Changing Font Size on Windows 11/10 Computer Screen
Reading text on a computer screen can become difficult when the letters, menus, buttons, and other interface elements appear too small. Fortunately, Windows 11 and Windows 10 include several settings that let you increase the size of text without changing your screen resolution.
You can change the font size on a Windows computer screen through the Accessibility or Ease of Access settings. Windows 11 also provides a dedicated Text size slider, while Windows 10 offers a similar option under Ease of Access. If you want everything on the screen to appear larger, you can also adjust the Display Scale setting.
In this guide, you will learn how to change font size on Windows 11 and Windows 10, how to make text larger or smaller, and what to do if the text still looks too small after changing the font-size setting.
Changing Font Size on Windows 11/10 Computer Screen
To change the font size on a Windows 11 computer, open Settings > Accessibility > Text size, move the Text size slider to the right to make text larger, and select Apply. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Display, adjust the Make text bigger slider, and select Apply. If you want to enlarge text and other screen elements together, use the Scale option under Settings > System > Display.
Changing the font size is useful when text in Windows menus, Settings, File Explorer, and other applications is difficult to read.
Let’s explore the steps in detail!
1: Open the Windows Settings App
The first step is to open the Windows Settings app because the font-size controls are located there.
On Windows 11, right-click the Start button and select Settings. You can also press Windows + I on your keyboard to open Settings directly.
On Windows 10, click the Start button and select the Settings gear icon. You can also press Windows + I to open it.
The Settings window contains different categories for managing your computer. The location of the font-size option is slightly different between Windows 11 and Windows 10, so make sure you follow the instructions for your version of Windows.
2: Open Accessibility Settings in Windows 11
If you are using Windows 11, select Accessibility from the left side of the Settings window.
The Accessibility section contains settings designed to make Windows easier to use. These include options for text size, visual effects, mouse pointers, contrast, Narrator, magnification, and other accessibility features.
After selecting Accessibility, look through the options displayed on the right side. Find and select Text size.
The Text size page is specifically designed to change the size of text displayed throughout Windows without requiring you to change the entire display resolution.
3: Increase Text Size in Windows 11
After opening Text size, you will see a slider that controls the size of text.
Move the Text size slider toward the right to increase the font size. As you move the slider, Windows displays a preview so you can see how larger text will look.
Start with a small adjustment instead of immediately moving the slider all the way to the right. This makes it easier to find a comfortable size.
Once you are satisfied with the preview, select Apply. Windows will apply the new text size to supported Windows interface elements.
If the text is still too small, return to the same setting and move the slider farther to the right.
4: Open Ease of Access Settings in Windows 10
Windows 10 uses a slightly different name and layout for these accessibility settings.
Open Settings and select Ease of Access.
On the left side of the window, select Display. You should see options related to making text and other screen elements easier to see.
Look for the Make text bigger section. Windows provides a slider that allows you to increase the size of text without changing the entire display scale.
This option is particularly useful if you can see the screen clearly but have difficulty reading small text in Windows menus, buttons, and other interface elements.
5: Make Text Bigger in Windows 10
Under Make text bigger, move the slider toward the right.
As you move the slider, Windows provides a preview showing how the larger text will appear. Choose a size that is comfortable for your eyes without making the interface unnecessarily large.
When you have selected your preferred size, click Apply.
Windows 10 will then apply the new text size. Depending on the version of Windows and the application you are using, some programs may not immediately reflect the change. In that situation, closing and reopening the application can help.
6: Increase the Size of Everything on the Screen
Sometimes increasing only the font size is not enough. You may find that icons, buttons, applications, and other interface elements are also too small.
In that situation, you can change the Display Scale.
On Windows 11, open Settings > System > Display. Under Scale & layout, find Scale.
On Windows 10, open Settings > System > Display and look for Scale and layout.
You may see percentage options such as 100%, 125%, 150%, or other values depending on your display.
Choosing a higher percentage makes text, icons, windows, buttons, and other interface elements larger. This is different from changing only the font size.
For example, if your computer currently uses 100% scaling and everything appears very small, choosing 125% may make the entire Windows interface easier to read.
7: Choose the Right Display Scale
When changing the Scale setting, avoid choosing an unnecessarily high percentage. A very large scale can cause some applications to have less usable space or make certain windows difficult to fit on the screen.
For a beginner, it is generally better to increase the scale gradually and check the result.
After changing the scale, Windows may require some applications to be closed and reopened before they display correctly.
If you are using a laptop with a high-resolution display, a higher scaling percentage can often make Windows much more comfortable to use while keeping the screen resolution unchanged.
8: Change Text Size Without Changing Screen Resolution
It is important to understand the difference between text size and screen resolution.
Changing text size makes supported text larger while leaving the display resolution unchanged. This is usually the better choice when your primary problem is that letters are difficult to read.
Changing screen resolution affects the way the entire display is rendered. A lower resolution can make objects appear larger, but it can also reduce the amount of information that fits on the screen and may make the display look less sharp.
For this reason, try the Text size or Display Scale settings before changing your screen resolution.
9: Check Apps After Changing the Font Size
After increasing the Windows font size, check the applications you regularly use.
Some programs follow Windows text-size settings automatically, while others have their own font or zoom controls.
For example, a web browser may have its own Zoom setting. Microsoft Word and other document applications may also let you choose a specific document font size.
If Windows text looks larger but a particular application still displays tiny text, check that application’s own font, display, or zoom settings.
This is especially important because changing the Windows font size does not necessarily change the font size inside every document or webpage.
10: Use Magnifier for Very Small Text
If increasing the font size is not enough, Windows also includes Magnifier.
Magnifier temporarily enlarges part or all of your screen, making it useful when you need to examine particularly small text.
You can quickly open Magnifier by pressing Windows + Plus (+).
You can increase or decrease the magnification using the available controls. To close Magnifier, press Windows + Esc.
Magnifier is different from changing the font size because it enlarges the visual content on the screen rather than permanently changing Windows text settings.
FAQs
Can I increase only the font size in Windows 11?
Yes. Windows 11 has a dedicated Text size setting under Settings > Accessibility > Text size. You can increase text without increasing the size of every screen element.
How do I make everything bigger in Windows 11?
Go to Settings > System > Display and change the Scale percentage. Increasing the scale makes text, icons, applications, and other interface elements larger.
How do I make text bigger in Windows 10?
Open Settings > Ease of Access > Display. Find Make text bigger, move the slider to the right, and select Apply.
Does changing font size change screen resolution?
No. Changing the Windows Text size setting does not change your screen resolution. The Scale setting also works differently from changing resolution.
Why is some text still small after increasing the Windows font size?
Some applications use their own font size or zoom settings. If a particular application does not respond to the Windows setting, check its display, font, or zoom options.
Can I make Windows text smaller again?
Yes. Return to the same Text size setting and move the slider toward the left. Windows 10 and Windows 11 allow you to adjust the setting whenever you want.
What is better, changing text size or display scale?
It depends on what you want to change. If only text is difficult to read, use Text size. If text, icons, buttons, and other interface elements all look too small, changing Display Scale may be more suitable.
Summary
Changing the font size on a Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer is a straightforward way to make the screen easier to read. Windows 11 users can open Settings > Accessibility > Text size, while Windows 10 users can use Settings > Ease of Access > Display and adjust Make text bigger.
If you need to enlarge more than just text, the Display Scale setting under System and Display can increase the size of icons, buttons, applications, and other interface elements. For temporary enlargement, Windows Magnifier provides another useful option.
For most users, start by increasing the text size slightly. If the entire Windows interface still appears too small, try increasing the display scale rather than lowering your screen resolution.