G2GGet to grips with tech

Home / Learn / Phones

How do I make the text bigger on my phone?

You can make the words on your phone bigger in Settings, and it takes less than a minute. On an iPhone, look for Text Size. On an Android phone, look for Font size. Then drag the slider to the right until the words are comfortable to read.

iPhone and AndroidBeginner3 min readUpdated

What you need

  • Your phone, unlocked.
  • About a minute. You don’t need to download anything or pay for anything.

On an iPhone

  1. Open Settings. It’s the grey icon with cogs on it.
  2. Look down the list for Appearance. If you can see it, tap it. If you can’t, tap Display & Brightness instead. (Which one you have depends on how up to date your iPhone is. Both lead to the same setting.)
  3. Tap Text Size.
  4. Drag the slider to the right. The sample words at the top grow as you go, so you can see the size before you leave.
  5. When the sample is comfortable to read, go back. That’s it: the bigger size is saved.

Want it even bigger? Go back to the start of Settings, tap Accessibility, then Display & Text Size, then Larger Text. Turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes and the slider goes further.

Want the words darker and easier to see? On the same screen as Text Size, turn on Bold Text.

On an Android phone

Android phones are made by lots of companies (Samsung, Google, Motorola and others), so the menus can look a little different. Searching inside Settings works on all of them.

  1. Open Settings. It’s usually a grey cog icon.
  2. Tap the search box or magnifying glass at the top of Settings and type Font size.
  3. Tap Font size in the results.
  4. Move the slider to the right. A preview shows how the words will look.
  5. Go back when you’re happy. The new size is saved.

Buttons and icons too small as well? Search Settings for Display size and move that slider to the right. It makes everything on the screen bigger, not just the words.

Changed your mind? On the same screen, tap Reset settings to go back to how your phone was before.

If it didn’t work

  • Some apps still have small writing. A few apps ignore your phone’s text size. That’s the app, not you. Many apps have their own text size option in their settings.
  • I can’t find Text Size or Font size. On an iPhone, check both Appearance and Display & Brightness. On Android, use the search box at the top of Settings rather than scrolling.
  • Now the words don’t fit and things look squashed. Go back to the slider and move it one step to the left. The biggest sizes can make some buttons hard to tap.

Next: video call your family.

Sources