Technology

How Can I Make Things Look Bigger on My Tablet or Smartphone

By Senior Planet Monday, August 26, 2013 12 Comments Share This:

Looking for computer help? Every week, our Tekspert answers one question about digital technology. Computers, tablets, phones, cameras…

A few months ago, we showed you how to make the text bigger on your computer screen (click here if you missed it). If you use a smartphone or tablet you can increase the text size on that, too, so that it’s easier to read. All you have to do is go into the settings.

Follow the steps below for both iPhones and Android phones; use the same steps to change settings on an iPad or Android tablet.

Increase Text Size on iPhones and iPads

1. Go to your settings by tapping on the icon that looks like this:

2. On the next screen, look for the same icon in the left column and tap “General”

3. Scroll to the bottom and tap on “Accessibility”

4. Choose “Large Text” from the menu on the next screen and tap “Off.”

5. You’ll be taken to this screen:

You can now choose from several larger text sizes to increase the font size in your email, contacts, calendar, text messages, and notes.

6. If you want to increase the text size while you’re browsing the Internet, go back to Step 4 and click “Zoom” on. Now, by tapping three times on your screen while you’re browsing, you’ll zoom in; drag your three fingers across the screen to increase the zoom and tap three times again to go back to normal view.

Increase Text Size on Android Phones and Tablets

1. Start by tapping “Apps” and then “Settings”

2. Select “Display” from the list of options.

3. Toward the bottom of the screen, you’ll see “Font Size”

4. To increase your font size, select “Large” or “Huge”

Your contacts, text messages, and applications will now be larger and easier to read.

Click here to watch a how-to YouTube video.

If you’re interested in seeing how Tommy Edison, who is completely blind, uses his phone’s accessibility settings to take pictures and upload them to Instagram, click here.

Got a question? Ask it in the comments box below, or email it to editor@seniorplanet.com

COMMENTS

12 responses to “How Can I Make Things Look Bigger on My Tablet or Smartphone”

Jack Ramon Taylor:

Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 7:23pm

how do I set line space to single space in writing documents?

Reply to Jack Ramon Taylor
Joan comeaux:

Monday, January 14, 2019 at 3:34pm

I put large text on fire he 10 tablet but it doesn’t stay. The grey color is hard to see on white background.

Reply to Joan comeaux
Stella Hughes:

Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 6:30am

Excellent instructions, easy to follow instructions really helped me a novice to enlarged the font text.

Reply to Stella Hughes
Chris:

Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 7:26pm

What smartphone has the best features, font size for someone who has trouble seeing?

Reply to Chris
kathy:

Friday, September 9, 2016 at 3:51am

I have samsung tablet from speint. And the words are to small for me to make out .just like typing this message i hope i am spelling my words right . I got where when i message normal its alot larger much larger.

Reply to kathy
Susan Moate:

Sunday, May 22, 2016 at 2:08pm

Can you make pictures and text bigger on a 7″ tablet

Reply to Susan Moate
1. Senior Planet:
  
  Monday, May 23, 2016 at 11:28am
  
  Hi Susan, what type of tablet is it? (ie: iPad? Android?)
  
  Reply to Senior Planet
  1. James Wikstrom:
    
    Friday, March 13, 2020 at 8:14pm
    
    On my Samsung galaxy android tablet I have huge size print ĺisted, but on this particular email the print is small. Why is not the print huge.?
Mickey:

Friday, November 14, 2014 at 2:38pm

Just receive a nextbook android tablet and there is no zoom in the accessibility. How can I increase the font size while browsing. Thanks.

Reply to Mickey
1. Debby Hanson:
  
  Sunday, March 7, 2021 at 12:54am
  
  My Galaxy has zoom and font sizes which I use, but when I go to YouTube or go to browser, or search bar fonts are small. How do I make it stay in large or huge. Even in the box where you ask me to put my name and email address, both name and email are very small, why?
  
  Reply to Debby Hanson
  1. Senior Planet:
    
    Monday, March 8, 2021 at 10:12am
    
    Hi Debby! When using our website, we have an accessibility widget (bottom, right corner) that can do lots of different functions to make your reading experience more enjoyable such as enlarge text. Here’s our article on how to learn to use it:
    https://seniorplanet.org/news/2020/07/15/making-seniorplanet-org-more-accessible/
    
    As for using other websites, we advise calling our tech hotline at 920-666-1959 and one of our trainers can walk you through how to zoom in and out on your device.
D.:

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 7:05pm

Do you know how I would change the font colour in my email on my tablet? (I have no problem when I use my laptop.)

Reply to D.