Making Your Mac Easier to See: Bigger Text, Larger Mouse Pointer and a Clearer Screen

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If your Mac is becoming harder to see, a few gentle changes can make it much more comfortable. You can make the pointer larger, make writing easier to read, make the Dock clearer and calm down a busy-looking screen.

This guide is for older Mac users, and for family members helping someone else. The steps only use System Settings. Take your time. You can change these settings back later if they do not suit you.

First, open System Settings

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
  2. Click System Settings.
  3. Use the list on the left-hand side of the window.

1. Make the mouse pointer larger

The small arrow can be easy to lose, especially on a large iMac or external screen.

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Click Accessibility.
  3. Click Display.
  4. Find the Pointer section.
  5. Move Pointer size to the right until it is easier to see.

On the same screen, turn on Shake mouse pointer to locate if you want the pointer to briefly grow when you wiggle the mouse or move quickly on the trackpad.

2. Make text larger

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Click Accessibility.
  3. Click Display.
  4. Look for Text size.
  5. Choose a larger size if your Mac offers the option.

Some apps, such as Mail, Messages, Notes and Finder, may have their own text size choices. If only one app is hard to read, adjust that app first.

3. Make everything on the screen bigger

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Click Displays.
  3. Look for the display size choices.
  4. Choose Larger Text, or the option that makes items on screen look larger.
  5. Wait a moment for the screen to adjust.

The wording varies slightly between Macs. If the first choice does not feel right, choose another. Nothing here is dangerous.

4. Make the Dock easier to see

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Click Desktop & Dock.
  3. Move the Size slider to make the Dock icons larger.
  4. If you like, turn on Magnification so icons grow when the pointer moves over them.

If magnification feels distracting, leave it switched off and simply make the Dock a little bigger.

5. Make the screen calmer

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Click Accessibility.
  3. Click Display.
  4. Try Reduce transparency if menus look faint.
  5. Try Increase contrast if buttons and writing need to stand out more.
  6. Try Reduce motion if movement on screen feels distracting.

Try one change at a time. If it does not help, switch it off again.

A sensible starting point

  • a slightly larger pointer
  • larger text
  • a display setting that makes screen items bigger
  • a slightly larger Dock
  • less transparency if the screen looks too pale

Small changes are usually best. The aim is to make the Mac easier to see, easier to follow and less tiring to use.

Need help making a Mac easier to use?

If you or a family member is struggling with a Mac, Apple Mac Man can help set it up properly and explain everything in plain English.

Ask about remote Mac help or contact Apple Mac Man.

Useful Apple help pages

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