Table Of Contents:
Did you know your Mac offered a “Smart Zoom” feature that you can use on your mouse or trackpad? Well, you will be amazed to know that there are multiple ways to zoom in or zoom out on Mac with a mouse, trackpad, and keyboard. In this post, we will be discussing all these methods that will help you in being productive while using your Mac.
Among all the great features that are offered on Mac, zooming is a useful accessibility feature. It makes navigation easier on macOS, especially if you are working on precise details on complex images, maps, documents, presentations, or for simply viewing websites.
The zoom-out zoom-in feature on Mac is also helpful in video conferencing as it allows users to focus on specific details or show a wider view of their surroundings. This can be useful for creating a more engaging and interactive experience for remote participants.
Let’s get started and learn how to zoom in and zoom out of Mac using different methods to make it easier to see what’s on the screen of your device.
How to Zoom In and Zoom Out On Mac With Mouse, Trackpad & Keyboard Shortcut
There are several methods to use the zoom feature on Mac that can be performed via keyboard shortcuts, trackpad, hover text, and mouse. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can zoom in and zoom out on your Mac.
Method 1: Use the Mouse
- Go to System Preferences: Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen and select “System Preferences“.
- Open Accessibility: In System Preferences, select “Accessibility“.
- Choose Mouse & Trackpad: In the Accessibility window, select “Mouse & Trackpad” from the left-side menu.
- Enable Scrolling Zoom: Scroll down to the “Zoom” section, and check the box next to “Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom“. You can also choose which modifier key you want to use by selecting either “Option” or “Control” from the drop-down menu.
To zoom in and zoom out on Mac with a mouse, you simply have to press the modifier key and then scroll up to zoom in and scroll down to zoom out.
Recommended: “MacBook Other Storage is Huge”: How To Reduce It?
Method 2: Zoom in and Zoom out with Apple’s Magic Mouse
If you use Apple’s magic mouse on your Mac then follow the below-listed steps to zoom in and zoom out on your Mac.
Tap on the Apple icon and select “System Preferences”. Tap on “Mouse”.
Check on the “Smart Zoom” feature in case it was not enabled by default. Once you enable the smart zoom feature on your device, double-tap with one finger on the magic mouse to zoom in and double-tap again to zoom out.
Method 3: Use the Keyboard Shortcuts
The easiest and most straightforward way to zoom in and out on your Mac is by using keyboard shortcuts. To zoom in within a single window, you can simply press the Command and “+: key combination. To zoom out, use the Command and “-” key combinations.
In fact, you can even set up keyboard shortcuts to zoom in and zoom out on Mac within the entire Mac screen. Here’s what you need to do:
Tap on the Apple icon placed on the top menu bar and select “System Preferences”.
Tap on “Accesibility”. In the Accessibility window, switch to the “Zoom” section from the left menu pane.
Check on the “Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom” option.
Once you enable this option in Settings, you need to simply press the Option + Command + Plus icon. Similarly, to zoom out on Mac, press the Option + Command + Minus key icon.
Also, to disable the zoom functionalities on macOS, press the Option + Command + 8 key combination on your Mac’s keyboard.
Read Also: How To Find The Largest Files On Mac – Top 5 Ways
Method 4: Use the Trackpad
Not too fond of using keyboard shortcuts? Here’s another method to zoom in and zoom out on Mac using your trackpad. If your Mac has a trackpad, you can also use pinch gestures to zoom in and out.
To zoom in, place two fingers on the trackpad and move them apart. To zoom out, place two fingers on the trackpad and move them together. This is a convenient way to zoom in and out, especially if you don’t want to use keyboard shortcuts.
To enable the Touch Bar on Zoom on the entire Mac screen, follow these quick steps:
Tap on the Apple icon placed on the top menu bar and select “System Preferences”. Select “Accessibility”. Switch to the “Zoom” section and then check on the “Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom” option.
Now, press the assigned modifier key and simply scroll up on the trackpad to zoom in. To zoom out, press the modifier key and scroll down. That’s it, folks!
Read Also: How To Completely Wipe A MacBook Without Password Before Selling
Method 5: Magnify the Screen with Hover Text Feature
The hover text feature on Mac is part of the Accessibility features built into the operating system. It allows you to display a magnified version of the text or other elements on the screen when you hover your Mac’s cursor over them.
To enable the hover text feature on Mac, follow these quick steps:
Tap on the Apple icon and select “System Preferences”. Select “Accessibility and then switch to the “Zoom” section. Check on the “Enable Hover Text” option.
Once you enable this feature in Settings, you must press the Command key and then point the cursor on the object to zoom in.
Conclusion
As a Mac user, you may across several situations where you might want to benefit from the zoom features. The zoom-in and zoom-out features can be very useful for a wide range of tasks and applications, as they provide greater flexibility and control over the level of detail displayed on a screen.
You can use any of the above-listed ways to zoom in and zoom out on Mac with a mouse, trackpad, keyboard, and other methods.
Whether you’re trying to read an article on a website, working on precise details, or just need a closer look at something, these methods will help you adjust the zoom level on your Mac. Which method do you usually prefer to access the zooming functionalities on Mac? Feel free to share your answers in the comments box.
Next Read:
How To Screenshot On Mac And Crop
How To Fix Verification Failed This Apple Id Is Not Active
Priyanka is a tech enthusiast who likes to write about different kinds of topics in the tech industry. She has expertise in writing problem-solving guides related to Mac computers. You can find her on LinkedIn.