How to Use the iPhone Magnifying Glass

Your iPhone makes it easy to read the fine print

by
Jordan Baranowski
Jordan Baranowski
Writer
Jordan Baranowski is a former Lifewire writer and educator with experience writing for SVG, The Nerd Stash, and Feast Magazine.
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Jordan Baranowski
Updated on June 24, 2021

What to Know

  • To turn on, open Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier > toggle on (green).
  • Easiest way to access, press Home button three times. No Home button? Press the Side button three times, then select Magnifier.
  • To access via Control Center, go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls > green + next to Magnifier.

This article explains how to use the Magnifier on an iPhone. Instructions apply to iOS 11 and newer.

If you've been to a restaurant and had trouble seeing the menu descriptions, the iPhone Magnifier may be the fix you need. Switch on a few accessibility options and activate it whenever you need. Here's how to access the iPhone's magnifying glass option.

How to Turn on the iPhone Magnifier?

Before you can use the Magnifier, you'll need to adjust a few accessibility options on your phone.

  1. Open the Settings app and select Accessibility > Magnifier.

  2. Select the Magnifier toggle switch to turn it on (green). This adds it as an option to open when you want to use it.

    Magnifier toggle in iOS Settings

How to Access the iPhone Magnifier Once Enabled

There are two ways to use Magnifier after you switch it on. The first is through quick access.

Quick Access

If your iPhone or iPad has a Home button, press it three times to display the Magnifier slider. Use the slider to adjust the magnification levels. If you have a newer device without a Home button, press the Side button three times, then select Magnifier.

To turn the Magnifier off, press the same button you used to launch it.

Control Center

You can also add the Magnifier to the Control Center and access it from there.

  1. Select Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls.

  2. Select the green + icon next to the Magnifier to add it to Control Center.

    Control Center, Customize Controls, Magnifier button in iOS Settings

  3. Open Control Center, then tap the Magnifier icon to open it.

    Magnifier icon in iOS Control Center

What Options Are Available in the iPhone Magnifier?

There are a few options you can use within the Magnifier:

  • Freeze, Zoom, and Save: Select the icon in the lower center of the screen to freeze the image. Use the slider to zoom in or out. Or, tap and hold on the screen, and tap either Save image or Share. Tap the same icon again to unfreeze the image.
  • Filters: Tap the Filters icon in the lower-right corner to adjust the Magnifier screen. Swipe across the filters until you find one you like, adjust the brightness or contrast with the sliders, or tap the icon in the lower-left corner to invert the colors.
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