The quickest way to change font size on your Mac
The fastest method depends on what you're looking at. In most Mac apps—Safari, Mail, Notes, Word—you can hold Command and press the plus key (+) to make text larger, or Command and minus key (−) to make it smaller. This works in a single document or webpage without changing your system settings.
If you want to change the default font size across your entire Mac—the size of menu text, icons, and system messages—you'll go through System Settings instead. This affects how everything looks, not just one app.
The method you choose depends on whether you're adjusting one document or your whole system. Both take less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Command + plus makes text larger in most apps; Command + minus makes it smaller, and these changes affect only that document or webpage.
- To change font size system-wide on your Mac, open System Settings, go to Accessibility, then Display, and adjust the text size slider.
- Some apps like Microsoft Word have their own font size controls in the toolbar that override the keyboard shortcuts.
- If you change your system font size, it affects menus, notifications, and system text, but individual apps may still have their own size controls.
Changing font size in individual apps with keyboard shortcuts
The Command + plus and Command + minus shortcuts work in Safari, Mail, Notes, Messages, Reminders, Calendar, and most other built-in Mac apps. Each time you press the combination, the text jumps one size larger or smaller. You can press it multiple times in a row to reach the size you want.
These changes stay in place only while you have that document or webpage open. If you close Safari and reopen it, the zoom level resets to the default. The same is true for Mail—each mailbox remembers its own zoom level, but closing and reopening the app clears it.
If the keyboard shortcut doesn't work in an app you're using, that app has its own font size controls. Check the app's menu bar at the top of your screen for a Format menu or a text size button in the toolbar.
Changing font size system-wide through Accessibility settings
To change the default font size for menus, notifications, and system text across your entire Mac, open System Settings (the gear icon in your Dock or Applications folder). Click Accessibility in the sidebar.
In Accessibility, click Display. You'll see a slider labeled "Text size" with a small "A" on the left and a large "A" on the right. Drag the slider to the right to make system text larger, or to the left to make it smaller. The change takes effect when ready—you'll see the menu text and other system elements resize as you move the slider.
This setting affects how your Mac displays text in system menus, dialog boxes, and notifications, but it does not override font size controls within individual apps. If you've zoomed in on a webpage in Safari using Command + plus, that zoom stays even if you change your system text size.
Changing font size in Microsoft Word and other office apps
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint have their own font size controls in the toolbar at the top of the window. You'll see a dropdown menu showing a number (usually 11 or 12) next to a font name. Click that number to see a list of sizes, or type a custom size directly into the box.
The Command + plus shortcut still works in these apps, but it zooms the entire page view rather than changing the actual font size of the text. If you want to change the font size of text you've already typed, select the text first, then use the toolbar dropdown or the keyboard shortcut.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides also have font size controls in their toolbars. The keyboard shortcuts work there too, but the toolbar gives you more precise control and shows you the exact size you're using.
Changing font size in your web browser
In Safari, use Command + plus to zoom in or Command + minus to zoom out. You can also hold Command and scroll with your trackpad or mouse wheel to adjust the zoom. Each website remembers its zoom level—if you zoom in on a news site and close Safari, that site will open at the zoomed size next time.
In Chrome and Firefox, the same Command + plus and Command + minus shortcuts work. These browsers also remember your zoom preference for each individual website.
If you want to change the default font size for all websites in Safari, go to Safari menu > Settings, click the Websites tab, then select "Reader" in the sidebar. You'll find a font size slider there, but it only affects articles displayed in Safari's Reader view, not regular webpages.
When font size changes don't stick
If you zoom in on a webpage and it resets the next time you visit, your browser is working correctly—that's the default behavior. To make a zoom level permanent for a specific site, check your browser's settings. Safari doesn't have a way to lock zoom for individual sites, but Chrome and Firefox do: right-click the zoom controls and look for an option to set a default zoom for that site.
If system text size changes don't seem to take effect, restart your Mac. Some apps cache the system text size when they launch, so they won't reflect the new setting until you close and reopen them.
If an app's text is still too small even after you've changed both the system text size and used Command + plus, that app may have its own font size setting buried in its preferences. Check the app's menu bar for a View or Format menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing font size in one app affect other apps?
No. When you use Command + plus in Safari, it only zooms that Safari window. Mail, Notes, and other apps stay at their normal size. System-wide font size changes in Accessibility do affect all apps, but individual app zoom levels override the system setting.
How do I make text bigger on my Mac login screen?
Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Display and adjust the text size slider. This affects the login screen and all system text. You can also enable "Increase contrast" in the same menu to make text easier to read.
Can I set a different font size for different apps?
Yes. Use Command + plus and Command + minus in each app individually to set the zoom you want. Each app remembers its own zoom level. For system-wide text, use Accessibility settings, which applies to all apps unless they override it.
What if Command + plus doesn't work in my app?
That app has its own font size controls. Look for a Format menu in the menu bar, a text size button in the toolbar, or check the app's preferences. Some apps like Word use a dropdown menu in the toolbar instead of keyboard shortcuts.
Does zooming in on a webpage slow down my Mac?
No. Zooming is a display-only change—it doesn't affect how the webpage loads or how your Mac performs. You can zoom as much as you want without any impact on speed.