How to Display Messages in a Larger Font in Mac OS X Mail

OS X Mail can display emails at a larger size for easier reading.

Small Is Difficult

If I have to read something complicated (interesting), I have to read it aloud, and I have to see it in large letters.

Fortunately, Apple's Mac OS X Mail has a nice way of displaying a message in a bigger font.

Display Messages in a Larger Font in Mac OS X Mail

To read an email in a larger font in Mac OS X Mail:

1. Open the message in the preview pane.

1. Press Command-+.
   • Alternatively, you can select Format | Style | Bigger (Format | Font | Bigger in Mac OS X Mail 1.x) from the menu.

Return to a Smaller Font in OS X Mail

To go back to a smaller font in OS X Mail:

1. Press Command--.

Make Everything Bigger in Mac OS X

To see everything—including images, interface fonts and toolbars—enlarged in Mac OS X Mail:

• Press Command-Option-8 to turn on OS X zoom.
• Press Command-Option-+ to zoom in.
  • If OS X does not zoom, press Command-Option-8 again to make sure the universal access feature is enabled.
  • To zoom out, press Command-Option--.
  • To return to the original display, press Command-Option-8.

(Updated March 2016, tested with OS X Mail 9)