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Use a screen reader to zoom in or out in Outlook

This article is for people with visual or cognitive impairments who use a screen reader program such as Microsoft's Narrator, JAWS, or NVDA with the Microsoft 365 products. This article is part of the Microsoft 365 screen reader support content set where you can find more accessibility information on our apps. For general help, visit Microsoft Support home or Fixes or workarounds for recent office issues.

Use new Outlook with your keyboard and screen reader to zoom in, or enlarge, the text of an email and make it easier to read. We have tested it with Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. You'll also learn how to zoom out and return to the original text size.

Decorative icon Need instructions on how to zoom in or out in Outlook, but not using a screen reader? See The text of my email messages is larger or smaller than usual or Make text and apps bigger.

Notes: 

Zoom in or out on an email

  1. In the message list, navigate to the email you want, and then press Enter to open it.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Zoom options," and then press Enter.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • To zoom in, press the Tab key until you hear "Zoom in," and then press Enter to zoom the view in by one increment. You can press Enter repeatedly to zoom multiple increments.

    • To zoom out, press the Tab key until you hear "Zoom out," and then press Enter to zoom the view out by one increment. You can press Enter repeatedly to zoom multiple increments.

    • To reset the zoom level to 100%, press the Tab key until you hear "Reset," and then press Enter.

    Notes: 

    • The zoom increments are as follows: 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, 150%, 200%.

    • When you reach the maximum or minimum zoom level, the Zoom out or Zoom in button, respectively, appears dimmed and is not selectable until the zoom level is changed or reset.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in an email in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Use Outlook with your keyboard and screen reader to zoom in, or enlarge, the text of an email and make it easier to read. We have tested it with Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. You'll also learn how to zoom out and return to the original text size.

Decorative icon Need instructions on how to zoom in or out in Outlook, but not using a screen reader? See The text of my email messages is larger or smaller than usual or Make text and apps bigger.

Notes: 

In this topic

Zoom in on an email in its own window

You can only zoom the email you’re currently reading or composing. When you move to another email, the body text returns to the default font size.

Tip: You can also zoom an email in the Reading pane. For more information, refer to Zoom in on an email in the Reading pane.

  1. In the message list, navigate to and open the email you want. The email opens in its own window.

  2. To zoom in on the email, press Alt+H, Q, 1. The Zoom while reading dialog box opens.

    Note: If you're composing an email, press Alt+O, Q. The Zoom while composing dialog box opens.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • To double the font size of the email, press the Up arrow key.

    • To enter your own zoom value, press the Tab key until you hear with Narrator "Percent, edit box," followed by the current percentage. With JAWS, you hear: “Percent, edit spin box.” With NVDA, you hear: "Percent, edit." Type the zoom value you want, for example, 250 or 400.

  4. If you want Outlook to remember your zoom settings, press the Tab key until you hear "Unchecked, Remember my preference," and then press the Spacebar to select the option.

  5. To close the Zoom dialog box and read the zoomed email, press Enter.

Note: The text size on the ribbon is not affected. To change the text size on the ribbon or in the Outlook navigation pane, you have to change the display settings for your computer.

Zoom out of an email in its own window

You can only zoom out of the email you’re currently reading or composing. When you move to another email, the body text returns to the default font size.

  1. In the zoomed email, press Alt+H, Q, 1. The Zoom while reading dialog box opens.

    Note: If you're composing an email, press Alt+O, Q. The Zoom while composing dialog box opens.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • To reduce the font size of the email to the original size, press the Down arrow key until you hear: "Zoom, Selected, One hundred percent."

    • To enter your own zoom value, press the Tab key until you hear with Narrator "Percent, edit box," followed by the current percentage. With JAWS, you hear: “Percent, edit spin box.” With NVDA, you hear: "Percent, edit." Type the zoom value you want, for example, 75.

  3. If you want Outlook to remember your zoom settings, press the Tab key until you hear "Unchecked, Remember my preference," and then press the Spacebar to select the option.

