U.S. Department of Justice
Americans with Disabilities Act
To Change Text Size
Most Web browsers include functionality to let you increase or decrease the text in a Web page. For example, to
increase text size:
Browser
Example
Menu
Items
Macintosh
Shortcut
Windows
Shortcut
Internet
Explorer
View >
Text
Size >
Largest
.
.
Firefox,
Netscape
View >
Text
Size >
Increase
Command+
Ctrl++
+
Opera
View >
Zoom >
%
Command+
or
0
Safari
View >
Make
Text
Bigger
Command+
.
Why doesn't this work with some other websites?
The browser settings on this page should work when browsers and websites meet WAI guidelines and are
designed for accessibility, flexibility, and user control. However, some browsers do not provide as much user
control, and some websites are designed to defeat browser settings. Text resizing does not work well in browsers
and websites that do not meet accessibility guidelines.

In Internet Explorer Version 6 and earlier, the text may not resize because the Web site is designed with
"hard-coded" or "absolute" text sizes. To override Web site setting:
1. Menu items: Tools > Internet Options
2. In Internet Options dialog box: Accessibility button (bottom right)
3. In Accessibility dialog box:
[/] Ignore colors specified on Web pages
[/] Ignore font styles specified on Web pages
[/] Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages


In Firefox early versions, the text should resize even if the Web site text is not "coded" for flexibility.
However the sections of the Web site may not resize, making it difficult to use the site with large text. This
is because the Web site was designed with "hard-coded" or "absolute" sizes. Firefox does not resize
images.
Opera resizes all aspects of a Web site, including font, images, and sections. Resizing should work fairly
well in Opera, even if the Web site is not "coded" for flexibility.
For a Plain Layout View
Turning off the style sheet gives a plain layout view, which:




makes text black on a white background (or however your browser is set)
puts all the information in one column (called "linearized")
leaves content images
removes background images
Browser
Example
Menu Items
Firefox
View >
Page Style >
No Style
Opera
View >
Style >
User Mode
Other Text and Color Changes
Many browsers provide functionality to set different aspects of font and color. Below are examples of how to
access this functionality.
Browser
Example
To access functionality:
Windows Menu items:Tools >
Options
Macintosh Menu items: Firefox >
Preferences
Firefox
In dialog box: General (in the left
pane), Fonts & Colors (button)
Opera
.
Windows Menu items: Tools >
Preferences
Macintosh Menu items: Opera >
Preferences
In dialog box: Fonts and Page
Style (in the left pane)