How to magnify the screen in Windows 8.1

Method 1: Using the 'Ease of Access Center' in the Control Panel

This method has more configuration options than Method 2, but it is recommended for users with a keyboard and/or a mouse – the interactive elements are small and therefore difficult to tap. If you are using a tablet or a phone, you will probably prefer Method 2.

To open the 'Ease of Access Center' in the Control Panel

• Press the 'Windows' key + U.

Or

• Move the mouse pointer to the upper right hand corner of the screen to reveal the charms.
• Click on the 'Search' charm – the one with the magnification glass icon.
• Type the query 'Ease of Access Center' in the search box (Fig 1).
• Click on the button 'Ease of Access Center'.

Figure 1: Using the search to go to the Ease of Access Center

Figure 2: Ease of Access CenterTo start Magnifier

From the 'Ease of Access Center':

• Under 'Quick Access to common tools' press ‘Alt’ + ‘G’ or click to select ‘Start Magnifier’ (Fig 3).

Figure 3

To start Magnifier at login

• Click on ‘Make computer easier to see’, under ‘Explore all settings’.
• Check ‘Turn on Magnifier’, under ‘Make things on the screen larger’ (Fig 4).
• Click on ‘OK’.

Figure 4

To use the Magnifier options

Once the Magnifier is on, a quick shortcut to increase or decrease the zoom level is to press the ‘Windows’ key + ‘+’ (plus) or ‘–’ (minus) keys.

Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 features three modes of Magnification:

• Full Screen Magnification
• Magnifying Lens
• Docked

Full Screen Magnification Mode

When the Magnifier starts, you will notice a magnifying glass icon appears on screen (Fig 5).

Figure 5

Clicking on this gives access to the magnifier options dialog (Fig 6).

Figure 6

• Clicking on the ‘Minus’ button reduces the level of magnification or press the ‘Windows’ key + ‘–’ (minus). Click the ‘Plus’ button to increase the magnification or press ‘Windows’ key + ‘+’ (plus).
• To select ‘Full Screen’, click on ‘Views’ to open the menu (Fig 7). Select ‘Full Screen’ or press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘Alt’ + ‘F’.

Figure 7

The options button is the one to the right of ‘Views’ and clicking on this opens the dialogue in Fig 8.

Figure 8

Clicking and ticking the various options will turn on the specific feature or press:

• ‘Alt’ + ‘I’ - Turn on colour inversion
• ‘Alt’ + ‘M’ - Follow the mouse pointer
• ‘Alt’ + ‘K’ - Follow the keyboard focus
• ‘Alt’ + ‘T’ - Have magnifier follow the insertion point

Fig 9 gives an impression of how the screen appears in ‘Full Screen’ mode.

Figure 9

Lens Mode

• To change to Lens, click the ‘Lens’ option in the ‘Views’ menu or press ‘Ctrl’ + ‘Alt’ + ‘L’ (Fig 10).

Figure 10

• The options in Lens mode are slightly different, in that the size of the lens can be altered.
• In the ‘Magnifier Lens Size’ box, click and drag the size bars to make the adjustments or press ‘Tab’ until the relevant adjustment slider is highlighted. Use either the up or down arrow keys for the height and the left or right arrows for the width adjustments (Fig 11).

Method 2: Using the 'Ease of Access Center' in the PC settings

This method is recommended for users with touch enabled devices such as tablets or phones.

To open the 'Ease of Access' section in PC settings

• Move the mouse pointer to the upper right hand corner of the screen to reveal the charms.
• Click on the 'Settings' charm – the one with the cog icon.
• Click on the link 'Change PC settings'.
• Click on the button 'Ease of access' (Fig 12).

From a touch enabled device

• Swipe in from the right hand edge of the screen to reveal the charms.
• Tap on the 'Settings' charm – the one with the cog icon.
• Tap on the link 'Change PC settings'.
• Tap on the button 'Ease of access' (Fig 12).

Figure 12: PC settings, which includes 'Ease of Access' (second option from the bottom)

To start Magnifier

From the Ease of Access section (Fig 12):

• Click or tap on the link 'Magnifier' (Fig 13), under 'Magnify things on the screen'.
• Turn on the option 'Magnifier'.

Figure 13

You also can turn on the option 'Invert colours' to see the interface with an alternative colour palette that might be easier to perceive for you.

Finally, you can turn on the option 'Start Magnifier automatically' to turn on this feature every time you start Windows.

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.