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How to display words in larger text as you type in macOS 15 Sequoia

How to display words in larger text as you type in macOS 15 Sequoia

Hover Typing is a companion feature to Hover Text. Hover Text magnifies any text on the screen that is currently under the pointer. To learn more about using Hover Text, see our guide How to magnify text when you hover the pointer over it in macOS 15 Sequoia.

Short guide:

  1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen and select System Settings.
  2. Click Accessibility in the sidebar.
  3. Select Hover Text from the list of Accessibility options on the right.
  4. Turn on the toggle switch for Hover Typing.
  5. To change the settings for Hover Typing, click the i button next to the toggle switch.

Before and after

Illustrations showing text being written before and after Hover Typing has been turned on

This section gives you step by step instructions on how to hear the item currently under the pointer spoken aloud in macOS 15 Sequoia, with pictures of the screens to help.

Open System Settings

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings from the menu.

Open the Accessibility settings

2. In the System Settings window, click Accessibility in the sidebar.

Find the Hover Text settings

3. Select Hover Text from the list of Accessibility options on the right.

Turn on Hover Typing

4. Click the toggle switch for Hover Typing to turn it on.

Using Hover Typing

6. Now, whenever you are typing, the Hover Typing window will appear and show what you are typing in a larger font size.

By default, the Hover Typing window appears close to where you are typing. You can change where the window is positioned, as well as the font, font size, and colours. These are covered in the settings section, below.

Change the settings for Hover Typing

7. Click the i (show detail) button next to the Hover Typing toggle switch.

Change the text size

8. To change the size of the text shown in the Hover Typing window, choose a new size from the Text size selector.

Change the font

9. To change the font used for Hover Typing, choose from the options in the Text Font drop-down menu.

Choose where the Hover Typing is positioned on the screen

10. By default, the Hover Typing window is positioned near to the line you are currently typing. You can change the position to Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right, or Custom. Custom allows you to position the window anywhere on the screen. Click the drop-down menu for Text entry location and choose from the options.

Change the Hover Typing colours

11. C­hoose the colours for each element of Hover Typing from the options in the Colours section.

Save your Hover Typing settings

12. When you are happy with your settings, click the Done button.

Close System Settings

13. When you have finished, close System Settings by clicking the Close button (red circle) in the top-left corner of the window or using the Cmd + W keyboard shortcut.

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings are managed by someone else (an IT department or administrator for example). If so, you will need to contact them to access these settings or for help.

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Call our helpline 0300 180 0028 or email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk

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