Zooming out on your Mac’s screen can provide a wider, more comprehensive view of documents, images, webpages and more. This allows you to see more content at once without scrolling or switching between windows. Whether you want to view multiple files side-by-side, scan a large spreadsheet, or get the bigger picture on a complex graphic, zooming out is easy with just a few clicks or taps.
Table of Contents
Why Zooming Out is Useful
Here are some of the benefits of zooming out on your Mac:
- See more content at once – By zooming out, you can view more of a document, webpage or image without having to scroll up and down or switch between windows. This saves you time and effort.
- View multiple items side-by-side – Zooming out allows you to tile windows side-by-side on your desktop so you can compare documents, reference multiple webpages, or work across several apps simultaneously.
- Scan large spreadsheets – If you work with big Excel files, zooming out gives you a bird’s eye view so you can quickly scan data across a wider area.
- Simplify complicated graphics – When images, charts or diagrams are too granular, zooming out simplifies the view so you can understand the bigger picture.
- Read small text – Tiny font sizes can strain your eyes. Zoom out to make the text larger and easier to read.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Zooming
One of the fastest ways to zoom in and out is by using keyboard shortcuts.
To zoom out:
- Entire screen – Option + Command + Minus (-)
- Single window – Command + Minus (-)
To zoom back in:
- Entire screen – Option + Command + Equals (=)
- Single window – Command + Equals (=)
You can continue tapping the shortcuts to incrementally zoom out further.
Trackpad & Mouse Gestures
If you’re using a trackpad or mouse, you can zoom with simple gestures:
Trackpad
- Zoom out: Pinch two fingers together
- Zoom in: Spread two fingers apart
Mouse
- Zoom out: Option + Scroll down
- Zoom in: Option + Scroll up
Customizing Zoom Settings
For more customization, head to System Preferences > Accessibility > Zoom. Here you can:
- Choose zoom style (full screen, split screen, picture-in-picture)
- Select zoom modifier keys
- Enable hover text
- And more
Top Apps for Zooming Out
While you can zoom out system-wide, many apps also have their own zoom controls:
- Safari, Chrome, Firefox – View > Zoom Out or Command/Ctrl + Minus
- Word, Pages – View > Zoom (choose percentage)
- Excel – View tab > Zoom slider
- Adobe CC – Zoom tool in toolbar
Zooming for Better Organization
Zooming out reduces clutter so you can organize and arrange your windows more intentionally. Some ideas:
Tile Windows Side-by-Side
Zoom out and position windows left and right to compare documents or reference multiple sources.
Stack Windows
Fan your windows out in a cascading stack for a layered effect. Zoom out to see window titles/tabs.
See More Desktop Icons
Get a bird’s eye view of your full desktop to neatly arrange icons and files.
When to Avoid Zooming Out
While zooming out has many benefits, there are a few cases when avoiding it is best:
- Zooming out on text or images too far will make them appear too small and hard to interpret. Find the sweet spot for readability.
- Avoid zooming out when precision is vital, like when working in Photoshop or Illustrator. Zoom to 100% for pixel-perfect editing.
- Don’t zoom out if it means losing sight of essential toolbars and controls. Scroll or reposition windows instead.
Customizing Your Display Resolution
In addition to system zooming, you can also physically zoom out by adjusting your display resolution. In System Preferences > Displays, select “Scaled” and choose options for larger text and UI elements. Just note, some resolutions can make text fuzzy.
Zooming Out for a Better View
With the zooming skills above, you can easily magnify and scale down content for a better view. Zooming out reduces eye strain, saves effort, boosts productivity and more. Try different zoom styles and find your optimal level of magnification. A wider view awaits!
