diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/DrawingContext.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/DrawingContext.cs
index c55d6de10f..5d258cb040 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/DrawingContext.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/DrawingContext.cs
@@ -283,7 +283,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Media
                 Opacity,
                 Clip,
                 GeometryClip,
-                OpacityMask
+                OpacityMask,
+                RenderOptions
             }
 
             public RestoreState(DrawingContext context, PushedStateType type)
@@ -308,6 +309,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Media
                     _context.PopGeometryClipCore();
                 else if (_type == PushedStateType.OpacityMask)
                     _context.PopOpacityMaskCore();
+                else if (_type == PushedStateType.RenderOptions)
+                    _context.PopRenderOptionsCore();
             }
         }
 
@@ -400,6 +403,20 @@ namespace Avalonia.Media
             return new PushedState(this);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Pushes render options.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="renderOptions">The render options.</param>
+        /// <returns>A disposable to undo the render options.</returns>
+        public PushedState PushRenderOptions(RenderOptions renderOptions)
+        {
+            PushRenderOptionsCore(renderOptions);
+            _states ??= StateStackPool.Get();
+            _states.Push(new RestoreState(this, RestoreState.PushedStateType.RenderOptions));
+            return new PushedState(this);
+        }
+        protected abstract void PushRenderOptionsCore(RenderOptions renderOptions);
+
         [Obsolete("Use PushTransform"), EditorBrowsable(EditorBrowsableState.Never)]
         public PushedState PushPreTransform(Matrix matrix) => PushTransform(matrix);
         [Obsolete("Use PushTransform"), EditorBrowsable(EditorBrowsableState.Never)]
@@ -415,6 +432,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Media
         protected abstract void PopOpacityCore();
         protected abstract void PopOpacityMaskCore();
         protected abstract void PopTransformCore();
+        protected abstract void PopRenderOptionsCore();
         
         private static bool PenIsVisible(IPen? pen)
         {
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/DrawingGroup.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/DrawingGroup.cs
index 1f3c74c51c..7299bff850 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/DrawingGroup.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/DrawingGroup.cs
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Media
             set => SetValue(OpacityMaskProperty, value);
         }
 
+        internal RenderOptions? RenderOptions { get; set; }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets or sets the collection that contains the child geometries.
         /// </summary>
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Media
             using (context.PushOpacity(Opacity))
             using (ClipGeometry != null ? context.PushGeometryClip(ClipGeometry) : default)
             using (OpacityMask != null ? context.PushOpacityMask(OpacityMask, bounds) : default)
+            using (RenderOptions != null ? context.PushRenderOptions(RenderOptions.Value) : default)
             {
                 foreach (var drawing in Children)
                 {
@@ -313,6 +316,15 @@ namespace Avalonia.Media
                 drawingGroup.Transform = new MatrixTransform(matrix);
             }
 
+            protected override void PushRenderOptionsCore(RenderOptions renderOptions)
+            {
+                // Instantiate a new drawing group and set it as the _currentDrawingGroup
+                var drawingGroup = PushNewDrawingGroup();
+
+                // Set the render options on the new DrawingGroup
+                drawingGroup.RenderOptions = renderOptions;
+            }
+
             protected override void PopClipCore() => Pop();
 
             protected override void PopGeometryClipCore() => Pop();
@@ -323,6 +335,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Media
 
             protected override void PopTransformCore() => Pop();
 
+            protected override void PopRenderOptionsCore() => Pop();
+
             /// <summary>
             /// Creates a new DrawingGroup for a Push* call by setting the
             /// _currentDrawingGroup to a newly instantiated DrawingGroup,
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/PlatformDrawingContext.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/PlatformDrawingContext.cs
index b81582f845..410d996db2 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/PlatformDrawingContext.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Media/PlatformDrawingContext.cs
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ internal sealed class PlatformDrawingContext : DrawingContext
         _impl.Transform = matrix * current;
     }
 
+    protected override void PushRenderOptionsCore(RenderOptions renderOptions) => _impl.PushRenderOptions(renderOptions);
+
     protected override void PopClipCore() => _impl.PopClip();
 
     protected override void PopGeometryClipCore() => _impl.PopGeometryClip();
@@ -102,6 +104,8 @@ internal sealed class PlatformDrawingContext : DrawingContext
         _impl.Transform =
             (_transforms ?? throw new ObjectDisposedException(nameof(PlatformDrawingContext))).Pop();
 
