How to Fix TFR Mod Not Fitting Screen in HOI4

Hearts of Iron IV (HOI4) is known for its deep strategy, sprawling maps, and immersive overhaul mods. One such popular overhaul is the TFR mod. However, many players run into a frustrating issue: the mod does not fit the screen properly. Menus may be cut off, UI elements can appear oversized, or parts of the interface might become completely inaccessible. Fortunately, this problem is usually fixable with a few targeted adjustments.

TLDR: If TFR mod is not fitting your screen in HOI4, the issue typically stems from resolution mismatch, UI scaling settings, fullscreen mode conflicts, or outdated mod/game files. Start by adjusting your in-game resolution and UI scaling to match your monitor. Verify game files, update the mod, and consider editing configuration files if the problem persists. In most cases, a combination of these solutions restores proper screen fit quickly.

Why TFR Mod Might Not Fit Your Screen

Before diving into fixes, it helps to understand why this happens. TFR (like many overhaul mods) significantly alters user interface elements. HOI4 was designed with specific UI scaling constraints, and when those constraints clash with your monitor resolution or Windows display settings, scaling errors can occur.

Common causes include:

• Incorrect in-game resolution
• UI scaling set too high or too low
• Conflict between fullscreen and borderless modes
• Windows display scaling above 100%
• Outdated mod version
• Corrupted config files

Now let’s break down how to fix each one.

1. Adjust In-Game Resolution Settings

The most common cause of TFR not fitting your screen is a mismatch between your monitor’s native resolution and the resolution selected in HOI4.

How to fix it:

1. Launch HOI4.
2. Go to Options > Graphics.
3. Check your current resolution.
4. Set it to your monitor’s native resolution (e.g., 1920×1080, 2560×1440, 3840×2160).
5. Apply changes and restart the game.

If you’re unsure of your native resolution:

• Right-click your desktop.
• Select Display Settings.
• Look under Display Resolution.

Restarting the game after changing resolution is essential, as HOI4 does not always resize UI assets dynamically.

2. Fix UI Scaling in HOI4

HOI4 includes a UI scaling option that directly affects how large interface elements appear. TFR modifies UI components heavily, so incorrect scaling often causes menus to stretch beyond screen boundaries.

Steps to adjust UI scaling:

1. Open Options > Graphics.
2. Find the UI Scaling slider.
3. Lower it incrementally (e.g., from 1.3 to 1.0).
4. Apply and restart.

For 1080p monitors, 1.0 is usually ideal. For 1440p or 4K monitors, you may need to experiment between 0.8 and 1.1.

Pro Tip: If menus are too large and clipped at the bottom or sides, your UI scale is likely too high.

3. Switch Between Fullscreen, Borderless, and Windowed

Display mode affects how HOI4 renders UI boundaries. Sometimes fullscreen forces incorrect scaling, especially on multi-monitor setups.

Try switching modes:

• Fullscreen – Best performance, strict resolution handling.
• Borderless – Better scaling compatibility.
• Windowed – Useful for testing.

Many users report that Borderless mode fixes TFR scaling instantly.

4. Check Windows Display Scaling

If your Windows display scaling is set above 100%, HOI4 can inherit incorrect scaling behavior.

To check this:

1. Right-click Desktop.
2. Click Display Settings.
3. Under Scale and Layout, ensure scaling is set to 100%.

If it’s set to 125% or 150%, lower it to 100%, restart your PC, and then launch HOI4 again.

This is particularly important for laptop users and 4K monitors.

5. Edit the Settings File Manually

Sometimes HOI4 stores faulty resolution settings in its configuration file. Editing it manually can override the issue.

Location of settings file:

Documents > Paradox Interactive > Hearts of Iron IV

Open settings.txt with Notepad.

Look for lines like:

• resolution_x=1920
• resolution_y=1080
• fullscreen=yes
• borderless=yes
• gui_scale=1.000000

Manually adjust these values to match your monitor, then save the file.

If problems persist, delete settings.txt entirely. HOI4 will generate a fresh one on restart.

6. Verify Game Files via Steam

Corrupted base files can cause UI rendering issues that become worse when using overhaul mods like TFR.

To verify files:

1. Open Steam.
2. Right-click Hearts of Iron IV.
3. Select Properties.
4. Click Installed Files.
5. Select Verify integrity of game files.

This process can fix hidden UI bugs.

7. Update or Reinstall TFR Mod

An outdated TFR version may not be optimized for your current HOI4 patch.

Steps:

• Unsubscribe from TFR in Steam Workshop.
• Close Steam completely.
• Restart Steam.
• Re-subscribe to TFR.

Make sure your HOI4 version matches the mod’s supported version.

8. Clear Mod Cache

HOI4 stores cached UI elements that may conflict after updates.

Delete the following folder:

Documents > Paradox Interactive > Hearts of Iron IV > gfx

The game recreates it during launch.

Comparison Chart: Fix Methods Overview

Fix Method	Difficulty Level	Effectiveness	Best For
Adjust Resolution	Easy	Very High	Clipped menus
Lower UI Scaling	Easy	Very High	Oversized UI
Switch to Borderless	Easy	High	Multi-monitor setups
Edit settings.txt	Medium	High	Persistent resolution bugs
Verify Game Files	Easy	Medium	Corrupted installation
Reinstall TFR	Easy	Medium	Post-patch issues

9. Multi-Monitor Troubleshooting

Multi-monitor users often experience this issue more frequently.

Key solutions:

• Set HOI4 to launch on your primary monitor.
• Disable secondary monitors temporarily to test.
• Ensure all monitors use the same scaling percentage.

Mixed 4K + 1080p setups are especially prone to UI misalignment issues.

10. Advanced: DPI Override Settings

If nothing works, you can override Windows’ DPI handling.

Steps:

1. Navigate to HOI4 installation folder (Steam > Browse Local Files).
2. Right-click hoi4.exe.
3. Click Properties.
4. Go to Compatibility.
5. Select Change high DPI settings.
6. Check Override high DPI scaling behavior.
7. Select Application.

This forces HOI4 to manage its own scaling independently from Windows.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Changing multiple variables at once without testing.
• Ignoring a required restart after adjustments.
• Running outdated mod versions with newer HOI4 patches.
• Leaving Windows scaling above 100%.

Troubleshoot step by step for best results.

Final Thoughts

TFR mod enhances HOI4 with expansive gameplay changes, but UI stretching or cropping can quickly ruin the immersion. Fortunately, in most cases the problem stems from resolution mismatch or improper scaling settings rather than a serious bug.

Start simple: adjust your resolution and UI scale. Move on to display mode changes and config edits if necessary. Only after that should you consider reinstalling files or altering DPI settings.

With a bit of careful tweaking, you can restore your screen layout and get back to commanding nations without cropped menus or inaccessible buttons. Strategy should challenge your mind—not your monitor configuration.