This is for you if… the writing on your phone feels too small, messages are hard to read, or you keep holding the screen at arm’s length.
I was helping someone in Letchworth who thought they needed a new phone, but the biggest improvement came from changing text size, display zoom and a few accessibility settings.
Before you start
Changing text size is safe. You can always change it back. Some screens may look slightly different afterwards because larger text takes up more room.
Step-by-step: make text bigger on an iPhone
- Unlock your iPhone.
- Open Settings. It is the grey cog icon.
- Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness.
- Tap Text Size.
- Drag the slider to the right to make text bigger.
- Open Messages or Mail to test whether it feels easier to read.
- If you want bolder letters, go back to Display & Brightness and turn on Bold Text.
- If everything still feels too small, look for Display Zoom and choose the larger option.
Step-by-step: make text bigger on an Android phone
- Unlock your Android phone.
- Open Settings. It is usually a cog icon.
- Tap Display.
- Look for Font size, Text size or Display size.
- Move the slider to make the writing bigger.
- Open Messages, WhatsApp or Email to test it.
- If the whole screen still feels small, increase Display size as well as font size.
If your phone looks different
Android phones vary by brand. If you cannot find the setting, open Settings and use the search box at the top. Search for text size, font size or display size.
Other helpful settings
- Bold text can make letters clearer.
- Brightness can help outdoors.
- Dark mode may feel easier for some people.
- Magnification can help if you sometimes need to zoom in.
Need help?
My membership is for ongoing help and peace of mind across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. For a one-off setup visit, you can book a visit.