How to Make the Text on Your iPhone Bigger So It's Easier to Read
July 17, 2026 · by Porchswing Technology
Remember when the newspaper started printing the crossword clues in smaller and smaller type each year? Or when you had to hold a menu at arm's length to make out the specials? Squinting at your iPhone doesn't have to be part of the deal. There's a setting tucked away that makes the words on your screen larger — in your messages, your email, your contacts, and most other places you read.
It takes about a minute to change, and you can always change it back. Here's how.
Finding the Setting
Start on your home screen — the screen with all the little squares (called apps). Look for the one labeled Settings. It's gray, with what looks like a gear or cogwheel on it. Tap it once.
A long list will appear. Scroll down by dragging your finger up the screen until you see Display & Brightness. Tap that.
On the next screen, look for Text Size and tap it. You've arrived.
Making the Words Bigger
You'll see a slider along the bottom of the screen — a line with a little round button on it, a bit like the volume knob on an old radio. There are small letters on the left and large letters on the right.
Put your finger on the round button and slide it to the right. As you do, the sample words on the screen grow larger. Slide until the text looks comfortable to read — not so big that only a few words fit on a line, but big enough that you're not squinting.
When you like what you see, simply press the button on the bottom of your phone, or swipe up from the bottom of the screen, to leave Settings. Your choice is saved automatically. No "Save" button to hunt for.
Trying It Out
Open your Messages app and take a look. The text should be noticeably larger. Open Mail — same thing. The change carries through most of the apps Apple makes, and many others too.
If it's still not quite big enough, you can go one step further. Go back to Settings, then tap Accessibility (also in the main Settings list), then Display & Text Size, then Larger Text. At the top of that screen is a switch labeled Larger Accessibility Sizes. Tap it once so it turns green. Now the slider at the bottom lets you push the text even bigger than before.
If You Change Your Mind
Nothing here is permanent. If the text ends up too large — sometimes buttons get cut off, or you have to scroll more than you'd like — just go back the way you came and slide the button back toward the left. Give yourself permission to fiddle with it until it feels right. You're not going to break anything.
One Thing to Try Today
Open Settings, tap Display & Brightness, then Text Size, and nudge that slider two notches to the right. Then open a text message from someone you love and see how it reads. If it's better, leave it alone. If it's too much, slide it back one notch. Your eyes will thank you at the end of the day.
Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.