Everyday technology, one step at a time · Updated October 3, 2026
If you lean toward the screen to read, start with a readability setting before assuming you need a different computer. Windows offers several ways to enlarge things, and they do different jobs.
This guide focuses on Windows 11. Try one adjustment at a time so you know what helped.
The quick answer
For larger text, open Settings → Accessibility → Text size. For larger text, images, and app controls together, check display scaling. For one website, use browser zoom. For a temporary close look, use Magnifier.
First decide what is hard to see
Is the problem a single website, every menu, or one tiny detail in a picture? Pick the setting that matches that situation. Changing the entire display to fix one website can make other apps feel awkward.
Write down the original setting before changing it. That gives you an easy route back if buttons no longer fit or the result is uncomfortable.
Increase text size
- Open Start, then Settings.
- Choose Accessibility, then Text size.
- Move the slider a little and use the preview to judge the change.
- Apply the change if the page offers an Apply button.
- Open an app you use often and check its menus and content.
Not every app responds in exactly the same way. An app’s own font or zoom controls may still be needed for its document area.
Use scaling when controls are small too
Open Settings → System → Display and find Scale. If you have more than one monitor, select the intended display first. Choose a sensible offered scale and inspect the result.
Scaling enlarges more than lettering, so fewer items may fit on the screen. Keep the recommended display resolution as your starting point. Lowering resolution is a different change and can make text less sharp.
Check a settings window and a document after adjusting. If a dialog extends off-screen, return to the previous scale rather than stacking more changes on top.
Zoom a website or magnify briefly
Most desktop browsers offer Zoom in their menu. Increase it a little for the page you are reading; use the menu’s reset or default option if you go too far. A website may rearrange its layout as you zoom.
Windows Magnifier can help with one small area. Press Windows + plus to start, Windows + minus to reduce magnification, and Windows + Esc to exit. Magnifier changes your view; it does not rewrite the document.
Make the result useful in daily life
Test the settings on something real: reading an email, entering a form, and finding a button. Comfortable reading matters more than choosing the biggest available number.
Check glare and viewing distance too. If just one app remains difficult, look for its accessibility or appearance settings. Keep a short note of the adjustments that worked so you can reproduce them on another computer.
Keep learning
Official references
Instructions checked against these official resources. Menus can vary with your device or app version.