Font width issue with zoom level

[mcc85s]

Type: Bug

I'm currently running a virtualization lab on RHEL 9.8, using VSCode and Cascadia Code for the font on linux, certain zoom modes force the font to look super skinny and warped. I could provide screenshots, but this issue reporter does not appear to have that in here anywhere.

So, steps to reproduce:

1. install VSCode on linux (would hope u guys know how)
2. install Cascadia code fonts
   sudo curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/microsoft/cascadia-code/releases/latest | grep browser_download_url | grep zip | cut -d '"' -f 4 | xargs sudo curl -L -o /tmp/cascadia.zip
   sudo unzip /tmp/cascadia.zip -d /usr/share/fonts/cascadia
   sudo fc-cache -f -v
   fc-list | grep -i cascadia
3. update settings.json to target Cascadia Code
   "editor.fontFamily": "Cascadia Code"
4. use CTRL + and CTRL - to cycle through zoom settings.

I asked copilot what it thinks and it gave me a bunch of useless suggestions that either didn't work, or were trying to resolve it elsewhere using DPI type commands.

It's not an XRDP issue, nor an issue with the font itself, the renderer for the editor is squeezing the font by like 25-33%? I can't even tell what zoom setting it's on, but the font issue occurs over Hyper-V window, OR using RDP window.

I like this font, I always use it, I always wind up installing a bunch of Microsoft stuff on linux, edge, vscode, extensions... would be nice to have a solution for this particular issue.

VS Code version: Code 1.126.0 (7e7950d, 2026-06-23T01:46:13Z)
OS version: Linux x64 5.14.0-687.5.3.el9_8.x86_64
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz (2 x 0)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: unavailable_software GPU0: VENDOR= 0x0000 [Google Inc. (Mesa)], DEVICE=0x0000 [ANGLE (Mesa, llvmpipe (LLVM 21.1.7 256 bits), OpenGL 4.5 (Core Profile) Mesa 25.2.7)], DRIVER_VENDOR=Mesa, DRIVER_VERSION=25.2.7 ACTIVE Machine model name: Machine model version: direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: disabled_software multiple_raster_threads: disabled_off opengl: unavailable_off rasterization: unavailable_off raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: unavailable_off video_encode: disabled_software vulkan: disabled_off webgl: unavailable_off webgpu: unavailable_software webgpu_on_vk_via_gl_interop: disabled_off webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	1, 1, 1
Memory (System)	6.28GB (3.58GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id c13d1c90-2e33-4f8a-abfe-3b4e3d924a32
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%
DESKTOP_SESSION	undefined
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP	GNOME
XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP	undefined
XDG_SESSION_TYPE	x11

Extensions (4)

Name	Identifier	Author	Version
C# Dev Kit	ms-dotnettools.csdevkit	ms-dotnettools	3.20.199
C#	ms-dotnettools.csharp	ms-dotnettools	2.140.9
.NET Install Tool	ms-dotnettools.vscode-dotnet-runtime	ms-dotnettools	3.1.0
PowerShell	ms-vscode.powershell	ms-vscode	2025.4.0

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[mcc85s]

Alright, took me a few to get this screenshot for you.

That's what it looks like on Linux...

[mcc85s]

And then this is what it looks like on Windows (normal lookin)

[alexdima]

🤖 Thanks for the report and the screenshots — the difference between the Linux and Windows rendering is clear.

To help us investigate, could you provide:

1. The exact window.zoomLevel value in your settings (or the zoom level shown in the bottom status bar) when the squeezing occurs.
2. Whether the issue persists if you launch VS Code with --disable-gpu explicitly, or with --force-device-scale-factor=1.
3. Whether other monospace fonts (e.g. the default) exhibit the same distortion at the same zoom level.

Your system info shows all GPU features are software-only (llvmpipe), which points toward a Chromium/Electron font-metrics issue at fractional zoom in software rendering. The extra detail above will help us confirm and route it.

Note: issues labeled info-needed auto-close after 7 days without a reply, so please follow up when you can.

[mcc85s]

Ok, before I run through these, I just want to let you know that I'm running this in Hyper-V, so that's why it's saying everything is software rendering.

1. I'm now learning that VSCode does NOT show the zoomlevel magification thing on the bottom status bar if it is at the default 0 zoom level. So, that was the default 0 zoom level in the RHEL screenshot. That is the mode where the squeezing is occurring. I've checked the other modes, and they seem to be more correctly displayed.

2. Yes, the issue persists when doing either:
   code --disable-gpu
   code --force-device-scale-factor=1

3. I am not exactly familiar with font selection on RHEL, but I tested it with DejaVu Sans Mono and I can't tell if that font is being squeezed. I don't think it is. I'm not familiar with that font as much as I am with Cascadia Code. I think it is specifically that font, cascadia code, that's squeezing itself in the default zoom level.

I just tested it with Liberation Mono, and it does appear to be the default zoom level that is most affected.

Liberation Mono - zoom level -1

Liberation Mono - zoom level 0 (default)

Liberation Mono - zoom level +1

So, I can provide additional screenshots, if necessary. Let me know if that's enough information.
I think that your analysis is close, but I don't think it has anything to do with the zoom level now, because it's happening in the default state. The only time it is NOT stretched, is when it is in a non-zero zoom level.

I can also see that it is happening to multiple fonts (Cascadia Code/Liberation).
I am unable to determine whether it is strictly VS Code.
Geany (installed it to have something like Notepad++) is displaying the font correctly in all of its zoom levels.

Geany - small zoom level

Geany - medium zoom level

Geany - high zoom level

Yeah, I think it's just the default zoom level in VS Code, don't think it is affecting anything else on the system. Also do not think that it is Cascadia Code related, so I believe that submitting this to VS Code team was the right call.

If you need any more information, feel free to respond at your convenience.
Also, keep up the good work.

• mcc85s