iOS 17 lets you change system text size globally and, through Control Center, adjust text size for supported individual apps.
Steps
- Open Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size.
- Drag the slider until ordinary interface text is comfortable.
- For larger accessibility sizes, open Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Larger Text and enable Larger Accessibility Sizes if needed.
- To vary size by app, add Text Size to Control Center, open the target app, then use the Text Size control and choose the app-only scope where available.
- Check several apps because not every app respects Dynamic Type equally.
How it works
Dynamic Type allows compatible apps to scale text while preserving layout. Display Zoom is a different feature that enlarges more of the interface, not just text.
Important considerations
iOS 17 is an older release in 2026. If the iPhone supports a newer security-supported iOS version, update it; menu names can change slightly.
Practical guidance
Bold Text, Increase Contrast, and Display Zoom can improve readability in ways that font size alone does not. Larger accessibility sizes can cause controls to reflow, so test frequently used apps. If an app ignores Dynamic Type, look for its own text-size setting before assuming iOS failed.
Additional details
Text Size in Control Center can be especially useful when one app needs larger text but another already looks oversized. The app-only selector appears at the bottom of the control on supported versions. Reset to the default if buttons or labels become clipped, then try Display Zoom or the app’s own accessibility options.
Related: How to Turn Off Double Tap on iPhone.
Other ways to make text easier to read
| Setting | Where to find it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Bold Text | Settings > Display & Brightness | Makes text across the system heavier and easier to see |
| Display Zoom | Settings > Display & Brightness > Display Zoom | Enlarges icons, buttons, and text together |
| Zoom | Settings > Accessibility > Zoom | Magnifies any part of the screen with a three-finger double-tap |
| Increase Contrast | Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size | Sharpens the difference between text and backgrounds |
Make text bigger in Safari
- Open a website in Safari.
- Tap the page menu button in the address bar (it may show “aA” or a small menu icon).
- Tap the larger “A” to zoom the page text up, or the smaller “A” to zoom down.
Safari remembers the setting for that website. On a computer, see our guide to using a bigger font size in Google Chrome.
Which apps follow your text size?
Apple’s own apps, such as Messages, Mail, Notes, and Settings, follow the Text Size slider. Many third-party apps do too, but some keep their own size settings inside the app. If an app’s text doesn’t change, look for a font or text option in that app’s settings.
Can I change the font style?
No. iOS doesn’t let you replace the system font for the whole iPhone. You can change size and weight, and some apps, like Pages, let you use different fonts inside those apps.
Frequently asked questions
Do these steps work on iOS 18 and later?
Yes. Text Size, Larger Text, and the Control Center control are in the same places, though the Control Center editing screen looks different in newer versions.
Why didn’t the text in my home screen labels change much?
Home screen labels have limited room. Use Display Zoom if you want larger icons and labels.
I have an older iPhone. Are the options the same?
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.