Windows 10 can enlarge text without changing every display element, or use display scaling to enlarge text, apps, and interface controls together.
Steps
- Open Settings > Ease of Access > Display.
- Use Make text bigger when you primarily need larger text and apply the change.
- For broader interface sizing, open Settings > System > Display and choose a recommended Scale value.
- Keep Display resolution at the monitor’s recommended/native value for sharpness.
- Sign out or restart an older app if it does not immediately adopt the new scaling.
How it works
Text size and display scaling solve different problems. Lowering resolution to make things larger usually makes an LCD look blurrier and is not the preferred accessibility method.
Important considerations
Windows 10 is unsupported. On supported hardware, move to a current Windows version for ongoing accessibility and security improvements.
Practical guidance
Browser zoom and application-specific font size are separate from Windows text size. If only one program is difficult to read, change that program first. High-DPI scaling can make older apps blurry, so increasing global scale may require app updates or compatibility settings rather than lowering screen resolution.
Additional details
If the change is for visual accessibility, also review Magnifier, contrast themes, mouse pointer size, and cursor thickness. These can improve readability without making every application huge. Use recommended scaling first because custom scaling values can make some older desktop applications render inconsistently.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.