Throughout many of my posts, I have mentioned that I have poor eyesight and how it affects me when using different electronic devices. The image to the left may give the impression that only elderly people encounter these problems, but that is not the case. Age is not an indicator of whether someone has poor vision. I have had poor vision all my life.
Unlike almost all of my other posts, this will not be an opinion piece. Today, I am going to show you how to use the accessibility settings on your phone and computer to make life a little easier in our modern, technology-driven society.
We are not all the same. Our eyesight differs, as does our knowledge of any particular electronic device. I have tried to write this tutorial so it walks you through changing settings based on what you need to make your device easier to use.
Make each change one at a time. Stop when the device feels comfortable and works well for you. You do not need to use every setting covered in this tutorial.
Even if you do not have trouble seeing the screen yourself, we all know someone who does. This tutorial is also intended for anyone who wants to help a friend, family member, or loved one make their devices easier to use.
Index
Android Phones and Tablets
Making Text and Screen Items Larger
Having Selected Text Read Aloud
Having the Entire Screen Read Aloud with TalkBack
Using the Camera as a Magnifying Glass
iPhone and iPad
Making Icons and Screen Items Larger with Display Zoom
Having Selected Text or the Screen Read Aloud
Having the Entire Screen Read Aloud with VoiceOver
Magnifying the Screen with Zoom
Using the Camera or Magnifier Application
Windows Computers
Making the Mouse Pointer Larger and Easier to See
Making Text and Other Screen Items Larger
Having Windows Read Text Aloud
Apple Mac Computers
Making the Mouse Pointer Larger and Easier to See
Making Text and Other Screen Items Larger
Android Phones and Tablets
Android phones are made by several different companies, so options may have different names or appear in different locations. If you cannot find a setting, use the search box inside Settings and search for the name of the feature. These instructions should also be useful for Android tablets, although menus may look slightly different on a larger screen.
Finding Android Settings
1. Begin on your phone’s Home screen. This is the main screen where you see your apps and background picture.
2. Swipe upward from the bottom of the screen. This should open a list of all the apps installed on your phone.
3. Look for the Settings app. Its icon usually looks like a small gear.
4. If you do not see it, use the search box at the top of the screen and type Settings.
5. Tap the Settings icon to open it.
Making Text and Screen Items Larger
Making the font larger may be all that you need to do.
1. Open Settings and tap Display.
2. Look for Display size and text or Font size and style.
3. Move the Font size slider until the sample text is comfortable for you to read.
4. If needed, increase Display size. This makes buttons, icons, and other screen items larger, not just the text.
You may also be able to reach these controls through Accessibility:
1. Return to the main Settings screen and tap Accessibility.
2. Look for Display size and text, Text and display, or Visibility enhancements.
3. Tap Font size or Font size and style.
4. Move the slider to the right until the text is large enough to read comfortably.
5. Look for Display size or Screen zoom if you also want to make icons, buttons, menus, and other items larger.
Increasing the font or display size changes how things appear on the screen. If the text begins to run together or only a few words appear at a time, try several sizes until you find the best balance between larger text and a layout that is still easy to use.
Having Selected Text Read Aloud
If you can see enough of the screen to select what you want read aloud, Select to Speak may be the easiest option. It lets you hear selected text without changing how you normally operate the entire phone.
1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
3. Look for Select to Speak and tap it.
4. Turn on the Select to Speak shortcut.
5. If your phone asks for permission to view the screen and read its contents, follow the prompts to allow it.
After it is turned on, an Accessibility button may appear near the bottom or side of the screen.
1. Open the application, webpage, message, or other content you want the phone to read.
2. Tap the Accessibility button.
3. Tap the text or item you want read aloud. You may also be able to drag your finger across several items or tap Play to hear everything visible on the screen.
4. Use the controls to pause, stop, move forward, or move backward.
If Select to Speak does not appear, search Settings for Select to Speak. You may also need to install or update the Android Accessibility Suite through the Google Play Store.
Having the Entire Screen Read Aloud with TalkBack
TalkBack can announce buttons, menus, notifications, messages, application content, and other items displayed on the screen.
1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
3. Tap TalkBack.
4. Turn on Use TalkBack.
5. Read or listen to the warning, confirm that you want to turn TalkBack on, and follow its tutorial.
TalkBack changes how you use the touchscreen. You usually tap an item once to hear what it is and then double-tap to open or select it. You may also need to use two fingers instead of one when scrolling.
Because TalkBack changes the phone’s controls, I strongly recommend completing its tutorial when you first turn it on. Do not wait until you urgently need the phone to learn how the new controls work.
