The quickest way to zoom out depends on your device and what you're looking at

On most computers, you can zoom out by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and pressing the minus key (−). This shrinks the text and images on your screen so you can see more at once. The same method works in web browsers, document editors, image viewers, and most other programs. If you have a trackpad or mouse with a scroll wheel, you can also hold Ctrl or Command and scroll down to zoom out.

The zoom level you set stays in place until you change it again — it does not reset when you close the program. If you zoom out too far and want to return to normal size, hold Ctrl or Command and press 0 (zero) to restore the default view.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and press the minus key to zoom out in almost any program.
  • You can also hold Ctrl or Command and scroll down with your mouse or trackpad to zoom out gradually.
  • Zoom settings stay in place until you change them, even after you close and reopen the program.
  • Press Ctrl+0 or Command+0 to return to the default 100% zoom level.
  • Some programs like email clients or file managers may not support zoom, but browsers and document editors always do.

Using the keyboard shortcut in Windows

On a Windows computer, hold down the Ctrl key and press the minus key (−) on your keyboard. Each press zooms out one step. You can press it multiple times in a row to zoom out further. The minus key is usually located to the right of the 0 key on the number row at the top of your keyboard, or on the numeric keypad on the right side if your keyboard has one.

If you want to zoom back in, use Ctrl and the plus key (+) instead. To return to normal size when ready, hold Ctrl and press 0. This works the same way in web browsers, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, PDF readers, and most other software you use daily.

Using the keyboard shortcut on a Mac

On a Mac, hold down the Command key (the one with the ⌘ symbol) and press the minus key (−). Like Windows, each press zooms out one step. The minus key is in the same location — to the right of the 0 on the number row, or on the numeric keypad if your keyboard has one.

To zoom back in, use Command and the plus key (+). To reset to normal size, hold Command and press 0. This method works across Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Pages, Numbers, Preview, and nearly every other Mac process that displays content on screen.

Zooming out with your mouse or trackpad

If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, you can zoom out by scrolling. Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and scroll your mouse wheel downward, or scroll down on your trackpad with two fingers. This zooms out smoothly without needing to press individual keys.

Scrolling up while holding Ctrl or Command zooms in instead. This method is often faster if you need to zoom in and out repeatedly, since you do not have to release the modifier key between adjustments. The scroll method works in the same programs as the keyboard shortcut — browsers, document editors, image viewers, and PDFs.

Zooming out in web browsers

All major browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — support zoom using Ctrl/Command and minus. The zoom level you set on a website stays in place the next time you visit that site, so you do not have to zoom out every time. If you want to zoom out on all websites by default, most browsers let you change the default zoom level in settings.

In Chrome, click the three-dot menu, select Settings, then scroll to Appearance and adjust the Zoom level. In Firefox, click the hamburger menu, select Settings, scroll to Zoom, and change the Default Zoom Level. Safari and Edge have similar options in their preferences. This sets a baseline zoom for all pages you visit, though you can still adjust individual sites on the fly.

Zooming out in document editors and PDFs

Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and most PDF readers respond to the same Ctrl/Command-minus shortcut. In Word, you can also click the zoom slider in the bottom right corner of the window and drag it left to zoom out. In Google Docs, click the zoom percentage in the top right and select a preset level or type a custom percentage.

For PDFs, the zoom shortcut works in Adobe Reader, Preview (Mac), and most other PDF viewers. Some PDF readers also have a zoom dropdown menu or buttons in the toolbar. If you regularly work with documents at a smaller zoom level, setting your preferred zoom before you save the file can help — some programs remember the zoom level you last used.

What to do if zoom is not working

If Ctrl/Command-minus does not zoom out, check whether the program you are using supports zoom. Email clients like Outlook and Thunderbird, file managers, and some specialized software do not respond to zoom commands. In those cases, you may need to change the text size through the program's settings instead.

If zoom works in some programs but not others, make sure you are holding the correct modifier key — Ctrl on Windows, Command on Mac. Also check that you are pressing the actual minus key and not a hyphen or dash on your keyboard. If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, try using the minus key there instead of the one on the number row. If nothing works, restart the program or your computer, as a temporary glitch can sometimes block keyboard shortcuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does zooming out make text blurry?

No. When you zoom out, the text and images scale down proportionally and remain sharp. Your computer is straightforward displaying everything at a smaller size. The only time text looks blurry is if you zoom to an extreme level (below 50% or above 200%), and even then it is usually still readable.

Will zooming out affect how a document prints?

No. Zoom is a display setting only. When you print a document, it prints at its actual size regardless of what zoom level you were viewing it at. If you want to print at a smaller size, you need to change the print settings, not the zoom level.

Can I set a default zoom level for all programs?

Most programs remember the zoom level you last used and return to it the next time you open that file or website. However, there is no single setting that changes the default zoom across all programs at once. You can change default zoom in web browsers through their settings, but other programs handle it individually.

What if I zoom out and now I cannot read the text?

Press Ctrl+0 (Windows) or Command+0 (Mac) to return to 100% zoom when ready. If you zoomed out in a browser, you can also click the zoom percentage in the address bar and select 100%. If text is still hard to read at normal zoom, you may want to increase the default text size in your operating system settings instead of using zoom.

Does zooming out on one website affect other websites?

No. Each website remembers its own zoom level. If you zoom out on one site, other sites you visit will display at their default zoom unless you have changed your browser's default zoom setting. This means you can have different zoom levels for different websites without affecting each other.