Changing font size in Windows 11 can really impact how comfortable you are working or just casually browsing. Sometimes, the default might be too tiny or too big, and adjusting it can make reading text, menus, and apps a lot easier on the eyes. It’s not always obvious where to tweak these settings, especially if Windows is acting weird or if some apps don’t seem to follow the global font changes. So, here’s a more detailed walk-through with some extra tips—because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
How to Change Font Size in Windows 11
Adjusting Text Size Through Settings
This method basically tweaks system-wide text, which is good if everything is feeling cramped or if text is too tiny to read without zooming in. The main idea is to head into Settings, find Accessibility options, and bump up that slider.
Open the Start menu (Windows icon) and click Settings. Alternatively, you can press Win + I to get there faster. Once in Settings, navigate to Accessibility on the sidebar. Under Accessibility, look for Text Size.
Click on Text Size—here, you get a slider to make all the text larger or smaller. Drag it left or right until things look comfortable. You’ll get a live preview as you move, which is kinda handy to see what you’re adjusting. Hit Apply when you’re happy with it.
Note: You might need to restart your PC or log out and back in
This helps Windows apply the new font size properly across all apps. Sometimes, a quick reboot fixes residual glitches where text doesn’t resize right away. Not sure why it works, but on some setups it doesn’t fully apply until you restart.
Manual Adjustment of Display Scaling (Optional)
If the default text size tweak isn’t enough, or if some apps still look tiny, you might need to adjust Display Scaling. Head into Settings > Display > Scale & Layout and set a custom percentage (125%, 150%, etc). This increases overall UI size, including sometimes text, but it affects everything — icons, apps, menus.
Side note: because Windows likes to throw multiple options at you, on some machines this feels trial-and-error. So, adjusting Display Resolution lower can also make everything bigger, but be cautious—it can make things look a little blurry. Usually, scaling is the safer bet.
Tips for Changing Font Size in Windows 11
- If things are still hard to read, go slow—small increases first. Better to gradually get used to bigger fonts.
- Use the preview in Text Size settings to avoid overshooting.
- Check how apps look — some don’t automatically follow system-wide text size changes. You might need to tweak app-specific settings for certain programs (like browsers or Office apps).
- If multiple users share this PC, chat about font size changes—they might prefer different settings.
- Pair font adjustments with display resolution and scaling settings for the best combo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change font size for individual apps?
System-wide adjustments affect everything, but some apps like browsers or Microsoft Word have their own text size settings. For example, in Chrome, you can set Zoom with Ctrl + + or Ctrl + -. So, if a specific app’s still tiny, check its internal zoom options.
Does changing font size impact display resolution or other settings?
Nope. Increasing font size won’t mess with your screen resolution or refresh rate. It’s purely a text size thing, which is kind of nice because it isolates the change and prevents weird blurry effects.
How to revert back to default font size?
Just go back into Text Size in Accessibility and slide back to the default (usually 100%), then click Apply. Easy peasy. Or reset display scaling back to 100% in Display settings.
Any quick shortcuts for font size?
Nothing native, but setting up a custom Accessibility shortcut isn’t too bad, or pinning Settings to your taskbar makes it faster to get to. Some third-party tools can also automate font size tweaks, but that’s more advanced.
Will larger fonts help reduce eye strain?
Definitely. Bigger text is easier to digest, especially if you spend hours staring at the screen. It reduces the need to squint or lean forward, which is always a good idea.
Summary
- Head into Settings > Accessibility.
- Adjust the Text Size slider and hit Apply.
- Consider display scaling if needed — go to Display > Scale.
- Restart or log out if changes don’t stick right away.
Wrap-up
Getting font size dialed in on Windows 11 isn’t exactly rocket science, but it’s a bit more fiddly than it should be. Still, when you find that sweet spot, everything’s just more comfortable. For those who spend a lot of time in front of the screen, it’s worth playing around with these settings. Just something that worked on multiple setups, and hopefully it helps someone else avoid the eye strain or frustration.