Both Windows and Macintosh operating systems allow users who may have difficulties viewing the screen of their personal device to customize the scale of the windows on their device, manipulate display colors and contrast, and enable features that allow for voice navigation and utility. Explore the features available to you, and the steps to enable and, or, access them, based on the operating system your personal device runs by expanding one of the options below.
Windows Vision Assistive Tools
Scale Adjustions
Windows allows users to customize the scale of their personal computer’s display by allowing users to change the size of the text, applications, or everything on their screens to a larger or smaller size, increasing visibility and customizing their display to their personal preferences and needs.
Windows 10 Instructions
To adjust the size of text, apps, and other items, users utilizing Windows 10 should select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Display; once there, users can utilize the slider under Make text bigger to adjust the size of text on their display, or they can select an option from the drop-down menu under Make everything bigger to scale the size of everything on their screen, making them larger or smaller.
Users can also use Windows Magnifier to enlarge part of or all of a user’s screen. To open Magnifier quickly, users can press the Windows Logo Key (also known as the Start Key) + Plus sign (+). When Magnifier is open, users can use the Windows Logo Key + Plus sign (+) or Windows logo key + Minus sign (-) to zoom in or out. To close Magnifier, users can press Windows Logo Key + Esc
Windows 11 Instructions
Users utilizing Windows 11 who want to adjust the size of text, apps, and other items can select the Start button, then Settings > Accessibility > Text size. Once there, users can use the slider next to Text size to adjust the size of text on their screen. To change the scale of everything on their screen, users can select the Start button, then Settings > System > Display, and change the Scale drop-down menu under Scale & Layout to a different percentage.
Users can also use Windows Magnifier to enlarge part of or all of a user’s screen. To open Magnifier quickly, users can press the Windows Logo Key (also known as the Start Key) + Plus sign (+). When Magnifier is open, users can use the Windows Logo Key + Plus sign (+) or Windows logo key + Minus sign (-) to zoom in or out. To close Magnifier, users can press Windows Logo Key + Esc
Pointer Adjustions
Windows allows users to make adjustments to their mouse pointer. These adjustments range from adjusting the size of the pointer on their personal device, to changing the color of their pointer, adding trails to their pointer, and enabling visual touch indicators on touch-screen enabled personal computers. These options allow users to increase the visibility of their screen activity.
Windows 10 Instructions
To adjust the color and size of their pointer, Windows 10 users can select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Cursor & pointer, and select the options that work best for them. To add pointer trails to their pointer, which can assist with identifying pointer movement, users can select the Start button, followed by Settings > Devices > Mouse > Additional mouse options. Once there, in the Mouse Properties window, users should select the Pointer Options tab, and then Display pointer trails.
To show visual feedback when users touch their screen, Windows 10 users can select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Cursor & pointer, and then select the toggle under Show visual feedback around the touch points when I touch the screen.
Windows 11 Instructions
Windows 11 users can customize the size and color of their mouse pointer by selecting the Start button, then Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer & touch, and then selecting the options that work best for them. To add pointer trails to their pointer, which can assist with identifying pointer movement, users can select the Start button, followed by Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings. In the Mouse Properties window, users can then select the Pointer Options tab, and then the Display pointer trails option.
To show visual feedback when users touch their screen users can select the Start button, then Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer & touch, and then they can set the Touch indicator to On.
Contrast Themes & Color Filters
Windows allows users to adjust the contrast between elements on their display and change the color palette of their screen by applying color filters. These options can make it easier for users to view photos, text, and icons by making it easier for users to differentiate between items that differ only by color.
