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See fine detail with Windows Magnifier

The Windows Magnifier tool enlarges areas of the Desktop, making it easier to read. Here's what to do

There are several ways to enlarge text and icons displayed on your PC to make the items easier to read or view. You can do this in Windows XP and individual applications such as Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer which also enables users to zoom in for more detail.

However, there is one simple method that can be used to magnify any part of a screen in any application the Windows Magnifier. This utility is included with all versions of Windows from Windows 98 onwards. In this short Workshop, we'll demonstrate how to launch and configure the program.

Step 1...

To launch Windows Magnifier, choose the Accessibility program group from within Accessories on the All Programs list and click on Magnifier. This brings up the Magnifier Settings dialogue box and turns a portion of the top part of the screen into a magnification window. Move the mouse pointer around and you'll see how it works: the area displayed in magnification window follows the pointer. Use the options on the Magnifier Settings dialogue box to alter the way the utility works, perhaps increasing the zoom level or changing the magnification window's 'focus' from the mouse pointer to the text-entry cursor.

Step 2...

Like any other window, the magnification area can be moved and resized. To do this, click and hold down the left-mouse button on any part of the magnification area the window will go blank and turn yellow in colour. Now drag to reposition the window elsewhere and release the mouse button to drop it in place. To resize the window, just hover the mouse pointer over any corner or border of the window until the pointer changes shape and then left-click and drag and drop to the desired size.

This article was created: 28 November 2006.
This article was last edited: 23 April 2007.

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