Getting Started with the Accessibility Zoom Feature for Mac
The Zoom feature on Mac allows a user to magnify anything on the display at any time in any application. You can enlarge the display entirely or in a resizable window. This article will go over how to setup, enable, use, and disable Zoom.
Locate and Setup
- Open Settings
- Clcik Accessibility
- Click Zoom
- Toggle on Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Zoom
- (Optional) Toggle on Use Trackpad Gestures to Zoom
Use Zoom
-
Keyboard Shortcuts:
‣ Toggle Zoom: ⌥⌘8
‣ Increase Magnification: ⌥⌘=
‣ Decrease Magnification: ⌥⌘− -
Use Trackpad Gestures
‣ Toggle Zoom: Doube-tap with three fingers.
‣ Adjust Magnification: Double-tap and drag up or down with three fingers to adjust magnification. -
Scroll Gesture with Modifier Key*
‣ Press and hold the Modifier Key*, then swipe up and down with two fingers to adjust magnification.
* Set the modifier key to ⌃, ⌥, or ⌘ in the Zoom settings
Zoom Style
You can choose how Zoom works to best meet your needs.
- Full Screen: Magnifies the entire display.
- Picture-in-Picture: Magnifies content in a small moving window.
- Split Screen: Magnifies content in the upper half of the display.
- Choose Display: If you have multiple displays, you can choose which displays can magnify with Zoom.
Advanced Settings
There are many settings you can adjust for Zoom listed and explained below:
Appearance
- Zoomed Image Moves
‣ Continuously with Pointr
‣ When Pointer Reaches Edge
‣ To Keep Pointer Centered - Restore Zoom Factor on Startup: this restores the magnification level last used when the Mac starts up.
- Smooth Images: macOS will try to depixelize the image when enlarging content.
- Flash Screen When Notification Banner Appears Outside Zoom View: this is a way to be alerted of an incoming notification while using Zoom.
- Disable Universal Control while zoomed in: Zoom key strokes and gestures can interfere with other controls, enabling this setting blocks all other key strokes that may use the same combination of keys for other actions.
- Zoom Each Display Independently: if you use mutliple displays such as external monitors to expand your desktop space, you can sync Zoom across all of the displays or allow them to magnify content independently from each other.
- Show Zoomed Image While Screen Sharing: disabling this feature does not allow others to see your content enlarged while sharing your screen in video calls or TVs you may mirror your computer to.
Controls
Enable and adjust the controls for Zoom
-
Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Adjust Zoom Window
‣ Split Screen or Picture-in-Picture
‣ Resize Zoom Window: : ⌃⌥⌘ arrow-keys
‣ Shift Zoom Window: ⌥⌘ arrow-keys
‣ Full Zoom
‣ Shift Zoom Window: ⌥⌘ arrow-keys - Set Range for Rapid Zooming In and Out: Adjust the amout at which magnification level is adjusted with the Maxium Zoom and Minimum Zoom sliders.
Follow Focus
This feature keeps the magnification window focused on the text editing cursor.
- Follow Keyboard Focus: You can set this feature to Always or When Typing or disable it.
- Move Screen Image: set when the window should move to stay focused on the text cursor.
- Movement Speed
Shortcuts
Setup more shortcuts to toggle between zoom styles and more.
- Toggle Between Full Screen and Picture-in-Picture: switch between zoom styles with a customizable key stroke.
- Move Cursor to Next Monitor: switch between monitors with a customizable key stroke or trackpad gestures.
Modifiers for Temporary Actions
Setup key strokes for temporary magnification. Pressing and holding a custom set key combination will temporarily magnify content until the user lets up on the keys.
Last updated: May 30, 2025
Reference the original support article by Apple here: Zoom in on What's Onscreen on Mac - Apple Support
All references to Apple Inc. and their products and services are trade-marked and are used in these articles for educational purposes.