Where to find font size and style controls on iPad

Font controls on iPad live in two places: inside individual apps (like Mail, Notes, or Books) and in the iPad's system settings. Most apps let you adjust text size right from within the app itself—look for an "A" icon with up and down arrows, or check the app's menu. For system-wide changes that affect multiple apps, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size, or Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size for larger adjustments.

The method depends on what you want to change. If you're reading an ebook and want bigger text just for that moment, the in-app control is fastest. If you want everything on your iPad—email, messages, calendar—to use larger text, the system settings are what you need.

Key Takeaways

  • Most iPad apps have their own font size controls, usually marked with an "A" icon or found in the app's menu or settings.
  • System-wide text size changes are in Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size or Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
  • Font style (typeface) is rarely changeable on iPad—most apps use their own fixed fonts, though some reading apps offer limited choices.
  • Accessibility settings let you increase text size much larger than the standard display setting, useful if you have vision concerns.
  • Changes made in one app do not always affect other apps; system settings are more likely to explore across multiple apps.

Changing text size in Mail, Messages, and Notes

In Mail, open any email and look for the "A" icon in the top toolbar. Tap it, then tap the up or down arrow to increase or decrease the text size. The change applies only to that email thread. To change the default size for all new emails you compose, go to Settings > Mail > Default Font Size and pick your preference.

In Messages, text size is tied to your system settings. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size and drag the slider. This affects message text across the whole app. You cannot change the font style in Messages—it uses the system font.

In Notes, tap the three dots (menu icon) at the top right, then tap Text. You will see options for font choice (like Helvetica, Georgia, or Courier), text size, and text color. Select your font from the list, then use the size slider. These changes explore to new notes you create; existing notes keep their original formatting.

Adjusting text size in Books and reading apps

Apple Books and most third-party reading apps (like Kindle) have their own text controls. In Books, open a book and tap the "A" icon at the top of the page. A menu appears with a smaller "A" and a larger "A"—tap the larger one to increase text size, or the smaller one to decrease it. You can also tap the font icon (looks like "Aa") to choose a different typeface; Books offers several options like Athelas, Charter, and Menlo.

In Kindle, tap the top of the screen to reveal the toolbar, then tap the "Aa" icon. You will see a text size slider and a font dropdown. Drag the slider to your preferred size and pick a font. These changes persist across all books you read in that app.

Other reading apps (like Scribd or Libby) follow similar patterns—look for an "A" or "Aa" icon when reading, and tap it to reveal size and font options. The exact location and names vary by app, but the principle is the same.

Using system-wide text size settings

For changes that affect text across many apps at once, use Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size. Drag the slider left to make text smaller or right to make it larger. This setting applies to Mail, Messages, Calendar, Contacts, and many third-party apps. Not every app respects this setting—some apps override it with their own defaults—but most do.

If you need text even larger, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Larger Accessibility Sizes. This unlocks much bigger text sizes than the standard slider allows. You can then drag the slider to sizes that would be unusable for most people but may be necessary if you have low vision. This setting also affects system text like button labels and menu items.

Changing fonts in Safari and web pages

Safari does not let you change the font of a website itself—the website's designer controls that. However, you can increase the text size. Open a webpage, tap the "Aa" icon in the address bar (top left), and tap Larger Text or Smaller Text. This zooms the text on that page only.

For a more permanent change, go to Settings > Safari > Page Zoom and set a default zoom level. Every webpage you visit will start at that zoom level. You can still pinch to zoom in or out on individual pages if needed.

If a website is hard to read because of color contrast or font choice, Safari's Reader mode can help. Tap the "Reader" icon (looks like lines of text) in the address bar if it appears, and Safari will strip away the website's design and show you the article in a clean, readable format with your system text size applied.

Font options in specific apps and limitations

Most iPad apps do not let you change the typeface—they use whatever font the app designer chose. Notes, Pages, and Keynote are exceptions; they offer font menus where you can pick from dozens of typefaces. In Pages (Apple's word processor), select text, tap the paintbrush icon, then tap Text to see font options.

Reading apps like Books, Kindle, and Scribd usually offer a handful of fonts designed for reading—typically serif fonts like Athelas or Georgia, and sans-serif fonts like Helvetica. These are chosen because they are straightforward to read on screens. You cannot install custom fonts on iPad the way you can on a computer, and you cannot change fonts in most social media or messaging apps.

If an app does not have a visible font control, the font is fixed and cannot be changed within that app. Your only option is to use the system text size setting in Display & Brightness, which may or may not affect that particular app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install custom fonts on my iPad?

Not in the traditional sense. You cannot read a font file and use it across all apps. However, some apps like Procreate (for drawing) and certain design apps allow you to import fonts for use within that app only. For most everyday tasks like email and notes, you are limited to the fonts built into each app.

Why does changing text size in Settings not affect all my apps?

Some apps ignore the system text size setting and use their own defaults. Social media apps, games, and some third-party tools often do this. If an app has its own font controls, those override the system setting. Check the app's own menu or settings first before assuming the system setting is broken.

How do I make text bigger in apps that do not have font controls?

Use Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Accessibility Sizes. This affects system-level text across the entire iPad, including button labels and menu items in apps that do not have their own font controls. You can also pinch outward on the screen to zoom in temporarily.

Does changing the font on one app affect other apps?

No. If you change the font in Notes, it only affects Notes. Changes in system settings (Display & Brightness > Text Size) explore to many apps, but not all. Each app controls its own fonts unless you change a system-wide setting.

Can I change font color on my iPad?

Yes, in apps that support it. Notes, Pages, and Mail all let you change text color—usually through a menu icon or by selecting text and tapping formatting options. Most reading apps and social media apps do not offer this feature.