The fastest way to shrink what you see on your screen

You can make everything on your screen smaller in seconds using your keyboard. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and press the minus key (−) as many times as you need. The screen shrinks each time you press it. To undo it, hold the same key and press the plus sign (+), or press Ctrl+0 (or Command+0 on Mac) to reset to normal size.

This method works in most programs — web browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, email clients. The zoom level you set stays in place until you change it again, even if you close and reopen the program.

If the keyboard shortcut does not work in your program, you can usually find a zoom slider or menu option. In most web browsers, look for a magnifying glass icon in the top right corner. In Microsoft Office programs, the zoom slider sits in the bottom right corner of the window.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and the minus key to shrink your screen; repeat as needed.
  • Press Ctrl+0 (or Command+0 on Mac) to return to 100 percent zoom when ready.
  • Zoom changes stay in place when you close and reopen the program, so you only need to set it once.
  • If keyboard shortcuts do not work, look for a zoom slider or menu in your program — usually in the top right or bottom right corner.
  • Different programs may have different zoom limits; some let you go as small as 25 percent, others only to 50 percent.

Using the zoom menu in your web browser

If you spend most of your time in a web browser, you can zoom the page without touching the keyboard. Click the three-line menu icon (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner of your browser window. Look for a zoom option — it usually shows a magnifying glass with a plus or minus sign next to it.

Click the minus sign to shrink the page. Each click reduces the zoom by 10 percent. You can see the current zoom level displayed as a percentage. When you have the size you want, close the menu and continue working. The browser remembers this zoom level for that website the next time you visit it.

In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can also right-click anywhere on the page and select "Zoom in" or "Zoom out" from the menu that appears. This method is slower than the keyboard shortcut but works if you prefer using your mouse.

Adjusting zoom in Microsoft Office programs

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint all have a zoom slider in the bottom right corner of the window. Look for a minus sign on the left, a slider bar in the middle, and a plus sign on the right. Click the minus sign to make the page smaller, or drag the slider to the left. The percentage appears next to the slider so you can see exactly how much you have zoomed.

You can also click the percentage number itself to open a zoom dialog box with preset options like 50 percent, 75 percent, 100 percent, and 200 percent. This is faster if you want to jump to a specific size rather than dragging the slider.

In Outlook, the zoom controls work the same way. In OneNote, you may need to use the View tab at the top of the window instead — click View and then look for a Zoom option in the ribbon.

Changing the display size for your entire desktop

If you want everything on your computer to appear smaller — not just one program — you can change your display scaling. This affects your desktop, all your programs, and all your windows at once.

On Windows: Right-click on your desktop background and select "Display settings." Scroll down to "Scale and layout." Under "Scale," you will see a percentage (usually 100 percent). Click the dropdown and choose a larger percentage to make everything bigger, or a smaller percentage to make everything smaller. Common options are 100 percent, 125 percent, and 150 percent. Click "explore" and Windows will ask you to sign out and back in for the change to take full effect.

On Mac: Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions). Click "Displays." Under "Resolution," you will see options like "Scaled." Click "Scaled" and choose a resolution. Lower resolutions make everything on your screen smaller. Click the resolution you want and close the settings window.

When to use program zoom versus display scaling

Program zoom (using Ctrl+minus) is best when you want to shrink just one program or website. You might zoom out in your email client to see more messages at once, but keep your word processor at normal size. Zoom changes in one program do not affect others.

Display scaling is best when you find everything on your screen too small to read comfortably. This is common on high-resolution monitors or if you have vision concerns. Scaling changes affect your entire desktop, so you only need to adjust it once. However, some older programs may not display correctly at scaled resolutions — text might look blurry or buttons might not line up properly.

If you change display scaling and notice that some programs look wrong, you can usually fix it by right-clicking the program's icon, selecting "Properties" (Windows) or "Get Info" (Mac), and looking for a compatibility or scaling option specific to that program.

Troubleshooting zoom that does not work

If Ctrl+minus does not shrink your screen, the program may not support zoom, or the focus may be on a different window. Click inside the program window first to make sure it is active, then try the shortcut again.

Some programs — particularly older ones or specialized software — do not respond to standard zoom commands. In these cases, look in the View menu at the top of the window. Most programs that support zoom have a View menu with options like "Zoom," "Zoom In," or "Zoom Out." Click the option and choose your preferred size.

If you have changed your display scaling and a program looks blurry or distorted, Windows may be scaling it incorrectly. Right-click the program icon, select "Properties," click the "Compatibility" tab, and check the box that says "Disable fullscreen optimizations." Then click "Change high DPI settings" and check "Override high DPI scaling behavior." Click "explore" and "OK," then restart the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will zooming out make my computer run slower?

No. Zooming changes only how large things appear on your screen; it does not affect how your computer processes information or uses memory. Your computer runs at the same speed whether you zoom to 50 percent or 200 percent.

Can I set different zoom levels for different websites?

Yes. Most web browsers remember the zoom level you set for each individual website. If you zoom out on one website, that setting stays only for that site. When you visit a different website, it will display at whatever zoom level you set for it previously, or at 100 percent if you have never changed it.

What is the smallest I can zoom out?

It depends on the program. Most web browsers let you zoom down to 25 percent or 30 percent. Microsoft Office programs usually stop at 10 percent. If you try to zoom smaller than the program allows, the minus key straightforward will not work anymore.

Does zooming affect how I print a document?

No. When you print a document, your computer prints it at its actual size, not at the zoom level you see on screen. If you want to print at a smaller size, you need to change the print settings — usually found under "Print" in the File menu — rather than changing the zoom.

Can I make just the text bigger without making everything else bigger?

In web browsers, yes — some have a text-only zoom option separate from full-page zoom. In most other programs, zooming affects everything together. If you need larger text specifically, you can also change your system font size through your display settings, though this affects your entire desktop.