The fastest 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 (−). Each press zooms out one step. If you're using a trackpad, hold Ctrl or Command and scroll down. On a mouse with a scroll wheel, hold Ctrl or Command and scroll down toward you.
The zoom level you set usually stays in place only for that website or document. When you close the tab or file and open it again later, it may return to the default size. If you want to zoom back in, use the same keys but press the plus key (+) instead, or scroll up.
Key Takeaways
- Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and press the minus key to zoom out one step at a time.
- On a trackpad or scroll wheel, hold Ctrl or Command and scroll down to zoom out smoothly.
- Most browsers and programs reset zoom to the default size when you close and reopen them.
- You can also use the View menu in your browser or process to find zoom controls.
Zooming out in web browsers
Every major browser—Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge—responds to the Ctrl/Command + minus shortcut. You can zoom out as far as 10% of the original size on most sites, though text becomes hard to read at extreme levels.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work, open the View menu at the top of your browser window. You will see a Zoom option with a plus and minus button next to it. Click the minus button to zoom out. Some browsers also show your current zoom percentage (like "90%" or "75%") so you know how far you have gone.
To reset the zoom back to 100%, press Ctrl + 0 (zero) on Windows or Command + 0 on Mac. This works in all browsers and returns the page to its default size.
Zooming out in documents and spreadsheets
Word documents, Google Docs, Excel spreadsheets, and PDF readers all use the same Ctrl/Command + minus method. The zoom persists while the file is open, but closes when you save and exit.
If you want the document to open at a smaller zoom level every time, you need to save that setting. In Microsoft Word, go to File > Options > Display and set your preferred zoom percentage. In Google Docs, the zoom resets to 100% each time you open the file—Google does not store zoom preferences. For PDFs, most readers (Adobe Reader, Preview on Mac) remember your last zoom level for that specific file.
Zooming out on Windows using accessibility settings
Windows has a built-in magnifier tool that lets you zoom in or out across your entire screen, not just one window. Press Windows key + plus (+) to zoom in or Windows key + minus (−) to zoom out. This affects everything on your screen at once.
To turn off the magnifier, press Windows key + Escape. You can also open the magnifier by going to Settings > Ease of Access > Magnifier and toggling it on or off. This tool is separate from the zoom controls in individual programs, so it works even if a program does not support zooming.
Zooming out on Mac using accessibility features
Mac has a zoom feature built into System Preferences. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Zoom and toggle it on. Once enabled, hold Option and scroll up to zoom out, or scroll down to zoom in. You can also use Option + Command + minus (−) to zoom out and Option + Command + plus (+) to zoom in.
Like the Windows magnifier, this affects your entire screen. To turn it off, go back to the same menu and toggle it off, or press Option + Command + 8 to toggle it quickly.
When zoom controls do not work
Some websites and applications lock the zoom level so you cannot change it. This is rare but happens on certain banking sites or specialized tools for security reasons. If Ctrl/Command + minus does not work, try the View menu. If that also does not work, the site has intentionally disabled zooming.
If you need the text larger on a locked site, use your operating system's magnifier instead (Windows key + plus on Windows, or Option + scroll on Mac). This zooms everything on your screen, bypassing the website's restrictions. You can also increase the default text size in your browser settings so all websites display larger text by default.
Changing your default zoom level in browsers
If you find yourself zooming out on every website you visit, you can set a default zoom level in your browser so all sites open smaller. In Chrome, go to Settings > Appearance and adjust the Page zoom slider. In Firefox, go to Settings > General and scroll to Browsing to find the zoom setting. In Safari, go to Safari > Preferences > General and set the default zoom level.
This setting applies to all websites except those you have manually zoomed to a different level. Individual site zoom levels override the default, so if you zoom a specific site to 75%, it will stay at 75% even if your default is 90%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my zoom level reset when I close the browser?
Most browsers reset zoom to 100% when you close a tab or window. This is the default behavior. If you want a site to stay zoomed, you can set a custom default zoom level in your browser settings, and that site will open at that level every time.
Can I zoom out on my phone or tablet?
Yes. On iPhone or iPad, pinch inward with two fingers to zoom out. On Android, do the same. This works in most browsers and apps. You can also increase or decrease text size in your device settings under Display or Accessibility, which affects all apps system-wide.
What is the smallest I can zoom out?
Most browsers allow you to zoom down to 10% of the original size, though text becomes nearly unreadable at that level. The practical limit is usually around 50% to 75%, where you can still read the content but see more of the page at once.
Does zooming out make my computer slower?
No. Zooming is a display-only change—it does not affect how fast your computer runs or how much memory a program uses. It straightforward changes the size at which content is drawn on your screen.
How do I zoom out on a Chromebook?
On a Chromebook, hold Ctrl and press the minus key (−), just like on Windows. You can also use Ctrl + scroll down on the trackpad. To reset, press Ctrl + 0.