On many Android phones, you can turn TalkBack on or off by pressing and holding both volume buttons for several seconds. The shortcut may need to be enabled first, and it may work differently depending on the phone.
Magnifying the Screen
Pinching two fingers apart can enlarge photographs, webpages, maps, and content in many applications, but pinch-to-zoom does not work everywhere. Android includes an accessibility option that can magnify the entire screen, including menus, buttons, and application controls.
1. Open Settings and tap Accessibility.
2. Look for Magnification and tap it.
3. Turn on the Magnification shortcut.
4. Choose how to activate it. Depending on your phone, you may be able to tap an Accessibility button, swipe upward with two fingers, or tap the screen three times.
5. After activating magnification, drag two fingers across the screen to move around.
6. Pinch two fingers together or spread them apart to change the amount of magnification.
If you cannot find the option, search Settings for magnification.
Using the Camera as a Magnifying Glass
Your phone’s camera can help you read restaurant menus, medicine bottles, price tags, printed instructions, and other small text.
1. Open the Camera application.
2. Point the camera at the text or object you want to enlarge.
3. Spread two fingers apart to zoom in, or pinch them together to zoom back out.
4. If it is difficult to hold the phone steady, take a picture and enlarge it afterward.
Some Android phones include a separate Magnifier application, but it is not available on every model. The regular Camera application can still enlarge nearby text and objects.
Other Android Display Options
- Bold text makes letters appear thicker.
- High-contrast or outline text can make words stand out from the background.
- Color correction may help people who have difficulty distinguishing certain colors.
- Dark mode displays light-colored text against a dark background.
- Color inversion reverses the colors displayed on the screen.
Most of these options are under Settings and Accessibility. Because names vary between Android phones, search Settings for bold text, contrast, color, or dark mode.
iPhone and iPad
These instructions should also be useful for Apple iPads. iPads use many of the same accessibility settings as iPhones, although the menus may look slightly different because of the larger screen. If you cannot find a setting, use the search box inside Settings and search for the feature’s name.
Finding iPhone Settings
1. Begin on the Home Screen. This is the main screen where you see your apps and background picture.
2. Look for the Settings app. Its icon is gray and looks like a set of gears.
3. If you cannot find it, swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen.
4. Type Settings into the search box, and then tap the Settings app.
Making Text Larger
1. Open Settings and tap Display & Brightness.
2. Tap Text Size.
3. Move the slider to the right to make the text larger or to the left to make it smaller.
4. Stop when the sample text is comfortable for you to read.
If the largest setting is still not big enough:
1. Return to Settings and tap Accessibility.
2. Tap Display & Text Size.
3. Tap Larger Text.
4. Turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes.
5. Move the slider to the right until the text is large enough to read comfortably.
Making Icons and Screen Items Larger with Display Zoom
1. Open Settings and tap Display & Brightness.
2. Scroll down and tap Display Zoom.
3. Select the larger display option.
4. Tap Done if asked to confirm the change.
Display Zoom makes icons, buttons, menus, and other items appear larger, not just the text. The exact wording may vary depending on your iPhone model and version of iOS. If you cannot find it, search Settings for text size, larger text, or display zoom.
Increasing the font or display size changes how things appear on the screen. If the text begins to run together or only a few words appear at a time, try several sizes until you find the best balance between larger text and a layout that is still easy to use.
Having Selected Text or the Screen Read Aloud
If you can see enough of the screen to select what you want read aloud, Speak Selection may be the easiest option. Speak Screen can read everything displayed on the screen.
1. Open Settings and tap Accessibility.
2. Tap Read & Speak. On an older iPhone, this option may be called Spoken Content.
3. Turn on Speak Selection if you want the phone to read only selected text.
4. Turn on Speak Screen if you want the phone to read everything displayed on the screen.
To use Speak Selection, select the text you want to hear and tap Speak when the menu appears.
To use Speak Screen, swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers. A controller will appear that lets you pause, move forward or backward, and adjust the reading speed. You may also be able to say, ‘Siri, speak screen.’
Having the Entire Screen Read Aloud with VoiceOver
VoiceOver can announce icons, buttons, menus, notifications, battery level, incoming callers, and other information displayed by the phone.
1. Open Settings and tap Accessibility.
2. Tap VoiceOver.
3. Turn on VoiceOver.
4. Use the VoiceOver Tutorial or practice area to learn its controls.
Important: VoiceOver changes the gestures used to operate the iPhone. Tapping an item selects it and reads its name aloud. You must then double-tap to open or activate it. Learn how to turn VoiceOver off before experimenting with it.
