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How to set up your computer for easier reading

Whether you're on a Windows PC or a Mac, you can make text and icons larger, increase contrast, and reduce eye strain in about five minutes. This guide covers both.

  1. On Windows: Open Settings

    Click the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen, then click the gear icon for Settings. (Or press the Windows key on your keyboard, then type "Settings" and press Enter.)

  2. On Windows: Change scaling and text size

    Click "System," then "Display." Look for "Scale" and change it from 100% to 125% or 150%. Everything on your screen will get bigger. To change just the text size without enlarging icons, type "Make text bigger" into the search box at the top of Settings.

    Diagram: small text on the left, larger text on the right after scaling Document title Body text here is small and harder to read at a distance. More text below Default (100%) Document title Body text here is easier to read at 125%. Scaled up (125%)
    A 125% scale makes everything noticeably larger.
  3. On Mac: Open System Settings

    Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen, then click "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older Macs).

  4. On Mac: Adjust display and text

    Click "Displays" in the sidebar. Click "Larger Text" to make text bigger throughout your Mac. You can also click "Accessibility" in the sidebar and then "Zoom" — turn on "Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom" so you can hold the Control key and scroll up to zoom in any time.

  5. Increase contrast (both Windows and Mac)

    On Windows: Settings → Accessibility → Contrast themes. On Mac: System Settings → Accessibility → Display → Increase contrast. These make text easier to distinguish from the background.

  6. Turn on the larger pointer (both)

    On Windows: Settings → Accessibility → Mouse pointer and touch → drag the size slider. On Mac: System Settings → Accessibility → Pointer → drag the pointer size slider. A bigger pointer is easier to find on a busy screen.