To zoom in and out on a Chromebook webpage, press Ctrl + + to enlarge it, Ctrl + - to shrink it, or Ctrl + 0 to reset its zoom. To resize the whole screen, use those shortcuts with Shift added. For a magnified view, turn on a full-screen or docked magnifier in accessibility settings.
The short version
- Webpage zoom: Press Ctrl + + or Ctrl + - to change webpage size.
- Whole screen sizing: Press Ctrl + Shift + + or Ctrl + Shift + - to resize the screen.
- Magnified view: Open Settings > Accessibility to enable a magnifier.
- Separate controls: Webpage zoom, display sizing, magnifiers, and document zoom each have their own controls.
| Method | What it changes | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Webpage keyboard shortcuts | Webpage content size | Ctrl + + or Ctrl + - |
| Chrome menu controls | Webpage content size | More > Zoom |
| Touchscreen pinch | Content that responds to zoom gestures | Spread or bring together two fingers |
| Default website zoom | Default size for websites | Appearance > Page zoom |
| Saved website zoom removal | A website’s saved resize setting | Zoom levels |
| Website font size | Text on websites that allow resizing | Appearance > Font size |
| Display scaling shortcuts | Whole screen sizing | Ctrl + Shift + + |
| Display scaling settings | Built-in or compatible external display sizing | Display and text size |
| External monitor resolution | The selected monitor’s resolution | Displays > monitor name > Resolution |
| Full-screen magnifier | A magnified view across the screen | Settings > Accessibility |
| Docked magnifier | A separate magnified portion of the screen | Settings > Accessibility |
| Reading mode | Reading-mode text on supported pages | Alt + Shift + R |
| Gallery PDF controls | A PDF opened in Gallery | Zoom |
| Gallery PDF shortcuts and gestures | A PDF opened in Gallery | Keyboard, mouse wheel, or pinch controls |
| Chrome PDF controls | A PDF opened in Chrome | The PDF viewer’s zoom and fitting controls |
| Google Docs and Sheets zoom | The document or spreadsheet view | 100% in the toolbar |
| Google Slides zoom | The slide canvas | Fit in the toolbar |
Zoom a webpage in Chrome
Open the webpage you want to resize, then press Ctrl + + to make its content larger. Press Ctrl + - to make it smaller, repeating the shortcut until the size suits you. These shortcuts change webpage content; use display scaling when you want to resize the whole screen.
For mouse controls, open Chrome’s More menu and find Zoom. Select Zoom in or Zoom out to adjust the page. Press Ctrl + 0 to reset its zoom.
On a touchscreen Chromebook, touch the content with two fingers and spread them apart to enlarge it. Bring your fingers together to shrink it. This works in content that responds to zoom gestures; if the gesture does not change a webpage’s size, use Chrome’s zoom controls.
Set your preferred website size
To choose a default size for websites, open Chrome’s More > Settings > Appearance. Select Page zoom, then choose a percentage. Individual websites can have saved zoom settings that differ from this default.
When one website keeps using a different size, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Additional content settings > Zoom levels. Find the website and click X beside it. This removes that website’s saved resize setting.
For larger text without enlarging everything on the page, return to Appearance and choose a size under Font size. Select Customize fonts for additional font controls. Some websites prevent text-only resizing, so use page zoom if the font setting does not change the text you need to read.
Resize the whole Chromebook screen
Use system display scaling to change the size of everything on the screen. Press Ctrl + Shift + + to enlarge it or Ctrl + Shift + - to shrink it. Press Ctrl + Shift + 0 to reset the screen sizing.
You can also select the time, then open Settings > Device > Displays > Built-in Display. Under Display and text size, choose the size you want. For a compatible external monitor, select its name instead of Built-in Display.
An external monitor also has a separate Resolution setting under its name in Displays. Choose a supported resolution there; the available choices depend on your hardware. If text or images look unclear, follow the steps to fix a blurry computer screen.
Turn on a full screen or docked magnifier
Select the time and open Settings > Accessibility. Turn on Full-screen magnifier for a magnified view across the screen. Turn on Docked magnifier when you want a separate magnified portion of the screen.
For keyboard access, press Ctrl + Search + M for full-screen magnification, or Ctrl + Launcher + M on a keyboard with that key. For docked magnification, press Ctrl + Search + D or Ctrl + Launcher + D. Use the key present on your keyboard.
