Where to find font settings on your iPad

Font changes on an iPad happen in two places: inside individual apps, or in the system-wide accessibility settings that affect text across most apps. The fastest route depends on what you want to change. If you need bigger text everywhere — in Mail, Notes, Safari, and most other built-in apps — use the system settings. If you want to change the font only in a specific app like Pages or Word, look inside that app first.

System-wide font size lives in Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size. This slider makes text larger or smaller in Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Calendar, and dozens of third-party apps. It does not affect Safari, which has its own text size control, or apps like Pages that let you set font independently.

Key Takeaways

  • Text Size in Settings > Display & Brightness changes font size across Mail, Messages, Notes, and most built-in apps, but not Safari or specialized apps like Pages.
  • Safari has its own text size control: open a webpage, tap the AA icon in the address bar, and use the plus or minus buttons.
  • Apps like Pages, Word, and Google Docs let you change font name and size only within that document or app.
  • Larger Accessibility Sizes in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size offers even bigger text than the standard Text Size slider, useful for vision needs.
  • Font style (bold, italic, underline) is usually controlled within the app you are using, not in system settings.

Changing text size system-wide

Open Settings on your home screen. Tap Display & Brightness, then scroll down and tap Text Size. A slider appears with a small A on the left and a large A on the right. Drag the slider to the right to make text bigger, or to the left to make it smaller. The preview text above the slider shows you how the change will look. Tap the back arrow or swipe back when you are done.

This change takes effect when ready in Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Stocks, Health, Books, and most other Apple apps. Third-party apps like Twitter, Reddit, and Slack often respect this setting too, though some ignore it. You can always undo the change by returning to the same slider and moving it back to the middle.

Making text larger in Safari

Safari does not use the system Text Size setting. Instead, open any webpage in Safari and look for the AA icon in the address bar at the top. Tap it. A menu appears with a small A, a large A, and a bold A. Tap the plus button next to the large A to increase text size, or the minus button to decrease it. You can tap the bold A to toggle bold text on or off.

This setting is per-website, not global. If you make text bigger on one news site, it stays bigger only on that site. If you visit a different website, it reverts to the default size unless you change it there too. If you do not see the AA icon, the website may not support text resizing, or you may need to scroll to the address bar to reveal it.

Changing fonts in Pages, Word, and similar apps

Apps designed for writing and document creation let you change font name, size, and style within the app itself. In Pages, open a document and select the text you want to change by tapping and dragging. Tap Format (the paintbrush icon) at the top right. Tap Text, then tap the font name to see a list of available fonts. Tap the size number to change how large the text is. Tap the B, I, or U buttons to add bold, italic, or underline.

Microsoft Word works similarly: select your text, tap the Home tab, then tap the font dropdown to choose a different typeface. The size control is next to it. Google Docs uses the same approach — select text, tap Format, tap Text, and choose your font and size from the menus. These changes affect only the text you selected, not the whole document, unless you select all text first.

Using Larger Accessibility Sizes for vision needs

If the standard Text Size slider does not make text large enough, iPad has a second, more powerful setting called Larger Accessibility Sizes. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Toggle on Larger Accessibility Sizes. A new slider appears below it that goes much further than the standard one, offering text sizes up to 188 points instead of the usual maximum.

This setting works in the same apps as the standard Text Size slider — Mail, Messages, Notes, and most built-in apps. It does not affect Safari or specialized apps. When you turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes, the standard Text Size slider disappears and is replaced by the larger one. You can turn the feature off at any time to go back to the standard slider.

Changing bold text system-wide

If you want all text on your iPad to appear bold, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Bold Text. This makes text bolder across Mail, Messages, Notes, and most other apps. Your iPad will restart after you enable this setting. The change takes effect when ready when it boots back up.

Bold Text is separate from the Text Size slider — you can use both at the same time. If you find the bold text too heavy, you can turn it off the same way. This setting does not affect Safari or apps that control their own font rendering, and it does not make text larger, only thicker.

Font options in Notes and Mail

The Notes app lets you change font within individual notes. Open a note and tap the three dots at the top right. Tap Note Settings, then Formatting. You will see options for font style: choose between Helvetica, Georgia, Menlo, or Monospaced. This changes only the note you are editing. New notes will use whatever font you set as default in Settings > Notes > Default Font.

Mail does not let you change font for individual emails on iPad. The font Mail uses is controlled by your email provider and the Mail app settings. You can make text larger using the system Text Size slider, but you cannot choose a different typeface within Mail itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the font in Safari on my iPad?

You can change text size in Safari by tapping the AA icon in the address bar and using the plus or minus buttons. You cannot change the font typeface itself — Safari uses whatever font the website designer chose. Some websites let you override their font choice through browser settings, but this is not a standard iPad feature.

Why is the Text Size slider not working in my apps?

Some apps ignore the system Text Size setting and control their own font size independently. Safari, Pages, Word, and many third-party apps do this. Check inside the app itself for a text size or font menu. If the app has no font controls, contact the app maker to request the feature.

Does changing font size on my iPad affect my iPhone?

No. Font size settings are separate on each device. If you change Text Size on your iPad, it does not change on your iPhone. You need to adjust the setting on each device individually.

Can I read new fonts to use on my iPad?

Apps like Pages and Word come with a set of built-in fonts you can use. You cannot read additional fonts to use system-wide across all apps. Some apps let you install fonts for use only within that app, but this requires the app to support font installation.

What is the difference between Text Size and Larger Accessibility Sizes?

Text Size is the standard slider that goes up to a certain maximum. Larger Accessibility Sizes is a separate setting that goes much further, offering text sizes up to 188 points. Use Larger Accessibility Sizes if the standard slider does not make text large enough for your needs.