The simplest way to make text bigger
On almost every device and website, you can make text larger without installing anything or changing settings you do not understand. The fastest method is to hold down the Ctrl key (or Cmd on a Mac) and press the plus sign (+) key at the same time. Each time you press it, the text gets bigger. Press Ctrl and minus sign (−) to make it smaller again.
This works in web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. It works on most websites and in many apps. The change stays in place until you close the browser or change it back, so you can read comfortably and then return to normal size whenever you want.
If you do not have a plus or minus key on your keyboard, or if you prefer using your mouse or trackpad, every browser also has a menu option. Look for three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) or three dots in the top right corner of your browser window. Click it, find "Zoom" or "Text Size", and select a larger percentage.
Key Takeaways
- Hold Ctrl and press the plus key (+) to make text bigger on any website or in most apps; hold Ctrl and press minus (−) to make it smaller.
- On a Mac, use Cmd instead of Ctrl with the same plus and minus keys.
- You can also use your browser menu (three lines or three dots in the top right) to find a Zoom or Text Size option and pick a larger percentage.
- Changes you make only affect what you are looking at right now; closing the browser or restarting your device returns text to its original size.
- If keyboard shortcuts do not work, your browser menu always has a text size option that will work.
Changing text size in your operating system settings
If you want text to be bigger everywhere on your computer or phone — not just in your browser — you can change it in your system settings. This affects menus, buttons, and labels across your whole device, not just websites.
On Windows, right-click on your desktop (the empty space on your screen), select "Display settings", and look for "Scale and layout" or "Text size". You can choose a percentage like 100%, 125%, or 150%. On a Mac, go to System Settings, click "Displays", and adjust the resolution or text size slider. On an iPhone, go to Settings, tap "Display & Brightness", and select "Text Size" or "Larger Accessibility Sizes". On Android, open Settings, go to "Display", and look for "Font size" or "Screen zoom".
These system-wide changes take effect when ready and stay in place until you change them again. They affect everything you see on your device, which can be helpful if you find yourself constantly enlarging text in your browser.
When text size changes do not work everywhere
Some websites and apps do not respond to your text size changes. This happens when a designer has locked the text to a specific size and does not allow your browser or device settings to override it. If you encounter this, your browser's zoom feature (Ctrl and plus) usually still works, because it enlarges the entire page, not just the text.
A few older apps or websites built a long time ago may not support text resizing at all. If you cannot make text bigger using any of these methods, the website or app itself may need to be updated by whoever created it. You can contact the website owner or app developer to let them know the text is too small for you to read.
Using your browser's reader mode
Many browsers have a "reader mode" or "reading mode" that strips away ads, sidebars, and distracting elements, leaving only the article text in a clean, straightforward-to-read format. In this mode, you can usually change the text size, font, and background color all at once.
In Firefox, look for a small book icon in the address bar when you are on an article page. In Safari on Mac or iPhone, look for a similar icon. In Chrome, you may need to install an extension to get reader mode, though some versions have it built in. Once you enter reader mode, you will see controls to adjust text size, font choice, and whether the background is white, tan, or dark.
Reader mode is especially useful if you read a lot of news articles or long-form content, because it makes the text larger and removes clutter at the same time.
Text size on mobile phones and tablets
On phones and tablets, the process is slightly different because you do not have a keyboard with plus and minus keys. Instead, use the pinch gesture: place two fingers on the screen and spread them apart to zoom in, or pinch them together to zoom out. This works on most websites and in many apps.
You can also change the system-wide text size through your phone's settings, as described above. On iPhone, you can also go to Settings, tap "Accessibility", and choose "Display & Text Size" for more detailed control over font size across your device. On Android, the same settings are usually under "Accessibility" or "Display".
Accessibility features that go beyond text size
If making text bigger is not enough, your device has other accessibility features built in. High contrast mode makes text stand out more against the background. Magnification lets you zoom in on a specific part of your screen. Some devices offer color filters that reduce blue light or adjust colors for people with color blindness.
On Windows, go to Settings, then "Ease of Access", and look for "Display" or "Magnifier". On Mac, go to System Settings, click "Accessibility", and explore "Display" and "Zoom". On iPhone, go to Settings, tap "Accessibility", and look through "Display & Text Size", "Vision", and other sections. On Android, open Settings, go to "Accessibility", and browse the available options.
These features are designed for people with low vision, but anyone can use them if they make your screen easier to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing text size break websites or make them look weird?
No. Websites are designed to handle different text sizes. When you make text bigger, the page usually reflows to fit the larger text, and everything adjusts automatically. You might see some layout changes, but the website will still work normally.
If I change text size, does it affect other people using the same computer?
It depends on the method you use. Browser zoom (Ctrl and plus) only affects your current browser session and resets when you close it. System-wide text size changes in your operating system settings affect your user account, so other people using different accounts will not see the change. If you share a user account with someone else, they will see your text size preference.
Can I make text bigger in emails?
Yes. In Gmail, Outlook, and most email services, use Ctrl and plus (or Cmd and plus on Mac) to zoom in. If you use a desktop email app like Outlook or Apple Mail, the same keyboard shortcut usually works. Some email apps also have a settings menu where you can change the default text size for all emails.
What if I want different text sizes for different websites?
Most browsers remember your zoom level for each website separately. If you zoom in on one site and zoom out on another, your browser will keep those settings and explore them automatically the next time you visit. You can also reset a specific website to 100% by pressing Ctrl and 0 (zero).
Does changing text size use more battery on my phone?
No. Text size changes do not affect battery life. Changing your screen brightness or using dark mode has a much bigger impact on battery use than text size.