Where to find font size controls in Mac applications
Most Mac apps let you change font size through the Format menu or a preferences window. The exact location depends on which app you are using — there is no single Mac-wide setting that makes text bigger in every program at once. Some apps put font controls in the main menu bar, others hide them in a sidebar, and a few require you to select text first before the size option appears.
The fastest way to find font size controls is to open the app, then click its name in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Look for a menu item called Format, View, or Preferences. If you do not see font size there, try the Edit menu next. Many apps also let you change font size by selecting text and using keyboard shortcuts, which we cover below.
Key Takeaways
- Most Mac apps have font size controls in the Format or View menu, but the exact location varies by app.
- You can select text and use Command + Plus to make it bigger or Command + Minus to make it smaller in many applications.
- System-wide text size changes in System Settings affect some apps but not all — individual app settings usually override them.
- If an app does not offer font size controls, you may be able to zoom the entire window instead using Command + Plus.
Using the Format menu to change font size
In apps like Mail, Notes, and TextEdit, the Format menu is where font controls live. Open the app, click Format in the menu bar, and look for an option that says Font, Text, or Character. Click it, and a window or dropdown will appear showing your current font and size. Select the size you want from the list, or type a custom number if the menu allows it.
Some apps show font size as a separate menu item rather than inside a submenu. In Mail, for example, you can click Format and then look for Size or Font Size directly. The number next to the size option shows the current setting — common sizes are 12, 14, 16, and 18 points. If you want a size that is not listed, many apps let you type your own number.
After you change the size, the change usually applies only to new text you type going forward, not to text that is already there. If you want to change the size of existing text, select it first by clicking and dragging, then open the Format menu and choose your new size.
Keyboard shortcuts for quick font size changes
If you want to avoid menus, most Mac apps respond to keyboard shortcuts for font size. The standard shortcuts are Command + Plus (the plus key on your keyboard) to make text bigger and Command + Minus (the minus key) to make it smaller. These work in Mail, Notes, Safari, and many other built-in Mac apps. Each time you press the shortcut, the text size increases or decreases by one step.
Before using a keyboard shortcut, you usually need to select the text you want to change. Click at the start of the text, hold Shift, and click at the end to select it. Then press Command + Plus or Command + Minus as many times as you need. In some apps like Safari, the shortcut changes the zoom level of the entire page rather than individual text, which makes everything bigger at once.
If the keyboard shortcuts do not work in a particular app, that app may not support them. Try the Format menu instead, or check the app's preferences to see if there is a font size option there.
Changing font size in Mac System Settings
Your Mac has a system-wide text size setting in System Settings that can make text bigger across many apps. Open System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Display. You will see a slider labeled Text Size. Move it to the right to make text bigger, or to the left to make it smaller. This setting affects the system menus, some built-in apps, and any third-party apps that respect the system setting.
However, not every app uses this system setting. Some apps have their own font size controls that override the system setting, and some do not respond to it at all. If you change the system text size and an app does not get bigger, that app probably has its own font size menu that you need to use instead. The system setting is useful as a baseline, but individual app controls are usually more reliable.
Font size controls in specific Mac apps
Different apps store font size in different places. In Mail, select the text you want to change, click Format in the menu bar, then click Font. A window opens showing your font choices and size options. In Notes, the process is the same — Format, then Font. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, then Preferences, then click the Websites tab to set a minimum font size for web pages you visit.
In Preview (the app for viewing images and PDFs), you cannot change the font size of the image itself, but you can zoom the entire window using Command + Plus. In TextEdit, click Format, then Font, and choose your size. In Calendar and Reminders, font size controls are usually in the View menu rather than Format. If you cannot find the option in an app, check the Help menu — search for "font size" and the app will show you where it is.
When an app does not have font size controls
Some apps, especially web-based ones or specialized tools, do not let you change individual font size. In those cases, your best option is to zoom the entire window. Press Command + Plus to zoom in, which makes everything on screen bigger, including text, buttons, and images. Press Command + Minus to zoom back out. This is not the same as changing font size, but it achieves the same result of making things easier to read.
If zooming does not work in an app, the app may not support it. You can also try using your Mac's built-in zoom feature, which magnifies a portion of your screen. Open System Settings, click Accessibility, click Zoom, and turn on Zoom. Then use Control + scroll wheel to zoom in and out on any part of your screen. This works in any app, but it magnifies the entire screen rather than just text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing font size in one app change it in all my other apps?
No. Each app stores its own font size setting separately. If you change the size in Mail, it does not affect Notes or Safari. The system-wide text size in System Settings affects some apps, but most apps have their own controls that override it. You need to change font size individually in each app where you want it different.
Can I make font size bigger for just one email in Mail?
Yes. Select the text in that email, click Format in the menu bar, then click Font. Choose your size. The change applies only to that text. If you want all new emails you write to use a bigger font, change the size before you start typing, and Mail will remember it for future messages.
What if Command + Plus does not make text bigger?
The app may not support that keyboard shortcut. Try the Format menu instead. If the Format menu does not have a font size option, try the View menu. If neither menu has it, the app may not let you change font size — in that case, use Command + Plus to zoom the entire window instead, which makes everything bigger.
Does changing system text size in Accessibility affect all apps?
It affects some apps, but not all. Built-in Mac apps like Mail and Notes usually respond to the system setting. Many third-party apps ignore it and use their own font size controls instead. If you change the system text size and an app does not get bigger, that app has its own font size menu you need to use.
Can I set a different font size for different types of text in the same app?
Yes, if the app supports it. Select the text you want to change, then open the Format menu and choose a size. Different text can have different sizes in the same document. Some apps like Mail let you set a default size for new messages while keeping existing messages at their original size.