To change the size of on-screen elements in Windows, go to Settings > System > Display > Scale and layout. On a Mac, open System Settings > Displays and choose an option for larger text or more space. If you only need to enlarge the text, both systems offer dedicated controls under Accessibility.
How to change display scaling and text size in Windows
In Windows 11 and Windows 10, open Settings with Windows + I and go to System > Display. If you have multiple monitors connected, first select the one you want to adjust in the display diagram. This prevents you from changing your laptop’s screen settings when you meant to adjust an external monitor.
Find the Scale and layout section and open the scaling dropdown. In Windows 10, this appears as the option to change the size of text, apps and other items. Selecting a value changes the size of buttons, icons and text without changing the display resolution, making it the best option when everything looks too small. The value marked as recommended is usually a good starting point.
If you only need larger text, use Settings > Accessibility > Text size in Windows 11. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Display and find the control for making text bigger. Move the slider, check the preview and click Apply.
You can change the resolution in the same Display section, under Scale and layout. This changes the number of pixels used to render the image, so it is best to choose the recommended option. A different resolution can cause distortion, cropping or an image that does not fit the monitor properly: it is not an ideal substitute for scaling when you simply want to make reading more comfortable. If the problem is brightness rather than size, adjusting brightness in Windows involves a different set of controls.
Adjusting the display, text and icons on a Mac
On a Mac, open the Apple menu and go to System Settings > Displays. You will find preset options that let you prioritise larger text or more space, alongside the default setting and any intermediate options. The choices vary depending on your Mac or connected monitor, and take effect when selected, without any further confirmation.
If those thumbnails do not offer what you need, open Advanced, enable the option to show resolutions as a list and confirm the setting. You can then enable the option to show all resolutions and choose one. Not all of them will necessarily be compatible with your display.
To change the text size without adjusting the entire display, go to System Settings > Accessibility > Display > Text size. The slider adjusts the overall text size in supported apps, while the list below offers individual controls. Some third-party apps or apps with their own settings may not follow this change. Under Accessibility > Display, you can also enlarge the menu bar, although you may need to restart apps or log out and back in for the change to take effect.
Icons have separate controls depending on where you want to change them:
- Desktop: right-click an empty area and choose Show View Options to adjust icon and text size.
- Finder: open View > Show View Options to access the available controls.
- Dock: go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock and use the size and magnification controls. Magnification enlarges icons when you move the pointer over them.
- Sidebars: you can change their icon size under System Settings > Appearance.
If you only want to enlarge the content within an app, some apps let you zoom in with Command + plus sign and zoom out with Command + minus sign.
What to do if the image looks wrong or the screen goes black
If Windows changes the resolution unexpectedly or will not let you adjust it, check the graphics driver. Right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Display adapters and right-click the graphics card. Select Update driver and the automatic search option to check whether an update is available.
If you cannot change the resolution from the main menu, another route is Settings > System > Display > Advanced display. Select the monitor, open the display adapter properties and click List All Modes. Choose a mode, click OK and apply the changes. If a confirmation prompt appears and you do not respond, Windows will restore the previous setting after 15 seconds.
On a Mac, if a resolution causes the screen to go black, wait up to 15 seconds to see whether it returns to the previous setting; if it does not, press Esc. If that does not work either, the alternative is to start the computer in safe mode, choose another resolution and restart normally. The safe mode startup procedure depends on whether your Mac uses Apple silicon or an Intel processor.
If the problem persists on an external monitor, check its physical buttons and on-screen menu. Depending on the model, you may be able to adjust settings such as the aspect ratio. Consult the manufacturer’s manual before making further changes to your system settings.
