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

On Windows, hold Ctrl and press the minus key (–) on your keyboard to zoom out. On Mac, hold Command and press the minus key. Both will shrink what's on your screen so you can see more at once. You can also use your mouse or trackpad: hold Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and scroll down, or pinch outward on a trackpad. Most browsers and programs respond to these same shortcuts, though some applications have their own zoom controls in the menu.

If you're zoomed in so far that you can't see the controls, use the keyboard shortcut to zoom back out. To return to normal size, use Ctrl+0 (or Command+0 on Mac) — that resets the zoom to 100 percent.

Key Takeaways

  • Hold Ctrl and press the minus key on Windows, or Command and minus on Mac, to zoom out on any screen.
  • You can also zoom out by holding Ctrl (or Command) and scrolling down with your mouse, or pinching outward on a trackpad.
  • Ctrl+0 or Command+0 returns your screen to 100 percent zoom, the default size.
  • Zoom settings usually stay the same until you change them again, even after you close and reopen a program or browser.

Using keyboard shortcuts to zoom out

The keyboard method works in almost every program on your computer. On Windows, press and hold Ctrl, then tap the minus key (–) several times until the screen looks the size you want. Each tap zooms out a little more. On a Mac, use Command instead of Ctrl.

This works in web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge; in Microsoft Word and other Office programs; in image editors; and in most other software. The shortcut is consistent across programs, so once you learn it, you can use it almost anywhere.

If you zoom out too far and can't read anything, keep pressing the minus key — you can always zoom back in. Or use Ctrl+0 (Command+0 on Mac) to jump straight back to normal size.

Zooming out with your mouse or trackpad

If you prefer not to use the keyboard, you can zoom with your pointing device. Hold down Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and scroll your mouse wheel downward. Each scroll notch zooms out a step. This method is gentler if you want to make small adjustments.

On a trackpad, hold Ctrl (or Command) and place two fingers on the pad, then pinch them together — move them closer to each other. This pinch gesture zooms out. Pinching outward (moving your fingers apart) zooms in, which is the opposite direction from the mouse scroll.

Like the keyboard method, this works in most programs and browsers. The zoom level stays the same until you change it again.

Zooming out in your web browser

Web browsers have their own zoom controls that work independently from your computer's overall display settings. When you zoom in or out on a website, it only affects that browser window — your desktop and other programs stay the same size.

Use Ctrl+minus (or Command+minus on Mac) to zoom out on any webpage. You can also look for the zoom button in your browser's menu — in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, it's usually a plus and minus sign icon near the top right of the window. Click the minus sign to zoom out.

Browser zoom is useful when a website's text is too small to read comfortably, or when you want to see more of a page at once. Each website remembers your zoom level, so if you zoom out on one site and come back later, it will still be zoomed out.

Zooming out in Windows settings

If you want to make everything on your screen smaller — not just one program, but your entire desktop, menus, and all open windows — you can change your display scaling in Windows settings. Right-click on your desktop and select Display settings. Look for the section labeled Scale and layout.

You'll see a dropdown menu that says something like "100%" or "125%". Click it and choose a smaller percentage, like 90% or 75%. This shrinks everything on your screen proportionally. After you change it, Windows may ask you to sign out and back in for the change to take full effect.

This method is different from the Ctrl+minus shortcut because it changes your system-wide zoom, not just one program. Use this if your screen feels too zoomed in overall, or if you have a high-resolution monitor and want to fit more on the screen.

Zooming out on a Mac

On a Mac, the keyboard shortcut Command+minus works in most programs. If you want to change the zoom for your entire desktop and all windows, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), then click Displays.

Look for a section called Resolution or Scaled. Click the option that says something like "Larger text" or a lower resolution number. This makes everything on your screen smaller so you can see more at once. The change takes effect when ready.

Like Windows, this is a system-wide change that affects your entire screen, not just one program. The keyboard shortcut Command+minus is still faster if you only want to zoom out in one process.

Resetting zoom back to normal

To return any program or webpage to its normal size, use Ctrl+0 on Windows or Command+0 on Mac. This resets the zoom to 100 percent when ready. If you've changed your system-wide display settings and want to undo that, go back to Display settings and choose 100% or the default resolution.

Zoom settings are usually saved per program and per website, so resetting one browser tab doesn't affect another tab or a different program. If you find yourself zooming in and out frequently, it might mean your screen resolution or text size isn't comfortable for you — in that case, adjusting your system-wide display settings once can save you from having to zoom repeatedly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my screen look blurry after I zoom out?

If you've changed your system-wide display scaling (in Windows Display settings or Mac Displays), a blurry screen usually means the resolution doesn't match your monitor well. Try a different percentage or resolution option. If you're zooming out in a single program or browser using Ctrl+minus, blurriness is less common, but it can happen in older software — try resetting to 100% and using a different method.

Does zooming out on one website affect other websites?

No. Each website in your browser remembers its own zoom level separately. If you zoom out on one site, other sites stay at their default size. If you want to zoom all websites at once, you can change your browser's default zoom level in settings, but most people zoom individual sites as needed.

Can I zoom out on my phone the same way?

Phone zoom works differently. On iPhone, pinch outward with two fingers to zoom in, or pinch inward to zoom out. On Android, the method varies by app, but pinching usually works. System-wide zoom on phones is found in Accessibility settings, not in the same place as on computers.

What if Ctrl+minus doesn't work?

Some programs don't support the standard zoom shortcut. Check the program's menu — look for View, Settings, or Preferences, and search for a Zoom option. Some older software or specialized programs have their own zoom controls. If nothing works, the program may not have a zoom feature.

Will my zoom settings stay the same if I restart my computer?

Yes. Zoom levels in browsers and most programs are saved automatically. System-wide display settings also stay the same after a restart. The only time zoom resets is if you manually change it or if you clear your browser's cache and cookies, which can sometimes reset browser zoom.