How to zoom in on the screen on a Mac

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 4 October 2026

Short answer

Open System Settings, click Accessibility, then Zoom, and switch on Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom. Then press Option, Command and 8 to switch zoom on or off, Option, Command and = to zoom in, and Option, Command and - to zoom out.

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS Tahoe 26
App: System Settings
Path: System Settings › Accessibility › Zoom
Real screenshots: 6 of 6 steps
Checked: October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Zoom enlarges everything on the screen, or only the area around the pointer, without changing the resolution. All three ways of zooming are off at first: by keyboard, by trackpad gesture, and by scrolling while you hold a key.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Step by step

Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Done
Click Accessibility, then Zoom
Accessibility is in the sidebar on the left. Zoom is in the Vision group on the right. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.
Done
Switch on Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom
The shortcuts are listed under the switch: toggle zoom with Option, Command, 8. Zoom in with Option, Command and the equals key. Zoom out with Option, Command and the minus key.
Done
Or zoom with the trackpad
Use trackpad gesture to zoom: double-tap with three fingers to switch zoom on or off, and double-tap with three fingers and drag to change the zoom.
Done
Or zoom by scrolling
Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom: hold the chosen key and scroll with the trackpad or mouse. The key is Control at first. You can change it to Option or Command in the row below.
Done
Choose the zoom style
Full Screen enlarges the whole screen. According to Apple, Split Screen enlarges a custom area of the screen, and Picture-in-Picture only the area where the pointer is.
Done