To keep accessibility controls close at hand, open Settings > Accessibility and turn on Always show accessibility options in the system menu. You can then access those controls from the system menu. To remove a magnified view, return to Accessibility settings and turn off the active magnifier.
Adjust magnifier strength and movement
With a magnifier enabled, select the zoom level dropdown in its settings to adjust magnification; for the docked magnifier, it is labeled Docked zoom level. You can also press Ctrl + Alt + Brightness up or Ctrl + Alt + Brightness down. Another option is to hold Ctrl + Alt while scrolling two fingers up or down.
Full-screen magnifier settings let you choose how the view follows the pointer. Select Move screen continuously as mouse moves, Move screen keeping mouse at center of screen, or Move screen when mouse touches edge of screen. Choose the movement style that makes it easiest to keep your place.
To pan with the keyboard while full-screen magnification is active, hold Ctrl + Alt and press Left Arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, or Down Arrow. On a touchscreen, you can pan with two fingers. With docked magnification, move the pointer or press Tab to change the magnified area.
Enlarge text in Reading mode
On a supported text-based page in Chrome, right-click and select Open in reading mode. You can also open More > More tools > Reading mode, press Alt + Shift + R, or select the Reading mode icon in the address bar when it appears.
Select Font size, then choose Increase, Decrease, or Reset. These controls change reading-mode text only. Use webpage zoom to resize the webpage’s broader content.
Zoom PDFs and Google documents
For a PDF saved on your Chromebook, open Launcher > Files and double-click the PDF to open it in Gallery. Select Zoom, then choose Zoom in, Zoom out, or Fit to width. Choose the fitting option to match the page width to the viewing area.
Gallery also supports Ctrl + + and Ctrl + - for PDFs. With the corresponding hardware, you can hold Ctrl while scrolling a mouse wheel, or pinch on the touchscreen or touchpad. For a PDF opened in Chrome, use the PDF viewer’s Zoom in, Zoom out, Fit to page, or Fit to width controls.
Open a document in Google Docs or a spreadsheet in Google Sheets, then select 100% in the toolbar. Choose a zoom level, or enter a value from 50 to 200. In Docs, choose Fit to fit the document to the browser width. These controls change the document view.
Open a presentation in Google Slides, select Fit in the toolbar, and choose a zoom option. You can also enter a value from 25 to 1600. Choose Fit to fit the canvas to the browser width.
Fix a screen that stays too large or too small
Match the reset to the control you changed. Use Ctrl + 0 for Chrome webpage zoom, or Ctrl + Shift + 0 for system screen sizing. If a magnifier is active, turn it off under Settings > Accessibility.
Resetting one type of zoom does not necessarily reset another. A PDF or document may still need its own zoom or fitting control after you reset browser zoom. For broader help identifying the size change, follow the steps to restore your screen to normal size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does full screen mode make webpage content bigger?
Full screen mode increases viewing space rather than changing magnification. In Chrome, open More and select Full screen beside Zoom, or press your keyboard’s Full screen key.
Can accessibility preferences carry over to another Chromebook?
Yes, when you sign in with your Google Account and sync settings. Open Settings, select Sync and Google services, then select Manage what you sync. Enable Sync everything, or choose Customize sync and enable Settings under Sync data.
Can the magnifier follow ChromeVox as it reads?
Yes, enable a magnifier and turn on Magnifier follows ChromeVox focus in the magnifier settings. Press Ctrl + Alt + Z to enable ChromeVox.
How do you enlarge text in the Chromebook Text app?
On a Chromebook with the Text app, press Ctrl + = to enlarge the text or Ctrl + - to shrink it. Press Ctrl + 0 to reset the app’s zoom.
Can magnification follow text read with Select to speak?
Yes, enable a magnifier, then open Settings > Accessibility > Text-to-speech and enable Select-to-speak. Select the text you want read and press Search + S.
Can you reach display and website text settings from accessibility settings?
Yes, select the time and open Settings > Accessibility. Select Display settings for screen sizing, or Website text size and font for browser typography.
Where can you access accessibility features during initial setup?
On the initial Chromebook setup screen, select Accessibility. This gives you access to accessibility features during setup.