How to change font size on Android

Squinting at tiny text on your Android phone? Before you start holding your screen six inches from your face, there’s an easier way to adjust the font size.

With just a few taps, you can make the text on your Android phone bigger or smaller. You can also adjust your overall display size, turn on bold text and use other accessibility features to make your phone easier on the eyes. 

The exact menus can vary depending on your phone model and Android version, but we’ll walk you through the most common ways to get there.

How to change text size on Android

If the text on your Android phone is too small—or so big you can only fit three words on the screen at once—you can adjust the font size in your phone’s settings.

Because Android runs on phones made by different manufacturers, the exact menu names and steps can vary by device. One of the easiest methods recommended by Google is:

1. Open Settings.
2. Search for Font size using the Settings search bar.
3. Select Font size
4. Move the slider left to make text smaller or right to make it larger. 

You’ll see a preview as you adjust the setting, so you can find a size that feels right before you get back to texting, scrolling and doing whatever else you were squinting at. 

Android also lets you reset your font and display-size preferences if you want to return them to their original settings.

Depending on your device, you may also find these controls by going to:

• Settings > Display or 
• Settings > Accessibility

On newer supported versions of Android, you may even be able to add Font Size to your Quick Settings for easier access. Google says Android’s font-size controls can increase text up to 200%, although availability and options can depend on your device and Android version.

Looking for more ways to make your phone work better for you? Check out our guide to Android accessibility settings.

How to change font size on Samsung phones

Got a Samsung Galaxy? Your settings may look a little different from stock Android.

Samsung directs users to Settings > Display, then to the relevant font settings. Depending on the device and software version, this may appear as Font, Font size, Font and Screen Zoom or a similar option. From there, you can use the slider to choose a comfortable text size.

On supported Galaxy devices, you may also have additional ways to customize your text, including changing the font style. So if your phone’s default typeface just isn’t doing it for you, you may have options beyond simply going bigger or smaller.

Keep in mind that Samsung menus can vary by model and software version. If you can’t find the setting, searching “font size” from Settings is usually the quickest shortcut.

How to change font size on Google Pixel

On a Google Pixel, you can adjust text through your phone’s display and accessibility settings.

1. Open Settings and search for Font Size.
2. Use the slider to make text larger or smaller.
3. You can also search for this under Accessibility > Display Size and Text.

Need a little more help than larger letters?

You can turn on Bold Text to give text more visual weight. Depending on which Android version your Pixel is running, you may also have Outline Text or high contrast text options available to make words stand out more clearly against their background.

In other words: you’ve got options. Your thumbs already do enough work. Your eyes don’t need to.

Font size vs. display size on Android: What’s the difference?

Font size and display size sound pretty similar, but they change different things on your phone.

• Font size primarily adjusts text. Think messages, menus, notifications and labels in apps that support your system settings.

• Display size, on the other hand, changes the scale of what’s on your screen. That can include things like icons, buttons and other interface elements in addition to text. Google provides separate sliders for Font size and Display size, so you can adjust each independently.

If increasing your font size isn’t making your phone comfortable enough to use, try adjusting your display size too. A combination of the two may give you a better overall viewing experience.

And if you’re helping a parent, grandparent or anyone else set up a phone that’s easier to navigate, these settings can be especially useful.

Why isn’t font size changing in some apps?

You made the text bigger, opened an app and…nothing happened. Your phone isn’t ignoring you. Probably.

Google notes that Android’s font-size setting doesn’t apply to every app. Some apps use their own text and interface settings rather than following the font size you’ve chosen at the system level.

If the text still looks too small in a particular app, check that app’s own settings for options related to text size, accessibility, display or zoom.

Also remember that font size and display size are separate settings. If text is easier to read but icons, buttons or other parts of your screen still feel too small, adjusting Display size may be the better move.

Make your phone easier on the eyes

Your phone spends a lot of time in front of your face. You might as well make it comfortable to look at.

Once you’ve found your preferred font size, you can explore more of Android’s accessibility options, including bold text, display adjustments, color correction and other tools designed to make your device easier to use. Our guide to Android accessibility settings can help you get started.

And if you landed here looking for instructions for the other side of the smartphone aisle, we’ve got you covered there too. Here’s how to change font size on iPhone.

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