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Quick Answer

Press the Windows Key and the Plus sign (+) simultaneously to start Magnifier. Press Windows Key + Esc to close it.

How to Use Magnifier in Windows ​

Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09

Summary ​

Magnifier is a built-in Windows tool that enlarges part or all of your screen, making text, images, and UI elements easier to see. It is useful for users with low vision or anyone who needs to zoom in on small details. This article shows how to start, use, and customise Magnifier.

Prerequisites ​

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  • No admin rights required.

Instructions ​

1. Start and Stop Magnifier ​

Launch the screen magnification tool.

  1. Press Win+Plus (+) to start Magnifier and zoom in.
  2. The Magnifier toolbar appears on screen.
  3. Press Win+Esc to close Magnifier and return to normal view.

2. Zoom In and Out ​

Control the magnification level.

  1. Press Win+Plus (+) to zoom in (increase magnification).
  2. Press Win+Minus (-) to zoom out (decrease magnification).
  3. Each press changes the zoom level by one increment (default: 100%).
  4. The current zoom level is shown on the Magnifier toolbar.

3. Choose a Magnifier View Mode ​

Select how the magnification is displayed.

  1. Open Magnifier settings by clicking the gear icon on the Magnifier toolbar (or press Win+I and go to Accessibility > Magnifier).
  2. Under Choose a view, select:
    • Full screen — The entire screen is magnified. Move the mouse to pan around.
    • Lens — A rectangular lens follows your mouse cursor, magnifying only the area around it.
    • Docked — A magnified view appears in a fixed panel at the top of the screen.
  3. Keyboard shortcuts for switching views:
    • Ctrl+Alt+F — Full screen.
    • Ctrl+Alt+L — Lens.
    • Ctrl+Alt+D — Docked.

4. Adjust Magnifier Settings ​

Customise the zoom behaviour.

  1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.
  2. Adjust the following:
    • Zoom level — Set the default starting zoom percentage.
    • Zoom increment — Set how much each zoom step changes (e.g., 25%, 50%, 100%).
    • Start Magnifier after sign-in — Toggle on to auto-start.
    • Smooth edges of images and text — Toggle on for anti-aliased zoom.
    • Invert colours — Toggle on for a high-contrast inverted view.

5. Use Magnifier to Read Text Aloud ​

Have Magnifier read selected text aloud.

  1. Start Magnifier (Win+Plus).
  2. Press Ctrl+Alt+Enter to start Read from here.
  3. Magnifier reads the text at the current cursor position aloud.
  4. Press any key to stop reading.
  5. Use Ctrl+Alt+H to read from the beginning of the document.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

If your screen feels stretched or blurry at high zoom levels, enable Smooth edges of images and text in Magnifier settings for a better visual experience.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Magnifier is zoomed in too farZoom level set too highPress Win+Minus (-) repeatedly to zoom out, or change the zoom level in Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier.
Lens mode is too smallDefault lens size needs adjustmentGo to Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier and increase the lens size.
Magnifier starts automatically at loginAuto-start is enabledGo to Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier and disable Start Magnifier after sign-in.