Windows 10 Instructions
To adjust the contrast on their display, Windows 10 users can select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > High contrast, and switch on the toggle under Turn on high contrast, from there users are able to customize their contrast preferences within the window. To apply color filters, users can select the Start button, select Settings > Ease of Access > Color filters, and select the options that work best for them. Users can also from there select Allow the shortcut key to toggle filter on or off, to be able to quickly toggle on and off color filters with the Windows Logo Key (also known as the Start Key) + Ctrl + C
Windows 11 Instructions
To adjust the contrast on their display, Windows 10 users can select the Start button, then select Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes, and then select one of the options in the drop-down menu next to Contrast themes, and select Apply. To apply color filters, users can select the Start button, select Settings > Accessibility > Color filters, and then set Color filters to On, and from there select the options that work best for them. Users can also from there set Keyboard shortcut for color filters to On, to be able to quickly toggle on and off color filters with the Windows Logo Key (also known as the Start Key) + Ctrl + C
Narrator
Windows has a built-in screen reader called Narrator that reads aloud what’s present on a user’s screen allowing users to use that information to navigate their screen.
Windows 10 & 11 Instructions
To quickly start and stop Narrator on their personal computer, across both Windows 10 and 11, users can press the Windows Logo Key (also known as the Start Key) + Ctrl + Enter
Macintosh Vision Assistive Tools
Scale Adjustments
Macintosh devices allow users to customize the scale of their personal computer’s display by allowing users to change the size of the text, applications, or everything on their screens to a larger or smaller size, increasing visibility and customizing their display to their personal preferences and needs.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can increase the size of icons and text on their desktop by Control-clicking the desktop, selecting Show View Options, then moving the Icon size slider to the right, and selecting the Text size pop-up menu, then selecting a text size. Additionally, users can zoom in and out on webpages and in applications by selecting Command + Plus Sign (+) and Command + Minus Sign (-). To adjust the scale across a user’s entire computer, users should go to the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Display. From there, users can select the Scaled checkbox to be able to adjust the size of everything on their screen
Pointer Adjustments
The Macintosh operating system allows users to make adjustments to their mouse pointer. These adjustments range from adjusting the size of the pointer on their personal device, to changing the color of their pointer. These options allow users to increase the visibility of their screen activity.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can make adjustments to their pointer by selecting the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > Display, and then selecting Pointer. From there users can make their preferred adjustments, from size to color adjustments, to their pointer.
Hover Text
Macintosh devices running macOS Catalina and newer come with Hover Text, a feature that makes it easier for users to view text on their display. If a paragraph, caption, or headline is too small to read, users can just hover over it with their pointer and select the activation key for a bigger, high‑resolution version of their selection. The font and text color of this view can even be customized.
macOS (Catalina – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh Catalina through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can enable Hover Text on their devices by selecting the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > Zoom, and from there, selecting Enable Hover Text. Once enabled users can select the Command key to display a large text view of items under their cursor. Users should note that Hover Text does not work in text editors.
Contrast Adjustments & Color Filters
Macintosh devices allow users to adjust the contrast between elements on their display and change the color palette of their screen by applying color filters. These options can make it easier for users to view photos, text, and icons by making it easier for users to differentiate between items that differ only by color.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can customize their display’s contrast settings and customize and enable color filters by selecting the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > Display, and from there toggling between the Display and Color Filters windows to customize their screen to their preferences.
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is Macintosh’s built-in screen reader, it reads aloud everything present on a user’s screen, allowing users to use that information to navigate their personal device. VoiceOver also has the capability to describe people, objects, text, and graphs in detail.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can enable VoiceOver by going to the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accessibility > VoiceOver. From there users can select the option to Enable VoiceOver.
Speak Screen
Similar to VoiceOver, Macintosh devices come with a feature known as Speak Text, which allows users to have text specifically read to them. This feature’s primary difference from VoiceOver is that it centers on making text based content more accessible as opposed to facilitating navigation.
macOS (High Sierra – Monterey) Instructions
Users of Apple’s Macintosh High Sierra through Macintosh Monterey operating systems can enable Speak Text by selecting the Option + Esc keys. If text was selected prior to being enabled, that text will be read back to users, if no text was selected prior to be enabled, the text will proceed to read available text in the window that the user is currently working within.