+    protected override void PopRenderOptionsCore() => _impl.PopRenderOptions();
+
     protected override void DisposeCore()
     {
         if (_ownsImpl)
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Platform/IDrawingContextImpl.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Platform/IDrawingContextImpl.cs
index b52378d3b3..fe411c350d 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Platform/IDrawingContextImpl.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Platform/IDrawingContextImpl.cs
@@ -160,6 +160,17 @@ namespace Avalonia.Platform
         /// </summary>
         void PopGeometryClip();
         
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Pushes render options.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="renderOptions">The render options.</param>
+        void PushRenderOptions(RenderOptions renderOptions);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Pops the latest render options.
+        /// </summary>
+        void PopRenderOptions();
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Attempts to get an optional feature from the drawing context implementation.
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Drawing/Nodes/RenderDataNodes.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Drawing/Nodes/RenderDataNodes.cs
index 2d3b5b0f22..44c8f66bb3 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Drawing/Nodes/RenderDataNodes.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Drawing/Nodes/RenderDataNodes.cs
@@ -211,3 +211,18 @@ abstract class RenderDataBrushAndPenNode : IRenderDataItemWithServerResources
     public abstract Rect? Bounds { get; }
     public abstract bool HitTest(Point p);
 }
+
+class RenderDataRenderOptionsNode : RenderDataPushNode
+{
+    public RenderOptions RenderOptions { get; set; }
+
+    public override void Push(ref RenderDataNodeRenderContext context)
+    {
+        context.Context.PushRenderOptions(RenderOptions);
+    }
+
+    public override void Pop(ref RenderDataNodeRenderContext context)
+    {
+        context.Context.PopRenderOptions();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Drawing/RenderDataDrawingContext.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Drawing/RenderDataDrawingContext.cs
index e7b14f138d..870a084d31 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Drawing/RenderDataDrawingContext.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Drawing/RenderDataDrawingContext.cs
@@ -259,6 +259,12 @@ internal class RenderDataDrawingContext : DrawingContext
             });
     }
 
+    protected override void PushRenderOptionsCore(RenderOptions renderOptions) => Push(new RenderDataRenderOptionsNode()
+    {
+        RenderOptions = renderOptions
+    });
+
+
     protected override void PopClipCore() => Pop<RenderDataClipNode>();
 
     protected override void PopGeometryClipCore() => Pop<RenderDataGeometryClipNode>();
@@ -269,6 +275,8 @@ internal class RenderDataDrawingContext : DrawingContext
 
     protected override void PopTransformCore() => Pop<RenderDataPushMatrixNode>();
 
+    protected override void PopRenderOptionsCore() => Pop<RenderDataRenderOptionsNode>();
+
     internal override void DrawBitmap(IRef<IBitmapImpl>? source, double opacity, Rect sourceRect, Rect destRect)
     {
         if (source == null || sourceRect.IsEmpty() || destRect.IsEmpty())
diff --git a/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Server/DrawingContextProxy.cs b/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Server/DrawingContextProxy.cs
index 61f8c8451f..56a572b343 100644
--- a/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Server/DrawingContextProxy.cs
+++ b/src/Avalonia.Base/Rendering/Composition/Server/DrawingContextProxy.cs
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ internal class CompositorDrawingContextProxy : IDrawingContextImpl,
         _impl.PushOpacityMask(mask, bounds);
     }
 
+    public void PushRenderOptions(RenderOptions renderOptions)
+    {
+        _impl.PushRenderOptions(renderOptions);
+    }
+
     public void PopOpacityMask()
     {
         _impl.PopOpacityMask();
@@ -137,6 +142,11 @@ internal class CompositorDrawingContextProxy : IDrawingContextImpl,
         _impl.PopGeometryClip();
     }
 
