The fastest way to change iPad font size

You can change the size of text across most iPad apps in two places: the system-wide accessibility settings, which affect nearly everything you read, and the individual app settings, which let you adjust only what you are reading right now. The system setting takes about 30 seconds and works in Mail, Notes, Safari, Books, and most third-party apps. App-level controls are faster if you only want to enlarge text in one place.

Start with the system setting if you want larger text everywhere. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then tap Text Size. Drag the slider to the right to make text larger or to the left to make it smaller. The preview text at the bottom of the screen shows you what your choice will look like. Tap the back arrow when you are done, and the change takes effect when ready in most apps.

If that is not large enough, you can also turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes in the same Settings menu. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Accessibility Sizes and toggle it on. This unlocks even bigger text sizes in the Text Size slider, though not all apps support it.

Key Takeaways

  • The Text Size slider in Settings > Display & Brightness changes font size across Mail, Notes, Safari, Books, and most other apps in about 30 seconds.
  • Larger Accessibility Sizes in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size unlocks bigger text options beyond the standard slider range.
  • Individual apps like Kindle, Medium, and news readers often have their own font size controls in the app menu or reading settings, separate from the system setting.
  • Safari lets you zoom text on web pages by pinching with two fingers or using the reader view, which overrides the website's own font choices.

Changing font size in specific apps

Many apps ignore the system text size setting and have their own controls. In Apple Books, open a book, tap the screen to show the menu, then tap the Aa icon in the top right. Drag the text size slider left or right, or tap the + button to jump to the next size up. You can also change the font family and background color from this menu.

In Kindle, open a book and tap the middle of the screen. Tap the Aa icon at the top, then adjust the font size slider. Kindle also lets you change the typeface, line spacing, and margins from the same menu.

In Mail, the system text size setting usually works, but if you want to enlarge text in a single message, pinch outward with two fingers on the message itself to zoom in. Pinch inward to zoom back out. This zoom does not change the default size for future emails.

Safari respects the system text size setting on most websites, but you can also pinch to zoom any web page. For more control, tap the Aa icon in the address bar and choose Reader if it is available. Reader mode strips away ads and sidebars and lets you adjust text size, font, and background color without the website overriding your choices.

Using zoom for everything on screen

If you want to enlarge not just text but everything on your iPad — buttons, icons, and images — use the Zoom feature instead. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom and toggle it on. Once it is on, double-tap with two fingers anywhere on the screen to zoom in. Double-tap again to zoom out. You can also drag with two fingers to pan around the zoomed view.

Zoom magnifies the entire screen, so it is useful if you have low vision or just want to see everything bigger. The downside is that you see less of the screen at once, so you have to pan more. Text size changes only enlarge the words, so you see more of the page at once.

Adjusting font size in web browsers

If you use Chrome or Firefox instead of Safari, the steps are different. In Chrome, tap the three-dot menu in the bottom right, tap Settings, then tap Accessibility. Toggle on Force Enable Zoom to allow pinching on any website, then go back and tap Text Scaling to adjust the percentage. In Firefox, tap the menu icon, go to Settings, tap Accessibility, and adjust the Font Size slider.

Both browsers also let you pinch to zoom any page, which enlarges everything, not just text. This is often faster than hunting through settings if you only need to read one article.

Bold text and other readability options

If larger text alone does not help, you can also turn on Bold Text to make all text heavier and easier to read. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Bold Text. Your iPad will restart to explore the change. This works system-wide in almost all apps.

You can also turn on Increase Contrast in the same menu to make text stand out more against its background. This is especially useful if you have trouble reading light gray text on a white background. Reduce Transparency is another option that removes the frosted-glass effect from menus and makes text crisper.

Reverting to default font size

To undo your changes, go back to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size and drag the slider back to the middle. This is the default size. If you turned on Larger Accessibility Sizes, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle it off. Any changes you made inside individual apps (like Books or Kindle) stay in those apps until you change them again.

If you turned on Bold Text or other accessibility features, you can turn them off the same way you turned them on. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle off the features you no longer want. Your iPad will restart if you changed Bold Text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the text size not changing in my app?

Some apps, especially games and social media, ignore the system text size setting. Check the app itself for a font size or text size option in its settings or menu. If the app has no text size control, the developer chose not to support it, and you will need to use the Zoom feature instead to enlarge everything on screen.

Can I set different font sizes for different apps?

The system text size setting applies to all apps that support it. If you want different sizes in different apps, you have to change the system setting each time you switch apps, or use the app's own controls if it has them. Apps like Books and Kindle remember your choice within that app, so you only set it once per app.

Does changing font size affect battery life?

No. Larger text uses the same amount of power as smaller text. The only setting that noticeably affects battery life is turning on Bold Text, which uses slightly more power because the screen has to render heavier lines, but the difference is minimal on modern iPads.

Will font size changes work on websites I visit in Safari?

Yes, on most websites. Safari respects the system text size setting on pages that do not override it with their own font sizes. If a website sets a fixed font size, Safari will still enlarge it somewhat, but not as much as you might want. Use Reader mode to get full control over text size on those sites.

What is the difference between text size and zoom?

Text size only enlarges words and leaves buttons and images the same. Zoom enlarges everything on screen equally. Use text size if you only have trouble reading words. Use zoom if you have low vision and need everything bigger, or if an app does not support text size changes.