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How to Make Text and Icons Bigger on Windows 11

Applies toWindows 11
5 min fix Updated 8 Mar 2026 · 6 months ago

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Right-click the Desktop, select Display settings, scroll down to the Scale & layout section, and change the Scale dropdown from 100% to 125% or 150%.

Checked against Microsoft Learn - Windows release health and Microsoft Learn - end of support and retirement between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

If text on your screen is too small or hard to read, Windows 11 offers several built-in ways to increase the size of text, icons, and on-screen elements — no extra software required.

Before You Start ​

  • None. These settings are available to all Windows 11 users.

Instructions ​

1. Change Display Scaling (Recommended) ​

This is the fastest way to make everything on screen larger — text, icons, buttons, and menus — all at once.

  1. Right-click anywhere on your Desktop and select Display settings.
  2. Scroll down to the Scale & layout section.
  3. Open the Scale dropdown (it is typically set to 100% or 125% by default).
  4. Select a higher percentage — 150% is a good starting point.
  5. The screen will adjust immediately. If elements appear too large, step back down to 125%.

Tip: If the preset options don't suit you, click Scale to open the custom scaling page and enter any value between 100% and 500%.

2. Increase Text Size Only ​

If you want larger text but prefer icons and buttons to stay the same size, use the dedicated text-size slider.

  1. Open Settings (press Windows key + I).
  2. Go to Accessibility > Text size.
  3. Drag the Text size slider to the right to increase the preview text.
  4. When the preview looks comfortable, click Apply.
  5. Windows will display "Please wait" while it applies the change.

3. Use Browser Zoom for Web Pages ​

Most web browsers remember a per-site zoom level, so this is a great option if your main issue is reading websites.

  1. Open your browser (Edge, Chrome, or Firefox).
  2. Hold Ctrl and press + (plus) to zoom in. Each press increases the zoom by one step.
  3. Hold Ctrl and press - (minus) to zoom out.
  4. Press Ctrl + 0 (zero) to reset to the default 100% zoom.

Tip: You can also hold Ctrl and scroll your mouse wheel up or down to zoom in and out. Zoom enlarges a page's clutter along with its text, so if a page is still hard to read at a comfortable zoom, see How to Enable Reading Mode in Your Browser — reading mode strips the sidebars and sets its own text size.

4. Use the Magnifier App for Temporary Zooming ​

Windows includes a built-in magnifier that works like a digital magnifying glass. It is useful for occasionally zooming into fine details but is not ideal for everyday use.

  1. Press Windows key + Plus (+) to launch the Magnifier.
  2. The screen will zoom in around your cursor.
  3. Press Windows key + Plus (+) again to zoom in further, or Windows key + Minus (-) to zoom out.
  4. Press Windows key + Esc to close the Magnifier.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

Start with Method 1 (Display Scaling) — it gives the most balanced result. If only body text is hard to read, add Method 2 (Text Size) on top for extra readability without making icons oversized.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Apps look blurry after scalingApp not DPI-awareRight-click the app shortcut > Properties > Compatibility > enable Override high DPI scaling.
Text size slider has no visible effectOlder desktop appsUse Method 1 (Display Scaling) instead; some legacy apps ignore the text-size API.
Second monitor has different scalingPer-monitor settings neededOpen Display settings, select the second monitor, and set its Scale independently.

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Frequently asked questions

Why did my icons get blurry when I made them bigger?
Some older applications do not support high-resolution scaling and will appear blurry. Restarting your computer often forces these apps to redraw at the correct size.
Can I make just the text bigger without making the icons huge?
Yes. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Text size. You can use the slider to increase the font size across Windows without changing the size of buttons or icons.