NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Software to cap the ProjectZomboid64.exe framerate to your monitor’s Hz.
• Allocate More RAM: While not a display setting, display crashes often happen because the default 2GB RAM limit is reached. Edit ProjectZomboid64.json in the game folder and change -Xmx2g to -Xmx4g or higher.

Key Display Parameters

Setting	Recommended Value	Impact
fullScreen	true	Max GPU priority and immersion.
borderless	false	Prevents desktop resizing issues.
vSync	false	Fixes “heavy” mouse cursor feeling.
Texture Compression	true	Reduces VRAM usage on 4K setups.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By manually defining your Width, Height, and Display Mode in the options.ini, you are bypassing the faulty auto-detection of the Enfusion/Java bridge. You can expect a perfectly centered game window, crisp UI elements that fit the screen, and the end of the “unclickable menu” glitch.