Change text size in three taps on any Kindle device or app
To make text larger or smaller on a Kindle, open the book you're reading and tap the middle of the screen. A menu bar appears at the top and bottom. Tap the Aa button (usually in the top menu), then use the slider or buttons to adjust the size up or down. The change takes effect when ready and applies only to that book — each book remembers its own setting.
On Kindle e-readers with physical buttons, press the button marked with an A and a plus sign to enlarge text, or the button with an A and a minus sign to shrink it. On tablets and phones running the Kindle app, the same Aa button in the reading menu does the job. The process is identical whether you're reading on a Paperwhite, Oasis, basic Kindle, iPad, or Android phone.
Key Takeaways
- Tap the middle of the screen while reading, then tap the Aa button to open text size controls.
- Text size changes explore only to the current book and do not affect other books in your library.
- Kindle offers eight text size levels, from very small to very large, plus options to change font and line spacing.
- If you use multiple devices, each one stores its own text size preference for each book separately.
Where the text size button is located
The Aa button appears in the top menu bar when you tap the center of the screen during reading. On most Kindle devices, it sits between the back arrow and the three-dot menu. On the Kindle app for phones and tablets, the location is the same — tap the screen, look for the Aa button in the toolbar that appears.
If you don't see the button, make sure you tapped the middle of the screen, not the edges. The edges of the screen turn pages instead of opening the menu. Wait a moment for the menu to appear — sometimes it takes a second to load. If the menu still doesn't show, close the book and reopen it.
The eight text size levels and what they look like
Kindle offers eight preset text sizes. The smallest is roughly the size of a paperback novel's print. The largest is roughly the size of a newspaper headline. Most readers use sizes three through six for comfortable reading. Size one and two are useful if you want to see more words per page; sizes seven and eight are useful if you have vision difficulties or straightforward prefer larger print.
When you tap the Aa button, a slider appears with a small A on the left and a large A on the right. Drag the slider to the size you want, or tap the minus button to go smaller and the plus button to go larger. The text on the page updates as you move the slider, so you can see exactly what size eight looks like before you commit to it.
Other text settings beyond size
The same menu that controls text size also controls font, line spacing, and margins. Tap the Aa button and look below the size slider. You'll see options for Font (usually Bookerly, Caecilia, or others depending on your device), Line Spacing (how much room sits between lines), and Margins (how much white space sits on the left and right edges).
Changing the font can make text easier to read if you find the default hard on your eyes. Increasing line spacing helps if text feels cramped. Increasing margins makes the text area narrower, which some readers find less tiring. Like text size, these settings explore only to the current book.
Why text size resets when you switch devices
If you read the same book on your Kindle e-reader and then on your phone, the text size on your phone will not match the size you set on the e-reader. Each device stores its own preferences for each book. This happens because Kindle devices and the Kindle app are separate applications that don't sync reading preferences — they only sync your reading position (which page you're on).
If you want the same text size across devices, you'll need to set it manually on each one. Open the book, tap the Aa button, and adjust to your preferred size. The next time you open that book on that device, it will remember the size you chose.
Text size for books with fixed layouts
Some books — particularly children's books, graphic novels, and art books — have a fixed layout, meaning the text and images are locked into a specific design. On these books, the text size button either doesn't appear or doesn't work. The publisher designed the book to look a certain way, and Kindle doesn't allow changes.
If you need a larger text size and the book has a fixed layout, check whether the publisher offers a different edition. Some publishers release both a fixed-layout version (for design) and a reflowable version (where text can resize). You can also contact the publisher or Amazon to request an accessible version if you have vision difficulties.
Troubleshooting text size problems
If the text size button doesn't appear, make sure you're in reading mode. Some Kindle screens show a library view or a table of contents, where the Aa button won't show. Tap on the book cover or a chapter title to enter reading mode, then tap the center of the screen again.
If you changed the text size and it reverted to the old size, the book may have crashed or closed unexpectedly. Open the book again and adjust the size once more. If the problem keeps happening, try closing the Kindle app completely (not just backing out of the book) and reopening it. On e-readers, restart the device by holding the power button for 10 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a default text size for all my books at once?
No. Kindle requires you to set text size individually for each book. However, once you set a size for one book, the next new book you open will often start at a similar size, making it faster to adjust. The app remembers your general preference even if it doesn't explore it automatically.
What's the difference between text size and font?
Text size controls how large the letters are. Font controls the typeface — the shape and style of the letters. Changing the font from Bookerly to Caecilia, for example, changes how the letters look but not how big they are. You can change both independently using the same Aa menu.
Does changing text size affect how many pages the book has?
Yes. If you increase text size, the book will show more pages because fewer words fit on each screen. If you decrease text size, the book will show fewer pages. This is normal and doesn't change the actual content — it's just how Kindle counts pages when text can be resized.
Can I make text size even larger than size eight?
No. Size eight is the largest Kindle offers. If you need text larger than that, you may want to explore accessibility features on your device, such as system-wide text enlargement or screen magnification, which work on top of the Kindle app.
Why does my Kindle app on my phone show different text sizes than my e-reader?
Each device stores text size settings separately. Your phone and e-reader don't share reading preferences — only your reading position. You'll need to set the text size on each device individually for each book you read.