You can turn VoiceOver off by returning to Settings, Accessibility, and VoiceOver. You may also say, ‘Siri, turn off VoiceOver.’
Magnifying the Screen with Zoom
Apple calls its screen-magnification feature Zoom. It can enlarge the entire screen, including menus, buttons, and application controls.
1. Open Settings and tap Accessibility.
2. Tap Zoom and turn it on.
3. Double-tap the screen with three fingers to turn magnification on or off.
4. Drag three fingers across the screen to move around while it is magnified.
5. To change the magnification, double-tap with three fingers and keep them on the screen after the second tap. Drag upward to increase magnification or downward to decrease it.
Zoom changes some gestures. Remember that double-tapping with three fingers turns magnification off again.
Using the Camera or Magnifier Application
The regular Camera application can enlarge nearby text and objects.
1. Open Camera and point it at the text or object you want to enlarge.
2. Spread two fingers apart to zoom in, or pinch them together to zoom back out.
3. If it is easier, take a picture and enlarge it afterward.
The iPhone also includes a separate Magnifier application:
1. From the Home Screen, swipe down from the middle of the screen.
2. Type Magnifier into the search box and tap the Magnifier application.
3. Point the iPhone at the text or object you want to enlarge.
4. Move the slider to zoom in or out.
On supported iPhones, Magnifier can also detect nearby text and read it aloud.
Other iPhone Display Options
- Bold Text makes letters appear thicker.
- Increase Contrast can make items stand out more clearly from the background.
- Color Filters may help people who have difficulty distinguishing certain colors.
- Dark Mode displays light-colored text against a dark background.
- Smart Invert and Classic Invert reverse some or all of the colors displayed on the screen.
Most of these options are under Settings, Accessibility, and Display & Text Size. Dark Mode is under Settings and Display & Brightness.
Privacy When a Phone Reads Aloud
If larger text and icons are still not enough, Android phones and iPhones can read webpages, messages, notifications, menus, buttons, application content, and phone prompts aloud.
I have used this type of assistance myself. At one point, I was completely blind because of a detached retina in one eye and a cataract in the other. Having the phone read information aloud allowed me to continue using it when I could not see the screen.
I am not a big fan of using these features in public because other people may hear what the phone is reading. That is a security and privacy concern, especially when messages, notifications, or account information are read aloud. Headphones can help protect your privacy.
Not every setting will help every person. Try the options one at a time and keep the ones that make your phone more comfortable and easier to use.
Phone manufacturers, whether they were forced to or chose to do it on their own, have provided a great deal of assistance for those of us who are visually impaired. Honestly, other than it being a royal pain in the ass to figure out where these settings are and how to change them, I think they have done a very decent job.
Computer Accessibility
Now, let’s move on to computers. The methods are different from those used on phones and tablets, and the available options depend on whether you use a Windows computer or an Apple Mac. Both types include tools that can make text, icons, menus, and other items larger or read information aloud.
I once worked with a woman who was legally blind and used screen magnification to perform her job. She was excellent at her I.T. work. Poor eyesight does not mean that someone cannot use a computer or perform technical work. It may simply mean that the computer needs to be adjusted to meet that person’s needs.
Windows Computers
Making the Mouse Pointer Larger and Easier to See
The mouse pointer can be difficult to find when it is small or blends into the background. Windows allows you to make it larger and change its color.
This is one of the first settings I change on every computer I use. I can never find that sucker when it is set to the default size.
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard. It usually has a small Windows logo on it.
- Type mouse pointer.
- Select Mouse pointer and touch from the search results.
- Look for the Size slider.
- Move the slider to the right to make the pointer larger.
- Stop when the pointer is large enough for you to see comfortably.
You can also change the pointer’s color:
- Look under Mouse pointer style.
- Select the white, black, inverted, or colored pointer.
- Try the different choices until you find the one that is easiest to see against the backgrounds you normally use.
The inverted pointer automatically changes between light and dark as it moves across different backgrounds. This can make it easier to locate on the screen.
If you select the colored pointer, Windows will display several suggested colors. You may also be able to choose a custom color.
Your changes take effect immediately. You can move the mouse around the screen and test each size and color before deciding which combination works best for you.
Making Text and Other Screen Items Larger
Windows allows you to make only the text larger or enlarge everything displayed on the screen.
Making Only the Text Larger
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Type text size.
- Select Text size from the search results.
- Move the Text size slider to the right.
