Magnifier in Windows 10

Cost: Free with Windows | Platforms: Windows Desktop and Laptop.

If you want to temporarily enlarge a portion of the screen in Windows 10, you can use the handy built-in Magnifier. It also reads out text too in applications.

Most useful for: zooming in and out of hard to see information on screens on your computer.

Its key features are:

• You can quickly open the Magnifier by using the keyboard shortcut Windows key with the plus sign (+) to zoom in and Windows key with minus sign (-) to zoom out.
• Use Windows key and Esc to exit the magnifier. You can use the Magnifier knowing just these three shortcuts, but there are actually a few more options.
• Text can be read aloud by using Control + Alt + Left Mouse.
• Full screen – This is the default mode. A portion of your screen gets enlarged, and the zoomed view follows your mouse pointer. If you're using the touch screen, you can tap the plus or minus sign at the corners to zoom in or out. Tap the edges to move the view up, down, left, or right.
• Lens – Instead of the whole screen zooming in, just a portion of your display gets bigger.
• More settings: Tap or click the gear icon within the Magnifier app to see more options. There are additional settings like turning on colour inversion, as well as tracking. If you're in Lens mode, you can change the lens size from this section. Use the sliders to increase or decrease the height and width of the lens.

Keyboard shortcuts:

Sometimes keyboard shortcuts can get things done faster. Here are all the shortcuts related to the Magnifier:

• Windows logo key + plus (+) or minus (-): Zoom in or out
• Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar: Preview the desktop in full-screen mode
• Ctrl + Alt + D: Switch to docked mode
• Ctrl + Alt + F: Switch to full screen mode
• Ctrl + Alt + I: Invert Colours
• Ctrl + Alt + L: Switch to Lens Mode
• Ctrl + Alt + R: Resize the lens
• Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys: Pan in the direction of the arrow keys
• Windows logo key + Esc: Exit Magnifier

Our Top Tip:

Shortcuts keys may seem complex at the start but try one at a time and practice. It does get easier and faster to use the tool if you get familiar with these shortcuts.

Demo of Magnification in Windows in Action

Video source: Robert McMillen YouTube channel

Go to the Microsoft Website>

Advice about Magnification Tools:

Magnifier in Windows 10

Cost: Free with Windows | Platforms: Windows Desktop and Laptop.

If you want to temporarily enlarge a portion of the screen in Windows 10, you can use the handy built-in Magnifier. It also reads out text too in applications.

Most useful for: zooming in and out of hard to see information on screens on your computer.

Its key features are:

• You can quickly open the Magnifier by using the keyboard shortcut Windows key with the plus sign (+) to zoom in and Windows key with minus sign (-) to zoom out.
• Use Windows key and Esc to exit the magnifier. You can use the Magnifier knowing just these three shortcuts, but there are actually a few more options.
• Text can be read aloud by using Control + Alt + Left Mouse.
• Full screen – This is the default mode. A portion of your screen gets enlarged, and the zoomed view follows your mouse pointer. If you're using the touch screen, you can tap the plus or minus sign at the corners to zoom in or out. Tap the edges to move the view up, down, left, or right.
• Lens – Instead of the whole screen zooming in, just a portion of your display gets bigger.
• More settings: Tap or click the gear icon within the Magnifier app to see more options. There are additional settings like turning on colour inversion, as well as tracking. If you're in Lens mode, you can change the lens size from this section. Use the sliders to increase or decrease the height and width of the lens.

Keyboard shortcuts:

Sometimes keyboard shortcuts can get things done faster. Here are all the shortcuts related to the Magnifier:

• Windows logo key + plus (+) or minus (-): Zoom in or out
• Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar: Preview the desktop in full-screen mode
• Ctrl + Alt + D: Switch to docked mode
• Ctrl + Alt + F: Switch to full screen mode
• Ctrl + Alt + I: Invert Colours
• Ctrl + Alt + L: Switch to Lens Mode
• Ctrl + Alt + R: Resize the lens
• Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys: Pan in the direction of the arrow keys
• Windows logo key + Esc: Exit Magnifier

Our Top Tip:

Shortcuts keys may seem complex at the start but try one at a time and practice. It does get easier and faster to use the tool if you get familiar with these shortcuts.

Demo of Magnification in Windows in Action

Video source: Robert McMillen YouTube channel

Go to the Microsoft Website>

Advice about Magnification Tools:

• If you are a student in Higher Education, speak to your Assistive Technology Officer or Disability Officer /Learning Support Officer.
• If you are a Student in the FET/ETB then it may be possible to speak to an Educational Needs Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Student Access Officer, Student Support Coordinator or a Disability Support Officer for more information about assistive technology.
• If you are an Employee and are interested in this technology then speak to your Disability Liaison Officer (public service) or your Line Manager to start the conversation.
• If you are a student in Higher Education, speak to your Assistive Technology Officer or Disability Officer /Learning Support Officer.
• If you are a Student in the FET/ETB then it may be possible to speak to an Educational Needs Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Student Access Officer, Student Support Coordinator or a Disability Support Officer for more information about assistive technology.
• If you are an Employee and are interested in this technology then speak to your Disability Liaison Officer (public service) or your Line Manager to start the conversation.