+    public void PopRenderOptions()
+    {
+        _impl.PopRenderOptions();
+    }
+
     public object? GetFeature(Type t) => _impl.GetFeature(t);
     
 
diff --git a/src/Headless/Avalonia.Headless/HeadlessPlatformRenderInterface.cs b/src/Headless/Avalonia.Headless/HeadlessPlatformRenderInterface.cs
index 7293874671..b03ae8a2ca 100644
--- a/src/Headless/Avalonia.Headless/HeadlessPlatformRenderInterface.cs
+++ b/src/Headless/Avalonia.Headless/HeadlessPlatformRenderInterface.cs
@@ -542,6 +542,16 @@ namespace Avalonia.Headless
             {
                 
             }
+
+            public void PushRenderOptions(RenderOptions renderOptions)
+            {
+               
+            }
+
+            public void PopRenderOptions()
+            {
+               
+            }
         }
 
         private class HeadlessRenderTarget : IRenderTarget
diff --git a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Loader/CompilerExtensions/Transformers/AvaloniaXamlIlControlTemplateTargetTypeMetadataTransformer.cs b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Loader/CompilerExtensions/Transformers/AvaloniaXamlIlControlTemplateTargetTypeMetadataTransformer.cs
index f95d086bf6..4d93408ce8 100644
--- a/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Loader/CompilerExtensions/Transformers/AvaloniaXamlIlControlTemplateTargetTypeMetadataTransformer.cs
+++ b/src/Markup/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.Loader/CompilerExtensions/Transformers/AvaloniaXamlIlControlTemplateTargetTypeMetadataTransformer.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Linq;
 using XamlX.Ast;
 using XamlX.Transform;
+using XamlX.Transform.Transformers;
 using XamlX.TypeSystem;
 
 namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.XamlIl.CompilerExtensions.Transformers
@@ -22,26 +23,19 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.XamlIl.CompilerExtensions.Transformers
             IXamlAstTypeReference targetType;
 
             var templatableBaseType = context.Configuration.TypeSystem.GetType("Avalonia.Controls.Control");
-            
-            if ((tt?.Values.FirstOrDefault() is XamlTypeExtensionNode tn))
-            {
-                targetType = tn.Value;
-            }
-            else
+
+            targetType = tt?.Values.FirstOrDefault() switch
             {
-                var parentScope = context.ParentNodes().OfType<AvaloniaXamlIlTargetTypeMetadataNode>()
-                    .FirstOrDefault();
-                if (parentScope?.ScopeType == AvaloniaXamlIlTargetTypeMetadataNode.ScopeTypes.Style)
-                    targetType = parentScope.TargetType;
-                else if (context.ParentNodes().Skip(1).FirstOrDefault() is XamlAstObjectNode directParentNode
-                         && templatableBaseType.IsAssignableFrom(directParentNode.Type.GetClrType()))
-                    targetType = directParentNode.Type;
-                else
-                    targetType = new XamlAstClrTypeReference(node,
-                        templatableBaseType, false);
-            }
-                
-                
+                XamlTypeExtensionNode tn => tn.Value,
+                XamlAstTextNode textNode => TypeReferenceResolver.ResolveType(context, textNode.Text, false, textNode, true),
+                _ when context.ParentNodes()
+                    .OfType<AvaloniaXamlIlTargetTypeMetadataNode>()
+                    .FirstOrDefault() is { ScopeType: AvaloniaXamlIlTargetTypeMetadataNode.ScopeTypes.Style } parentScope => parentScope.TargetType,
+                _ when context.ParentNodes().Skip(1).FirstOrDefault() is XamlAstObjectNode directParentNode
+                         && templatableBaseType.IsAssignableFrom(directParentNode.Type.GetClrType()) => directParentNode.Type,
+                _ => new XamlAstClrTypeReference(node,
+                        templatableBaseType, false)
+            };
 