- Look at the sample text above the slider.
- Stop when the sample is comfortable for you to read.
- Select Apply.
Windows will make the text larger while leaving most icons, buttons, and other screen items at their current size.
Making Everything on the Screen Larger
If increasing the text size is not enough, you can also enlarge applications, icons, buttons, menus, and other screen items.
- Press the Windows key.
- Type display settings.
- Select Display settings from the search results.
- Scroll down until you find Scale.
- Open the menu beside Scale.
- Select a larger percentage, such as 125% or 150%.
The screen will change immediately. Try the available percentages until you find the size that is easiest to see and still allows enough information to fit on the screen.
Windows may mark one percentage as Recommended. You can safely try another available setting and return to the recommended setting if the screen becomes too large.
Changing Colors and Contrast
Text, buttons, and other screen items can be difficult to see when their colors blend into the background. Windows includes contrast themes that make these items stand out more clearly.
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Type contrast themes.
- Select Contrast themes from the search results.
- Find the menu labeled Contrast themes.
- Select one of the available themes.
- Look at the preview to see how the colors will appear.
- Select Apply.
The screen may briefly change while Windows applies the new colors.
Try the different themes until you find one that makes the text, buttons, links, and background easiest for you to see.
To return to the normal Windows colors:
- Return to the Contrast themes settings.
- Select None from the Contrast themes menu.
- Select Apply.
You can also turn a contrast theme on or off by pressing the left Alt, left Shift, and Print Screen keys at the same time. On some keyboards, the Print Screen key may be labeled PrtSc.
Using Screen Magnification
Windows includes a tool called Magnifier. It enlarges text, pictures, menus, and other items displayed on the screen.
The easiest way to start Magnifier is with the keyboard:
- Hold down the Windows key.
- While holding it down, press the plus (+) key.
- Release both keys.
Magnifier will open and enlarge the screen.
To increase the magnification:
- Hold down the Windows key.
- Press the plus (+) key again.
- Repeat this until the screen is large enough for you to see comfortably.
To decrease the magnification:
- Hold down the Windows key.
- Press the minus (-) key.
When the screen is magnified, move the mouse pointer around the screen. Magnifier will follow the pointer and display the area surrounding it.
To close Magnifier and return the screen to normal:
- Hold down the Windows key.
- Press the Esc key.
The Esc key is usually located near the upper-left corner of the keyboard.
You can also use the plus and minus buttons on the Magnifier controls to increase or decrease the magnification.
Enlarging Webpages
Most web browsers allow you to enlarge the text, pictures, and other items displayed on a webpage.
To enlarge a webpage:
- Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
- While holding it down, press the plus (+) key.
- Release both keys.
- Repeat these steps until the webpage is large enough for you to see comfortably.
To make the webpage smaller:
- Hold down the Ctrl key.
- Press the minus (-) key.
To return the webpage to its normal size:
- Hold down the Ctrl key.
- Press the 0 key.
These shortcuts normally enlarge only the webpage. They do not change the size of everything else displayed by Windows.
Some browsers remember the size you selected for a website. The webpage may still appear enlarged the next time you visit it.
Having Windows Read Text Aloud
Windows includes a screen reader called Narrator. It can read menus, buttons, notifications, webpages, documents, and other information displayed on the screen.
Narrator may change how you interact with some items and uses keyboard commands you may not recognize. Learn how to turn it off before experimenting with it.
To turn on Narrator:
- Hold down the Windows key and the Ctrl key.
- While holding both keys, press the Enter key.
- Release all three keys.
Narrator will begin speaking. The first time it opens, you may see the Narrator Home screen.
- Select QuickStart or Learn Narrator basics if you want Windows to explain how to use Narrator.
- Follow the instructions provided by Narrator.
As you move through menus, applications, and webpages, Narrator will read the selected items aloud.
To turn Narrator off:
- Hold down the Windows key and the Ctrl key.
- Press the Enter key again.
If you use Narrator in a public place, consider wearing headphones. Narrator may read messages, notifications, account information, and other private information aloud.
Using Browser Reading Tools
Some web browsers include tools that can read a webpage aloud or remove distracting items from the screen. These tools may be easier to use than turning on a complete screen reader.
Microsoft Edge is included with Windows and provides a feature called Read aloud.
To have Edge read a webpage aloud:
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Go to the webpage you want to hear.
- Hold down the Ctrl key and the Shift key.
- While holding both keys, press the U key.
- Release all three keys.
Edge will begin reading the webpage aloud. A toolbar will appear near the top of the browser.
