How To Increase Font Size On Mac Sierra

Increase the system text size and interface size in Mac OS X

Mac Os Ten defaults to a predefined set arrangement font size for all onscreen text and user interface elements, and while many users will find the default text size to exist sufficient, some users may wish the arrangement font size was larger, and some may wish the Mac system text size was smaller. It turns out that Mac OS may non offer a method of straight irresolute all arrangement fonts, but instead Mac users can adapt their screen to increment or decrease the size of the organisation font, onscreen text, and everything else seen on screen every bit well.

To alter the system text size this style, we'll be changing the screen resolution of the Mac display itself. In some cases, this may mean running on a not-native scaled resolution, which tends to look all-time on Retina displays. There'south a trade-off with this approach in that y'all lose or gain screen existent estate (space for windows and stuff on the display) in order to increment or decrease the size of text and interface elements. The example images beneath will assist to show this, but information technology'south better experienced yourself on your own Mac and display.

How to Increment Screen Element & Text Size in Mac Os 10

This volition increase the size of all onscreen fonts and interface elements by using a different display resolution, it's slightly different for Retina displays and non-Retina displays, we'll cover both:

Go to the  Apple carte du jour and choose "System Preferences"
Go to the "Brandish" preference panel, then to the "Display" tab

For Retina Brandish Macs:

Next to the "Resolution" section, choose "Scaled"
Select "Larger Text" from the options available, you volition see a pop-upwards message saying "Are you lot sure you desire to switch to this scaled resolution? When using this scaled resolution, some applications may not fit entirely on screen." then cull "OK" to confirm that y'all wish to use the larger text size scaled resolution

Increase Mac system text size with Larger Text scaled option

For Non-Retina Macs & External Displays:

Next to the "Resolution" section, choose "Scaled"
Select a smaller screen resolution from the list of available resolutions, this may include 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, or straight resolutions like 1600 x 900, 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, 640 10 480 – to brand the onscreen text size and other onscreen elements larger aim for a smaller number, such every bit 720p or 1024×768

Change onscreen UI element and text size with differnet resolutions Mac OS X display

When satisfied with the size of the onscreen element size, font size, and text size, close out of System Preferences and use the Mac as usual

The "Larger Text" option for Retina displays is similar to 1024×768 on a non-Retina brandish, and volition dramatically increase the size of onscreen text and interface elements for most Mac laptops similar the MacBook and MacBook Pro, as well as iMac and other loftier resolution displays. Setting the screen resolution to 1024×768 or larger on a non-Retina display will as well dramatically increment the size of onscreen fonts and interface elements.

The blithe GIF beneath demonstrates the iv Retina settings being cycled betwixt, with Larger Text being the offset and displaying as the biggest of the group.

Changing the system font size in Mac OS X with different display resolutions

The Larger Text scaled display resolution option is great for users who have difficulty reading or interacting with onscreen elements with MacBook Pro and iMac displays, but it's as well incredibly helpful to use when any Mac is connected to a TV screen and viewed at a distance, since elements and interactions will be larger and easier to read at the larger size.

The other sizes, such equally "More Infinite", permit for considerably more screen real estate only at the expense of much smaller fonts and interactive interface elements. This merchandise-off largely depends on the user.

What do the Scaled Display Sizes Look Like?

You actually need to use the different resolutions on the individual Mac yourself to get the best thought possible of how things will await on the individual screen, but the images below will give you a full general thought of how big or small various items will appear on a display. As you can run into, the font and text sizes change equally well as the size of everything else on screen, including buttons, icons, windows, menu bars, championship confined, literally the size of everything on screen is impacted by adjusting and scaling resolutions this way:

Mac OS X set to display "Larger Text"

Larger Text resolution

Mac Os Ten set up to display size "Default"

The default text size resolution

Mac Os X set to display in-between scale size of text / infinite

Smaller text size resolution

Mac Bone Ten fix to display as "More Infinite"

Smallest font and text size but largest screen space

For Macs with secondary screens or an external display, you can show all possible display resolutions for an external screen to reveal other screen resolutions which may otherwise be subconscious from the Mac OS X default options.

Some may consider this a workaround, just bated from individually adjusting the font size in various applications, this is the but way to universally touch on all onscreen text and font sizes on the Mac. It's possible Apple will introduce greater text size and font size controls in future versions of Mac Os Ten, but in the meantime, adjusting the screen resolution is the but way to universally alter the size of things seen on the display of any Mac.

Changing Font Size of Individual Apps in Mac Bone Ten

Nosotros take shown how to change the text and font sizes in many other Mac apps before, if you want to set individual awarding font sizes the following articles may exist helpful to amend readability:

Modify Finder text font size in Mac Bone X
Increment the icon size on Mac
How to change the Finder sidebar item text size in Mac OS X
Use Zoom in web browsers for larger text and easier reading in Mac OS X
Set a minimum font size in Safari for Mac
Change the font size of text in Mail app for Mac Bone 10
Increase or decrease the text size in Messages for Mac Os X
Change the text size in Last for Mac Os
Alter the text size of iTunes fonts

There are also similar options for iOS devices, simply we're focusing primarily on the Mac here. If you're interested in finding adjustments for text items on an iPhone or iPad, use our search bar to locate tutorials for individual apps.