Your phone can do something most people never discover. It can make text bigger, read the screen out loud, brighten colors, and make buttons easier to tap. These features are already built in. They cost nothing. And they can make a real difference in how easy your phone is to use every day.
Most people never find these settings because they are tucked away in menus. This guide will show you exactly where to look and what to turn on.
Make Text Bigger (iPhone and Android)
Small text is one of the biggest complaints about phones. The good news is you can make all the text on your phone larger with one setting.
On iPhone
- Open Settings (the gray gear icon).
- Tap Display & Brightness.
- Tap Text Size.
- Drag the slider to the right to make text bigger.
- If you need even larger text, go back to Settings, tap Accessibility, tap Display & Text Size, and turn on Larger Accessibility Sizes. Then use the slider again.
On Android
- Open Settings (the gear icon).
- Tap Display.
- Tap Font size (or Display size on some phones).
- Drag the slider to the right until the preview text looks comfortable.
Tip: Try different sizes until reading feels easy. You can always change it back.
Make Everything on Screen Bigger
Text size changes only the words. But you can also make everything bigger: icons, buttons, menus, and images.
On iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Display & Brightness.
- Tap Display Zoom.
- Choose Larger Text (on newer iPhones) or Zoomed.
- Tap Done and restart when asked.
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Display.
- Tap Display size or Screen zoom.
- Drag the slider to the right to make everything bigger.
Turn On Bold Text
Bold text makes every word on your phone thicker and easier to read.
On iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Display & Brightness.
- Turn on Bold Text. Your phone will restart briefly.
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Display (or Visibility).
- Turn on Bold text or High contrast text.
Use the Magnifier to Read Small Print
Your phone has a built-in magnifying glass. Hold it over a medicine bottle, a restaurant menu, or a price tag and it zooms in so you can read tiny text.
On iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Magnifier.
- Turn it on.
- Now triple-click the side button to open the magnifier anytime.
- Point your phone camera at whatever you want to read. Use the slider to zoom in.
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Magnification.
- Turn on Magnification shortcut.
- Now triple-tap the screen (or use the shortcut button) to zoom in on anything.
Tip: The iPhone Magnifier also has a flashlight button built in. Great for reading in dim restaurants.
Have Your Phone Read Text Out Loud
If your eyes are tired or the text is just too small, your phone can read it to you.
On iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Spoken Content.
- Turn on Speak Selection. Now when you select text, a “Speak” button appears.
- Turn on Speak Screen. Now swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers and your phone reads the whole page out loud.
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Select to Speak (or Read aloud).
- Turn it on.
- Now tap the small person icon that appears on screen, then tap any text to hear it read out loud.
Reduce Screen Motion and Flashing
Animations on your phone (things sliding, zooming, and bouncing) can cause dizziness or headaches for some people. You can turn them off.
On iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Motion.
- Turn on Reduce Motion.
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Look for Remove animations and turn it on.
Make Touch Easier
If you sometimes tap things by accident or have trouble holding your finger steady, these settings help.
On iPhone: Touch Accommodations
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Touch.
- Tap Touch Accommodations and turn it on.
- Hold Duration: Set this so the phone waits a moment before registering a tap. This prevents accidental touches.
- Ignore Repeat: If your finger shakes and taps twice, this ignores the second tap.
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Timing controls (or Touch and hold delay).
- Change the touch and hold delay to Long or Very Long to prevent accidental taps.
Use Voice Control (Hands-Free)
You can control your entire phone with just your voice. Open apps, make calls, send texts, and scroll pages without touching the screen.
On iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Voice Control.
- Turn it on.
- Say commands like “Open Messages” or “Tap Send” or “Scroll down.”
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Voice Access.
- Turn it on.
- Say “Hey Google” followed by your command, or tap the Voice Access icon.
Tip: This is very helpful if you have arthritis or limited hand movement.
High Contrast and Color Adjustments
If colors on your screen look washed out or are hard to tell apart, try these settings.
On iPhone
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Display & Text Size.
- Turn on Increase Contrast.
- Turn on Reduce Transparency (makes backgrounds solid instead of see-through).
- If you have color blindness, tap Color Filters and turn it on. Choose the filter that works best for you.
On Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Color and motion (or Visibility).
- Turn on High contrast text.
- For color blindness, tap Color correction and choose your type.
Emergency SOS: Know Where It Is
Every phone has a way to call for help quickly. Make sure you know how yours works.
On iPhone
Press and hold the side button and volume button at the same time. An Emergency SOS slider appears. If you keep holding, it calls 911 automatically.
On Android
Press the power button 5 times quickly. This calls 911. (On some phones, you may need to turn this on first in Settings, then Safety & Emergency.)
Tip: Set up your Medical ID (iPhone) or Emergency Information (Android) so paramedics can see your medications, allergies, and emergency contacts without unlocking your phone.
A Simple Plan to Get Started
You do not need to change all these settings at once. Start with the ones that will help you the most:
- If reading is hard: Make text bigger and turn on bold text. This takes 2 minutes.
- If you tap wrong things: Turn on Touch Accommodations or increase the touch delay.
- If small print is a problem: Set up the Magnifier.
- If you get dizzy: Turn on Reduce Motion.
- If you are curious: Try having your phone read a news article out loud. You might love it.
These features are not just for people with disabilities. They make phones easier and more comfortable for everyone. Apple and Google built them in because they want everyone to enjoy using their devices.
Your phone is more helpful than you think. You just need to know where to look.
Reported by David Kim with additional research from the SeniorDaily editorial team. For corrections or updates, please contact us.
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