             return new AvaloniaXamlIlTargetTypeMetadataNode(on, targetType,
                 AvaloniaXamlIlTargetTypeMetadataNode.ScopeTypes.ControlTemplate);
@@ -59,7 +53,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.XamlIl.CompilerExtensions.Transformers
             ControlTemplate,
             Transitions
         }
-        
+
         public AvaloniaXamlIlTargetTypeMetadataNode(IXamlAstValueNode value, IXamlAstTypeReference targetType,
             ScopeTypes type)
             : base(value, value)
diff --git a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia/DrawingContextImpl.cs b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia/DrawingContextImpl.cs
index 76d236e18a..5736b7110c 100644
--- a/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia/DrawingContextImpl.cs
+++ b/src/Skia/Avalonia.Skia/DrawingContextImpl.cs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ namespace Avalonia.Skia
         private readonly Vector _dpi;
         private readonly Stack<PaintWrapper> _maskStack = new();
         private readonly Stack<double> _opacityStack = new();
+        private readonly Stack<RenderOptions> _renderOptionsStack = new();
         private readonly Matrix? _postTransform;
         private double _currentOpacity = 1.0f;
         private readonly bool _disableSubpixelTextRendering;
@@ -634,6 +635,21 @@ namespace Avalonia.Skia
             _currentOpacity = _opacityStack.Pop();
         }
 
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public void PushRenderOptions(RenderOptions renderOptions)
+        {
+            CheckLease();
+
+            _renderOptionsStack.Push(RenderOptions);
+
+            RenderOptions = RenderOptions.MergeWith(renderOptions);
+        }
+
+        public void PopRenderOptions()
+        {
+            RenderOptions = _renderOptionsStack.Pop();
+        }
+
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public virtual void Dispose()
         {
diff --git a/src/Windows/Avalonia.Direct2D1/Media/DrawingContextImpl.cs b/src/Windows/Avalonia.Direct2D1/Media/DrawingContextImpl.cs
index 5579278f21..8b288598ab 100644
--- a/src/Windows/Avalonia.Direct2D1/Media/DrawingContextImpl.cs
+++ b/src/Windows/Avalonia.Direct2D1/Media/DrawingContextImpl.cs
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ namespace Avalonia.Direct2D1.Media
         private readonly SharpDX.DXGI.SwapChain1 _swapChain;
         private readonly Action _finishedCallback;
 
+        private readonly Stack<RenderOptions> _renderOptionsStack = new();
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="DrawingContextImpl"/> class.
         /// </summary>
@@ -488,6 +490,18 @@ namespace Avalonia.Direct2D1.Media
             PopLayer();
         }
 
+        public void PushRenderOptions(RenderOptions renderOptions)
+        {
+            _renderOptionsStack.Push(RenderOptions);
+
+            RenderOptions = RenderOptions.MergeWith(renderOptions);
+        }
+
+        public void PopRenderOptions()
+        {
+            RenderOptions = _renderOptionsStack.Pop();
+        }
+
         private void PopLayer()
         {
             var layer = _layers.Pop();
diff --git a/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32/Win32Platform.cs b/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32/Win32Platform.cs
index 9244da5064..9650c44bef 100644
--- a/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32/Win32Platform.cs
+++ b/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32/Win32Platform.cs
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ namespace Avalonia.Win32
 
         public Win32Platform()
         {
-            SetDpiAwareness();
             CreateMessageWindow();
             _dispatcher = new Win32DispatcherImpl(_hwnd);
         }
@@ -80,6 +79,9 @@ namespace Avalonia.Win32
         public static void Initialize(Win32PlatformOptions options)
         {
             s_options = options;
+
+            SetDpiAwareness();
+
             var renderTimer = options.ShouldRenderOnUIThread ? new UiThreadRenderTimer(60) : new DefaultRenderTimer(60);
 
             AvaloniaLocator.CurrentMutable
@@ -264,12 +266,31 @@ namespace Avalonia.Win32
             var user32 = LoadLibrary("user32.dll");
             var method = GetProcAddress(user32, nameof(SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext));
 
+            var dpiAwareness = Options.DpiAwareness;
+
             if (method != IntPtr.Zero)
             {
-                if (SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext(DPI_AWARENESS_CONTEXT_PER_MONITOR_AWARE_V2) ||
-                    SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext(DPI_AWARENESS_CONTEXT_PER_MONITOR_AWARE))
+                if (dpiAwareness == Win32DpiAwareness.Unaware)
                 {
-                    return;
+                    if (SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext(DPI_AWARENESS_CONTEXT_UNAWARE))
+                    {
+                        return;
+                    }
+                }
+                else if (dpiAwareness == Win32DpiAwareness.SystemDpiAware)
+                {
+                    if (SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext(DPI_AWARENESS_CONTEXT_SYSTEM_AWARE))
+                    {
+                        return;
+                    }
+                }
+                else if (dpiAwareness == Win32DpiAwareness.PerMonitorDpiAware)
+                {
+                    if (SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext(DPI_AWARENESS_CONTEXT_PER_MONITOR_AWARE_V2) ||
+                    SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext(DPI_AWARENESS_CONTEXT_PER_MONITOR_AWARE))
+                    {
+                        return;
+                    }
                 }
             }
 
