Change text size in Settings for most apps

The fastest way to make text larger or smaller across most of your iPhone is through the Display & Text Size settings. Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then tap Text Size. Drag the slider left to make text smaller or right to make it larger. This change affects Mail, Messages, Notes, Contacts, and many other built-in apps.

The text size slider shows you a preview of how your change will look before you confirm it. The preview text reads "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" so you can see uppercase, lowercase, and how different letters display at your chosen size.

Not every app respects this system-wide setting. Some third-party apps like Facebook, Twitter, or news readers have their own text size controls that override the iPhone setting. If an app's text doesn't change when you adjust the slider, you'll need to look for text size options inside that specific app.

Key Takeaways

  • The Text Size slider in Settings > Display & Brightness changes text in Mail, Messages, Notes, and most built-in iPhone apps instantly.
  • Third-party apps like social media and news readers often have their own separate text size controls that don't respond to the system setting.
  • Accessibility features like Larger Accessibility Sizes and Bold Text offer more extreme sizing options for people who need them.
  • Safari and web browsers let you pinch to zoom text on individual web pages without changing your system setting.

Use Larger Accessibility Sizes for more extreme changes

If the Text Size slider doesn't go large enough, your iPhone has a second tier of sizing called Larger Accessibility Sizes. Go to Settings, tap Accessibility, then tap Display & Text Size. Toggle on Larger Accessibility Sizes, then use the slider below it to choose your size. This slider goes much further than the standard Text Size option and affects the same apps.

Larger Accessibility Sizes can make text so big that only a few words fit on your screen at once. This is intentional — the feature exists for people with low vision who need text significantly larger than the standard range offers. If you turn this on and find it too extreme, you can turn it off the same way or adjust the slider to a less aggressive size.

Make text bold across your iPhone

Bold Text is a separate setting that thickens all text on your iPhone without changing its size. Go to Settings, tap Accessibility, tap Display & Text Size, then toggle on Bold Text. Your iPhone will restart, and when it comes back on, text throughout the system will appear thicker and darker.

You can use Bold Text at the same time as any text size setting. Many people find that bold text is easier to read than larger text, especially if they have astigmatism or other vision conditions that make thin lines harder to see. If you change your mind, toggle Bold Text off the same way — your iPhone will restart again.

Adjust text size in Safari and web browsers

Safari has its own text size control separate from your system settings. Open a web page in Safari, tap the "aA" button in the address bar at the top, then tap the larger or smaller "A" to adjust text size for that page. This change applies only to that specific page and that browser session.

If you want to change text size for all web pages you visit in Safari, go to Settings, tap Safari, scroll down to Page Zoom, and drag the slider to your preferred size. This sets a default zoom level for every page you open in Safari going forward. Individual pages you zoom manually will override this default.

Other browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge have similar controls. In most of them, you can pinch two fingers on the screen to zoom in and out, or look for a menu option (usually three dots) that contains text size or zoom controls.

Change text size in individual apps

Apps like Mail, Messages, and Notes let you change text size in two ways: through the system Text Size setting described above, or through their own app-specific controls. In Mail, for example, you can pinch to zoom on an individual email message to make that email's text larger without changing your system setting.

Social media apps, news readers, and other third-party apps almost always have their own text size menus. Look for a settings icon (usually three dots or lines) within the app, then search for options labeled "Text Size," "Font Size," "Display," or "Readability." The exact location and name vary by app.

If an app doesn't have a built-in text size control, you can still zoom the entire app by pinching outward with two fingers. This zooms everything on the screen, not just text, and the zoom resets when you close and reopen the app.

Use Dynamic Type for apps that support it

Some apps are built to respond to your system Text Size setting automatically — this is called Dynamic Type support. When you change your Text Size in Settings, these apps update instantly without you doing anything else. Most Apple apps support Dynamic Type, as do many popular third-party apps.

You can see which apps support Dynamic Type by changing your Text Size slider and watching which apps update. If an app doesn't change when you move the slider, it either doesn't support Dynamic Type or it has overridden the system setting with its own controls. There's no master list of which apps support it, so the only way to know is to test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing text size affect how my iPhone looks in photos or videos?

No. Text size settings only change the size of text in apps and system menus. Photos, videos, and images display at their normal size. The only exception is if an app adds text on top of a photo — that text will be larger or smaller depending on your setting.

Can I set different text sizes for different apps?

Not through the system settings. The Text Size slider applies to all compatible apps at once. However, individual apps can have their own text size controls, so you can set Mail to one size and Notes to another by adjusting each app separately.

What's the difference between Text Size and Larger Accessibility Sizes?

Text Size is the standard slider that covers most everyday needs. Larger Accessibility Sizes goes much further and is designed for people who need significantly larger text. You can use both at the same time — Larger Accessibility Sizes replaces the standard slider when you turn it on.

Does Bold Text make text harder to read or easier?

That depends on your vision. Some people find bold text easier to read because the thicker strokes are clearer. Others find it makes text look crowded. The only way to know is to turn it on and see how it feels to you. You can toggle it off anytime.

If I zoom a web page in Safari, will it stay zoomed next time I visit?

No. Zooming an individual page in Safari applies only to that session. When you close Safari or navigate away and come back, the page returns to your default zoom level. If you want all web pages zoomed by default, use the Page Zoom setting in Settings > Safari instead.