  4. To close the Zoom dialog box, press Enter.

Zoom in on an email in the Reading pane

  1. In the message list, navigate to the email you want.

  2. To move the focus to the Status bar, press F6 until you hear “Status bar,” followed by the recently used option on the Status bar.

  3. To go to the Zoom slider, press the Tab key until you hear “Zoom in, button,” and then repeatedly press Enter until you reach the text size you want.

Zoom out of an email in the Reading pane

  1. In the zoomed email, press F6 until you hear “Status bar,” followed by the recently used option on the Status bar.

  2. To go to the Zoom slider, press the Tab key or Shift+Tab until you hear “Zoom out, button,” and then repeatedly press Enter until you reach the text size you want.

Change the text size on the ribbon

You can change the text size on the ribbon or in the Outlook navigation panes by changing the display settings for your computer.

  1. Press the Windows logo key+U. The Display settings window opens.

  2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Make everything bigger, Change the size of text and apps on the main display," followed by the current value.

  3. To open the options list, press Alt+Down arrow key.

  4. To select the new size value, press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear the value you want, and then press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in an email in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

Make text and apps bigger

What's new in Microsoft 365

Use Outlook for Mac with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in macOS screen reader, to zoom in, or enlarge, the text of an email and make it easier to read. You'll also learn how to zoom out and return to the original text size.

Decorative icon Need instructions on how to zoom in or out in Outlook, but not using a screen reader? See Change the font sizes in Outlook for Mac.

Notes: 

  • New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.

  • This topic assumes that you are using the built-in macOS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, go to VoiceOver Getting Started Guide.

In this topic

Zoom in on an email in its own window

  1. In the message list, navigate to and open the email you want. The email opens in its own window.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • To increase the font size of the email, press Command+Plus sign (+).

    • To decrease the font size of the email, press Command+Minus sign (-).

Zoom in or out when composing an email

You can make the text larger or smaller when composing your outgoing email message. This is a temporary setting, and the text size returns to its default once you've sent the message.

  1. Place the cursor in the body of the email message you're composing.

  2. Press Control+Command+Z. You hear: "Zoom dialog."

  3. In the Zoom dialog box, do one of the following:

    • Press the Down arrow key until you hear the zoom value you want.

    • To use a custom zoom value, press the Tab key until you hear: "Percent, edit text." Type the value you want.

  4. Press Return to confirm and apply the value. The focus returns to your email.

Use the Zoom feature

With the Zoom feature of your Mac, you can use keyboard shortcuts to enlarge the content in any area of Outlook.

  1. To move the focus to the menu bar, press Control+Option+M. You hear: "Menu bar, Apple."

  2. To open the System Preferences dialog box, press Control+Option+Spacebar, press the Down arrow key until you hear "System preferences, ellipses," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

  3. In the System Preferences dialog box, press the Tab key until you hear "Accessibility, button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar. The Accessibility menu opens.

  4. Press the Tab key. You hear: "Entering accessibility features table, Overview, selected." To open the Zoom feature menu, press the Down arrow key until you hear: "Zoom."

  5. To use keyboard shortcuts to zoom content, press the Tab key until you hear "Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom, unchecked, checkbox," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar to select. You hear: "Checked, Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom, checkbox."

  6. To close the System Preferences dialog box, press Command+W.

  7. In Outlook, you can now do the following:

    • To magnify the view of your emails or calendars (zoom in), press Option+Command+Equal sign (=).

    • To shrink the view (zoom out), press Option+Command+Minus sign (-).

    • To toggle the zoom on and off, press Option+Command+8.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in an email in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Use Outlook for iOS with VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader, with the Zoom feature of your phone to zoom in, or enlarge, the text of an email and make it easier to read. You'll also learn how to zoom out and return to the original text size.

Notes: 

  • New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.

  • This topic assumes that you are using the built-in iOS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, visit Apple accessibility.

In this topic

Turn on Zoom

Turn on the Zoom feature in the Accessibility settings of your phone.

  1. On your phone, swipe right or left with three fingers to go to the home screen where the Settings icon is. Then swipe right until you hear "Settings," and double-tap the screen.

