Accessibility & Vision · Quick guide
How to Make Text Bigger on Android (Samsung and Pixel)
Ah, the tiny text dilemma! For many of us, squinting at our smartphone screens has become an all-too-common ritual. But it doesn't have to be this way! Your Android phone, whether it's a Samsung or a Google Pixel, is packed with features designed to make reading a joy, not a chore. I'm Suzy Ahn, and for almost two decades, I've had the pleasure of teaching older adults the ins and outs of their technology. Today, we're tackling one of the most frequent requests I get: how to make that text gloriously, wonderfully, undeniably bigger.
By Suzy Ahn
Ah, the tiny text dilemma! For many of us, squinting at our smartphone screens has become an all-too-common ritual. But it doesn't have to be this way! Your Android phone, whether it's a Samsung or a Google Pixel, is packed with features designed to make reading a joy, not a chore. I'm Suzy Ahn, and for almost two decades, I've had the pleasure of teaching older adults the ins and outs of their technology. Today, we're tackling one of the most frequent requests I get: how to make that text gloriously, wonderfully, undeniably bigger.
Watch & learn
Recommended video: Vision and Hearing Settings Every Senior Should Know
A companion tutorial from AARP. We link to a YouTube search so you always get a current, working version.
Watch “Vision and Hearing Settings Every Senior Should Know” on YouTubeOpens a YouTube search in a new tab · AARPKey takeaways
- Adjusting global text and display size settings is the primary way to make text bigger on Android devices.
- Samsung Galaxy phones and Google Pixel phones have slightly different menu paths, but both offer robust accessibility options.
- Always check browser and individual app settings, as they sometimes override global text size preferences.
- Beyond text size, explore other accessibility features like screen magnification, color correction, and bold text for a truly customized viewing experience.
- Don't hesitate to experiment with settings; you can always revert changes if they don't suit you.
Frequently asked questions
- Will making the text bigger affect how much content I see on the screen?
- Yes, absolutely. When you increase the text size, fewer words and elements will fit on your screen at one time. This is a trade-off many of us happily make for improved readability. You might find yourself scrolling a bit more, but the comfort of reading easily is often worth it.
- I changed my text size, but some apps still have tiny text. Why?
- This is a common frustration! While your phone has a global text size setting, some individual apps have their own text size controls that override the system settings. Good examples are web browsers (like Chrome or Firefox) and some reading apps. You'll need to dive into each app's specific settings to adjust its text larger. I cover this in more detail in the article under
- Is it better to adjust text size or display size?
- It depends on what you need! Adjusting _text size_ only makes the letters bigger, while _display size_ (sometimes called