Use the toolbar to:
- Pause or continue reading.
- Move to the previous or next section.
- Change the reading speed.
- Select a different voice.
To stop Read aloud, press Ctrl + Shift + U again.
You can also start Read aloud with the mouse:
- Right-click an empty area of the webpage.
- Select Read aloud from the menu.
Microsoft Edge also includes a reading mode that removes many advertisements, menus, and other distracting items from a webpage.
To try reading mode:
- Open the webpage you want to read.
- Press the F9 key.
- Press F9 again when you want to return to the normal webpage.
Reading mode is not available on every webpage. If nothing happens when you press F9, that particular page may not support it.
Apple Mac Computers
Making the Mouse Pointer Larger and Easier to See
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Click System Settings.
- Click Accessibility in the left-hand menu. You may need to scroll down to find it.
- Click Display.
- Scroll down to the Pointer section.
- Drag the Pointer size slider to the right until the pointer is large enough to see comfortably.
You can also change the pointer outline color and pointer fill color to make it stand out better against the screen.
Turn on Shake mouse pointer to locate. When you quickly move the mouse back and forth—or move your finger quickly across the trackpad—the pointer will temporarily become larger, making it easier to find.
Making Text and Other Screen Items Larger
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Click System Settings.
- Click Displays in the left-hand menu.
- Look for the display size options.
- Click Larger Text to make text, icons, menus, and other items on the screen appear larger.
- Try the available sizes until you find one that is comfortable to use.
Choosing Larger Text may reduce how much information fits on the screen, but everything will be easier to see.
Changing Colors and Contrast
You can adjust colors, contrast, and other display settings to make items on the screen easier to distinguish.
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Click System Settings.
- Click Accessibility in the left-hand menu.
- Click Display.
- Adjust any of the following options:
- Turn on Increase contrast to make buttons, borders, and other screen items stand out more clearly.
- Turn on Reduce transparency to make menus and backgrounds easier to see.
- Turn on Invert colors to reverse the colors displayed on the screen.
- Turn on Differentiate without color if you have difficulty distinguishing certain colors.
- Turn on Color filters to adjust colors for different types of color blindness or to add a color tint.
Try the options individually until you find the combination that makes the screen easiest for you to see.
Using Screen Magnification
Mac computers include a Zoom tool that enlarges text and graphics and can follow the pointer as you move around the screen.
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Click System Settings.
- Click Accessibility in the left-hand menu.
- Click Zoom.
- Turn on Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom.
Use these keyboard shortcuts:
- Press Option + Command + 8 to turn Zoom on or off.
- Press Option + Command + Plus (+) to zoom in.
- Press Option + Command + Minus (-) to zoom out.
You can also turn on Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom. Hold down the selected key—usually Control—while scrolling with the mouse or trackpad to zoom in or out.
Under Zoom style, you can choose to magnify the entire screen, use a split screen, or enlarge only the area around the pointer.
Enlarging Webpages
Most web browsers let you enlarge the text and other items on a webpage using the keyboard.
- Press Command + Plus (+) to make the webpage larger.
- Press Command + Minus (-) to make the webpage smaller.
- Press Command + 0 to return the webpage to its normal size.
You can press Command + Plus (+) several times until the webpage is comfortable to read.
Having a Mac Read Text Aloud
Apple’s built-in screen reader is called VoiceOver. It can read menus, buttons, notifications, webpages, documents, and other information aloud.
To turn on VoiceOver:
- Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Click System Settings.
- Click Accessibility in the left-hand menu.
- Click VoiceOver.
- Turn on VoiceOver.
You can also press Command + F5 to turn VoiceOver on or off. On some Mac keyboards, you may need to press Command + Fn + F5.
The first time you turn it on, you can choose Open VoiceOver Training to learn the basic commands and practice using the screen reader.
Using Browser Reading Tools
Some web browsers include a reading mode or read-aloud feature. These tools can remove distracting parts of a webpage, make an article easier to see, or read it aloud without requiring you to activate a full screen reader.
Safari
- Open the webpage you want to read.
- Click the Page menu button on the left side of the address bar.
- Click Show Reader.
- Use the controls in the address bar to change the text size, font, or background color.
Reader is available only on webpages that Safari recognizes as articles.
Google Chrome
- Open the webpage you want to read.
- Right-click an empty area of the page.
- Click Open in reading mode.
- Use the controls to change the text size, font, spacing, or background color.
- Click the Play button to have Chrome read the text aloud.
You can also open Reading mode by pressing Command + Option + R.
Reading tools may not be available on every webpage.