Google Docs has its own zoom control that changes how big the page looks without changing your font sizes, plus your browser’s zoom, which also enlarges the menus and toolbar. Zooming out lets you see a whole page or check your layout; zooming in makes small text easier to read. Here’s every way to zoom in and out in Google Docs on a computer, phone, and tablet.
Quick Answer
Click the zoom box (showing 100%) on the toolbar and pick a smaller percentage, like 75% or 50%, to zoom out, or a larger one to zoom in. You can also type a custom value in the box. For browser zoom, press Ctrl + minus or Ctrl + plus (Command on a Mac), and Ctrl + 0 to reset.
Docs Zoom vs. Browser Zoom
| Docs zoom (toolbar) | Browser zoom (Ctrl + / Ctrl -) | |
|---|---|---|
| What gets bigger | Only the document page | Everything: page, menus, toolbar, side panels |
| Range | 50% to 200% (custom values allowed) | 25% to 500% |
| Affects printing or font size? | No | No |
| Best for | Seeing more of the page or reading text | Making the whole interface easier to see |
Method 1: Use the Zoom Box in the Toolbar
- Open your document in Google Docs.
- Find the zoom box near the left side of the toolbar, next to the print and paint format buttons. It shows 100% by default.
- Click it and choose a percentage: 50%, 75%, or 90% to zoom out, or 125%, 150%, or 200% to zoom in.
- Choose Fit to fit the page width to your window.
- For a custom level, click inside the box, type a number like 80, and press Enter.
If you can’t see the toolbar, it may be hidden. Press Ctrl + Shift + F or click the small arrow at the top right to show the menus again.
Method 2: Browser Zoom Shortcuts
- Zoom out: Ctrl + minus (−) on Windows or ChromeOS; Command + minus on Mac.
- Zoom in: Ctrl + plus (+) or Ctrl + equals (=); Command + plus on Mac.
- Reset to 100%: Ctrl + 0 (zero); Command + 0 on Mac.
- Mouse: Hold Ctrl and scroll the wheel. On a touchpad, pinch in or out (varies by browser).
Browser zoom is remembered for the docs.google.com site, so all your documents open at that level until you reset it.
Method 3: See More Pages at Once
- Zoom out to 50% in the zoom box to see several pages stacked, which is useful for checking layout, page breaks, and images.
- On wide screens, zooming out may show pages side by side. See our guide to viewing two pages side by side in Google Docs.
- In pageless documents (File > Page setup > Pageless), text flows across the width of the screen and there are no page breaks. Zoom still works, and you can set Text width under View.
Zoom In Google Docs on iPhone, iPad, or Android
- Open the document in the Google Docs app.
- Pinch outward with two fingers to zoom in, or pinch inward to zoom out.
- Turn on Print layout (three-dot menu) to see the document with real page layout. Pinch zoom works best in this view on some devices.
The mobile apps don’t have a percentage zoom box. To make text larger everywhere, increase your phone’s text size in its accessibility settings.
Troubleshooting
- Everything looks huge or tiny, including menus: Browser zoom is set. Press Ctrl + 0 to reset.
- Zoom box is missing: The window may be too narrow. Maximize it, or look for the zoom option under the toolbar’s overflow (three-dot) menu.
- Text still looks small at 100%: Zoom only changes the view. To make text bigger for everyone, change the font size; see how to change font size in Google Docs.
- Zoom resets when you reopen the document: The toolbar zoom may not be saved between sessions. Use browser zoom if you want a level that sticks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does zooming out change how the document prints?
No. Zoom only affects what you see on screen. Printing uses the page size and margins in File > Page setup.
Can collaborators see my zoom level?
No. Zoom is personal to your screen.
Summary
- Use the toolbar zoom box to pick 50% to 200% or type a custom value.
- Use Ctrl + minus / plus for browser zoom, and Ctrl + 0 to reset.
- Zoom out to 50% to see several pages at once.
- On phones and tablets, pinch to zoom.
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.