  2. In Settings, to open the Accessibility menu, swipe right until you hear "Accessibility button," and double-tap the screen.

  3. To open the Zoom menu, swipe right until you hear "Zoom off, button," and double-tap the screen.

  4. To turn on the Zoom feature, swipe right until you hear "Zoom off," and then double-tap the screen.

Zoom in on an email

With the Zoom feature on, you can use gestures to enlarge the content of an email in Outlook. To turn the Zoom feature on, go to Turn on Zoom.

  1. In the Outlook email you want to zoom, do one of the following:

  • To magnify the screen and see a specific part of your emails up close, double-tap the screen with three fingers.

  • To move the zoom to another point, drag the screen with three fingers.

  • To return to the default magnification, double-tap the screen with three fingers.

For more info on the Zoom feature, refer to Zoom in on the iPhone screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in an email in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Use Outlook for Android with TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader, with the Magnification feature of your phone to zoom in, or enlarge, the text of an email and make it easier to read. You'll also learn how to zoom out and return to the original text size.

Notes: 

  • New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.

  • This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Android screen reader, TalkBack. To learn more about using TalkBack, go to Android accessibility.

In this topic

Turn on Magnification

Turn on the Magnification feature in the Accessibility settings of your phone.

  1. In your phone Settings, to open the Accessibility menu, swipe right until you hear "Accessibility," and then double-tap the screen.

  2. To open the Magnification menu, swipe right until you hear "Magnification off," and double-tap the screen.

  3. To turn on the Magnification feature, swipe right until you hear "Magnify with triple-tap off," and then double-tap the screen.

  4. Swipe right until you hear "Use service, Off, switch," and then double-tap the screen. Magnification is turned on, and you hear: "On."

Zoom in on an email

With the Magnification feature on, you can use gestures to enlarge the content of an email in Outlook for Android. To turn the Magnification feature on, see Turn on Magnification.

In the Outlook email you want to zoom, do one of the following:

  • To magnify the screen and see a specific part of your emails up close, triple-tap the screen with one finger. You hear the current magnification level.

  • To move the zoom to another point, drag the screen with two fingers.

  • To return to the default magnification, triple-tap the screen with one finger.

For more info on the Magnification feature, go to Magnification.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in an email in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Use Outlook on the web with your keyboard and a screen reader in your web browser to zoom in, or enlarge, the text of an email or calendar and make it easier to read. You'll also learn how to zoom out and return to the original text size. We have tested it with Narrator in Microsoft Edge and JAWS and NVDA in Chrome, but it might work with other screen readers and web browsers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques.

Notes: 

  • New Microsoft 365 features are released gradually to Microsoft 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you can get new features faster, join the Office Insider program.

  • To learn more about screen readers, go to How screen readers work with Microsoft 365.

  • We're currently updating Outlook.office.com (Outlook on the Web). Some people are already using the new Outlook, and for others the classic version will be the default experience until we complete the update. For more information, go to Get help with the new Outlook on the web. Since the instructions in this topic apply to the new experience, we recommend that you switch from the classic experience to the new Outlook. To switch to the new Outlook, press Ctrl+F6 until you hear "Command, Try the new Outlook," and then press Enter. If you hear "Command toolbar" instead of "Command, Try the new Outlook," you're already using the new Outlook.

  • This topic assumes that the Reading pane is off.

  • When you use Outlook on the web, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because Outlook on the web runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in the desktop program. For example, you’ll use Ctrl+F6 instead of F6 for jumping in and out of the commands. Also, common shortcuts like F1 (Help) and Ctrl+O (Open) apply to the web browser – not Outlook on the web.

Zoom in or out

When reading email, you can use your browser's zoom function to make the text on your screen larger or smaller.

  1. When using Outlook on the web in Microsoft Edge or Chrome, do one of the following:

    • To zoom in, press Ctrl+Plus sign (+) repeatedly until you hear the zoom in percentage you want.

    • To zoom out, press Ctrl+Minus sign (-) repeatedly until you hear the zoom out percentage you want.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in an email in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Outlook Mail

What's new in Microsoft 365

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.

If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.

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