If the writing on a website looks too small, your browser’s zoom control can make it easier to read. You can try a larger size, see whether it helps, and turn it back down without changing the website for anyone else.
By The Tech Helper Team
This guide covers Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge on a computer. You do not need to buy an app or install an extension. For a phone, use our separate guide to making text bigger on iPhone or Android.
Try the menu first
The menu is a useful starting point because you can see the zoom percentage as you change it. A value of 100% is normal size; 125% makes the page larger.
In Google Chrome
- Open the web page you want to read.
- Click the three dots at the top right of Chrome.
- Find the Zoom row and click its plus (+) button.
- If the page is still uncomfortable to read, increase it another step. Use the minus (−) button to reduce it again.
Chrome’s page zoom enlarges pictures as well as text. Google explains the controls in its Chrome zoom guide.
In Microsoft Edge
Open the three-dot Settings and more menu at the top right. Use the zoom plus or minus buttons to adjust the page. Start with one step and read a few lines before deciding whether you need more.
Microsoft documents this in its Edge accessibility guide. You can leave the page at whichever size is comfortable.
Use the keyboard if you prefer
In Chrome or Edge on Windows, hold Ctrl and press the plus (+) key to enlarge the page, or the minus (−) key to shrink it. On a Mac, use Command (⌘) instead of Ctrl. Chrome on a Chromebook also uses Ctrl.
Keep the first key held down while pressing the second, then release both. If finding the plus key or pressing the combination is awkward, use the menu buttons instead.
In Edge, Ctrl and 0 on Windows, or Command and 0 on Mac, resets page zoom to its default. That is the number zero, not the letter O. These combinations are listed in Microsoft’s Edge keyboard shortcuts.
Make larger pages your usual setting
If most websites feel too small, you can choose a default rather than adjust each one separately:
- Chrome: open the three-dot menu, choose Settings → Appearance → Page zoom, then select a larger percentage.
- Edge: open Settings and more → Settings → Accessibility, then find Page zoom under Visibility and choose a percentage.
Try 125% as a starting point, then adjust to suit you. Menu wording can vary with browser version. Websites with their own saved zoom settings may need an individual adjustment.
If the page looks different afterwards
At a larger size, a website may move text onto extra lines or rearrange its menus. You may need to scroll further to read the same article. If something seems missing, reduce zoom a step and check again.
For a simple practice run, use this article: increase zoom once, read this paragraph, then decrease it once. There is no need to change several settings at the same time.
If the browser’s tabs and buttons are also too small, page zoom may not solve the whole problem. Those controls are separate from the page you are reading. On Windows 11, Microsoft also describes Settings → Accessibility → Text size for enlarging much of the text across the device.
Once the page is comfortable to read, our guide to finding a word on a web page can help you jump to a particular name, date or instruction.
Researched and drafted with AI assistance. Instructions checked against official Google and Microsoft documentation on 6 November 2026; not hands-on browser testing. This guide contains no affiliate links.