Magnifier shortcut: zoom the whole screen
Enlarge everything on screen: press Win and + (plus) on Windows to start Magnifier, or ⌥⌘8 on Mac to toggle Zoom. Then use + and - to zoom in and out.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turn screen zoom / Magnifier on | ⌥⌘8 | Win++ | |
| Zoom in | ⌥⌘+ | Win++ | |
| Zoom out | ⌥⌘- | Win+- | |
| Turn it off | ⌥⌘8 | Win+Esc |
Magnify the whole screen on Windows
Press Win and + (plus) together to switch on the built-in Magnifier. Once it is running, Win++ zooms in further and Win+- zooms out. Press Win+Esc to close Magnifier completely. You can change the view (full screen, lens or docked) with Ctrl+Alt+F/L/D.
Zoom the screen on Mac
macOS calls this feature Zoom. First enable it in System Settings → Accessibility → Zoom → Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom. Then press ⌥⌘8 to toggle zoom on and off, ⌥⌘+ (Option-Command-plus) to zoom in and ⌥⌘- to zoom out. You can also hold Ctrl and scroll to zoom if that option is enabled.
When to use it
Screen magnification helps with small text, presentations and detailed design work. It differs from page zoom (Ctrl/⌘ and +) because it enlarges the entire display, including menus, the cursor and other apps.
FAQ
What is the Magnifier shortcut on Windows?
Press Win and + (plus) to start Magnifier. Use Win++ and Win+- to zoom in and out, and Win+Esc to turn it off.
How do I zoom the whole screen on a Mac?
Enable Zoom in System Settings → Accessibility → Zoom, then press ⌥⌘8 to toggle it, and ⌥⌘+ / ⌥⌘- to zoom in and out.
Is screen magnifier the same as page zoom?
No. Magnifier/Zoom enlarges the entire display including menus and the cursor. Page zoom (Ctrl/⌘ with + or -) only resizes the content inside one app or browser tab.