@@ -278,11 +299,20 @@ namespace Avalonia.Win32
 
             if (method != IntPtr.Zero)
             {
-                SetProcessDpiAwareness(PROCESS_DPI_AWARENESS.PROCESS_PER_MONITOR_DPI_AWARE);
+                var awareness = (dpiAwareness) switch
+                {
+                    Win32DpiAwareness.Unaware => PROCESS_DPI_AWARENESS.PROCESS_DPI_UNAWARE,
+                    Win32DpiAwareness.SystemDpiAware => PROCESS_DPI_AWARENESS.PROCESS_SYSTEM_DPI_AWARE,
+                    Win32DpiAwareness.PerMonitorDpiAware => PROCESS_DPI_AWARENESS.PROCESS_PER_MONITOR_DPI_AWARE,
+                    _ => PROCESS_DPI_AWARENESS.PROCESS_PER_MONITOR_DPI_AWARE,
+                };
+
+                SetProcessDpiAwareness(awareness);
                 return;
             }
 
-            SetProcessDPIAware();
+            if (dpiAwareness != Win32DpiAwareness.Unaware)
+                SetProcessDPIAware();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32/Win32PlatformOptions.cs b/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32/Win32PlatformOptions.cs
index bbb4c37d7e..eac18dc080 100644
--- a/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32/Win32PlatformOptions.cs
+++ b/src/Windows/Avalonia.Win32/Win32PlatformOptions.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,27 @@ public enum Win32RenderingMode
     Wgl = 3
 }
 
+/// <summary>
+/// Represents the DPI Awareness for the application.
+/// </summary>
+public enum Win32DpiAwareness
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The application is DPI unaware.
+    /// </summary>
+    Unaware,
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The application is system DPI aware. It will query DPI once and will not adjust to new DPI changes
+    /// </summary>
+    SystemDpiAware,
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The application is per-monitor DPI aware. It adjust its scale factor whenever DPI changes.
+    /// </summary>
+    PerMonitorDpiAware
+}
+
 /// <summary>
 /// Represents the Win32 window composition mode.
 /// </summary>
@@ -137,4 +158,9 @@ public class Win32PlatformOptions
     /// and <see cref="CompositionMode"/> only accepts null or <see cref="Win32CompositionMode.RedirectionSurface"/>.
     /// </summary>
     public IPlatformGraphics? CustomPlatformGraphics { get; set; }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the application's DPI awareness.
+    /// </summary>
+    public Win32DpiAwareness DpiAwareness { get; set; } = Win32DpiAwareness.PerMonitorDpiAware;
 }
diff --git a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Xaml/ControlTemplateTests.cs b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Xaml/ControlTemplateTests.cs
index ea2407e18d..e21f6cd276 100644
--- a/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Xaml/ControlTemplateTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests/Xaml/ControlTemplateTests.cs
@@ -286,6 +286,24 @@ namespace Avalonia.Markup.Xaml.UnitTests.Xaml
             Assert.IsType(typeof(ContentPresenter), template.Build(new ContentControl()).Result);
         }
 
+        [Fact]
+        public void ControlTemplate_With_String_TargetType()
+        {
+            var xaml = @"
+<ControlTemplate xmlns='https://github.com/avaloniaui' 
+                 xmlns:x='http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml'
+                 TargetType='ContentControl'>
+    <ContentPresenter Content='{TemplateBinding Content}' />
+</ControlTemplate>
+";
+            var template = AvaloniaRuntimeXamlLoader.Parse<ControlTemplate>(xaml);
+
+            Assert.Equal(typeof(ContentControl), template.TargetType);
+
+            Assert.IsType(typeof(ContentPresenter), template.Build(new ContentControl()).Result);
+        }
+
+
         [Fact]
         public void ControlTemplate_With_Panel_Children_Are_Added()
         {