How to Easily Change Font Size on Your Computer

Changing the font size on your computer is a breeze – whether you use Windows, Mac, or a web browser. With just a few clicks or keystrokes, you can make text bigger or smaller to suit your reading preferences.

As a writer who stares at words on screens all day long, I often tweak font sizes for comfort. Large fonts prevent eye strain, while smaller fonts let me view more content at once. The ability to customize text size is a must-have accessibility feature too. If you have impaired vision enlarging fonts can make text readable.

In this guide, I’ll walk through the simple steps to change font sizes on computers. Follow along to learn how to:

• Change default text size in Windows 10, 11, and Mac OS
• Magnify text and items on a Windows or Mac screen
• Alter font size in web browsers and programs like Word

Let’s start with the basics of changing default text size on a Windows computer.

Changing Default Text Size in Windows 10 and 11

Windows makes it easy to change the system-wide font size – the default size used across the operating system and apps. With just a few clicks in Settings, you can make all text larger or smaller.

Here’s how to change default text size in Windows 10 and 11

1. Open the Start Menu and click the Settings cog.
2. Click “System” then select “Display” in Windows 10, or click “Accessibility” then “Text Size” in Windows 11.
3. Adjust the text size slider or dropdown to your preferred scaling percentage. For example, 150% makes text 50% larger.
4. Click “Apply” and the text size will change right away in most apps. You may need to restart some apps to apply the new size everywhere.

That’s all it takes to make text larger or smaller by default in Windows 10 and 11, This changes the font size for the entire operating system – though some apps like web browsers may override it I’ll cover changing browser text size more later

Now let’s look at how to quickly magnify your Windows screen, without changing default sizes.

Magnifying Your Windows Screen

Windows includes a Magnifier tool that enlarges a portion of your screen temporarily. It’s perfect for zooming in on text that’s hard to read.

To use Magnifier on Windows:

1. Press the Windows logo key + Plus (+) to launch Magnifier.
2. Click the Plus icon to zoom in up to 500%. Click Minus to zoom out.
3. Drag the magnified area around your screen with your mouse to pan over different sections.
4. Press Windows + Esc when finished to exit Magnifier.

The zoomed-in Magnifier area will follow your mouse cursor as you move it around the screen. This makes it easy to read any tiny text by zooming in.

You can also have Magnifier always magnify the area around your text cursor, instead of the mouse cursor. Toggle this on in Magnifier settings.

Now that you know how to change default and temporary text sizes in Windows, let’s look at doing the same in Mac OS.

Changing Text Size in Mac OS

Just like Windows, it’s straightforward to change system-wide font sizes in Mac OS. And Mac has a zoom accessibility feature similar to Magnifier on Windows.

Here are the steps to change default text size on a Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility.
2. Select Display from the left menu.
3. Drag the Text Size slider to your desired magnification level.
4. Click the “Use Larger Text” checkbox to make UI elements larger too.
5. Log out and back in for changes to take full effect.

This will enlarge or shrink text across macOS and apps. To temporarily magnify your screen, do the following:

1. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility and select Zoom.
2. Check the box to use keyboard shortcuts.
3. Press Option + Command + 8 to toggle zoom on and off.
4. Use Option + Command + Plus/Minus to change zoom level.

The Zoom feature lets you magnify part of your screen without changing system-wide sizes. I use it all the time to enlarge tiny text when needed.

Up next, I’ll explain how to change text size in any web browser or app on Windows and Mac.

Changing Text Size in Web Browsers and Apps

While you can alter the system-wide defaults, certain programs may override those font size settings. Web browsers and apps like Microsoft Office use their own text size controls.

Luckily, you can easily change font sizes directly within these programs as needed:

In web browsers like Chrome and Firefox:

• Press Ctrl + Plus to increase text size (Cmd + Plus on Mac).
• Press Ctrl + Minus to decrease text size (Cmd + Minus on Mac).
• Or use your mouse scroll wheel while pressing Ctrl/Cmd.

In Microsoft Office programs like Word and Outlook:

• Click the Font Size menu in the Home tab of the ribbon.
• Choose a size like 12 or 16 pt.
• Use Ctrl + Shift + > or < to size up or down.

In Apple programs like Pages, Numbers, Mail:

• Go to Format > Font > Size and pick a size.
• Use Cmd + Plus/Minus to size up or down.

For any app:

• Use the zoom accessibility tools in Windows and Mac OS.

As you can see, whether system-wide or per app, changing font size is quick and simple on both Windows and Mac.

Customizing Font Size for Accessibility

Altering text size is crucial for accessibility. Low vision computer users depend on the ability to enlarge text and interface elements. Font size customization allows computers to be usable for more people.

Here are some key font size adjustments to make your computer accessible:

• Set system-wide text scaling to at least 125% or 150%.
• Increase browser font size to 18pt or higher.
• Change Office program defaults to 14pt or larger.
• Turn on OS accessibility zoom tools like Magnifier.
• Ask apps to ignore custom text sizes if too small.

Don’t be afraid to tweak sizing settings until you find text that’s comfortable to read. Zoom in on any hard-to-read elements. With the right font size adjustments for your needs, you can use your computer comfortably for hours.

Finding the Right Font Size for You

When should you make text bigger or smaller? Here are some signs it’s time to adjust font size:

Increase font size when:

• You find yourself squinting or leaning close to the screen.
• Text appears blurry or hard to read.
• Small fonts cause eye strain or headaches.
• You have trouble clicking small links and buttons accurately.

Decrease font size when:

• You have to scroll or pan around a lot to read content.
• Just a few words fill up each line, making reading tiring.
• Small icons and UI elements get too big.
• You want to view more information at once.

Start by incrementally changing size up or down until you find a comfortable reading experience. Just a 20% adjustment can make a big difference in eye fatigue.

To fine tune, tweak font size for different uses. For example:

• Larger size for reading articles and books.
• Smaller size for browsing social media and menus.
• Maximum size for temporary magnification as needed.

Don’t forget to adjust monitor distance as well. Sitting closer lets small text appear bigger. Sit further away if text seems too large.

Finding your optimal font size may take some trial and error. But it’s worth taking the time to customize text for maximum readability and minimum eye strain.

Adjusting font size on Windows, Mac, and the web is quick and easy. A few clicks or keypresses are all it takes to:

• Change default system text size.
• Magnify screens temporarily with zoom tools.
• Alter font size in specific programs.

With this guide, you now have the knowledge to:

• Make text larger for accessibility and comfort.
• Decrease font size to fit more content on screen.
• Optimize text size in all your apps and websites.

So customize font sizes freely to create the best reading experience for your eyes and needs. Take control of how you view words on screens to boost productivity and reduce eye strain.