The zoom shortcut key in browsers and most Windows apps is Ctrl + Plus to make things bigger and Ctrl + Minus to make them smaller. Ctrl + 0 puts the page back to its normal size.
Holding Ctrl while you roll the mouse wheel does the same and works in Word and Excel too, where the plus and minus keys have other jobs. For the whole screen there is Magnifier, opened with Win + Plus.
Quick facts
Zoom in
Ctrl + PlusZoom out
Ctrl + MinusReset
Ctrl + 0With mouse
Ctrl and the wheelWhole screen
Win + PlusMac
Command + Plus and Command + Minus
Zoom shortcut key table: zoom in and zoom out
| Where | Bigger | Smaller | Reset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome, Edge | Ctrl + Plus | Ctrl + Minus | Ctrl + 0 |
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint | Ctrl and wheel up | Ctrl and wheel down | Zoom slider, 100 percent |
| File Explorer and desktop icons | Ctrl and wheel up | Ctrl and wheel down | Not used |
| Whole screen (Magnifier) | Win + Plus | Win + Minus | Win + Esc closes |
| Mac apps | Command + Plus | Command + Minus | Command + 0 |
The Plus key is the one with = on it, to the left of Backspace. The plus on the number pad also works. You do not need Shift: Windows reads the key itself, so a single press of Ctrl and that key is enough. A zoom keyboard shortcut changes only the view; printing and saved files keep their real size.
Why Ctrl + Plus does not zoom in Excel
In Excel, Ctrl + Plus inserts cells and Ctrl + Minus deletes them, which surprises people trying to zoom. Use Ctrl with the mouse wheel, the slider at the bottom right, or the ribbon keys Alt, then W, then Q to type a zoom percentage. Word uses the same ribbon keys. The insert row guide explains what those keys do in Excel.
Zoom out keyboard shortcut for the whole screen
Magnifier enlarges everything, including menus and the taskbar. Press Win + Plus to start it and zoom in, Win + Minus to zoom out, and Win + Esc to close it. This is helpful for readers with weak eyesight or when someone is watching your screen on a projector.
Zoom shortcut in Windows 10 browsers on laptops
On a laptop without a mouse wheel, pinch two fingers on the touchpad to zoom in browsers and photos. The keys Ctrl + Plus and Ctrl + Minus need no Fn, so they work on every keyboard. Each press changes the size by one step, roughly 10 to 25 percent, and the browser remembers the size for each website.
When zoom keys do not work
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Page does not get bigger | Click inside the page first; the address bar may have focus |
| Everything stays zoomed | Press Ctrl + 0 on that website |
| Screen suddenly huge | Magnifier is on; press Win + Esc |
| Excel inserts cells | Use Ctrl with the wheel instead |
Zoom on a Mac
Mac browsers and apps use Command + Plus, Command + Minus and Command + 0. For the whole screen, turn on zoom in System Settings, then Accessibility, then Zoom, which adds Option + Command + 8 to switch it. See the full screen shortcut for using more of the display, and the editing shortcuts collection for other everyday keys.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut key for zoom in?
What is the zoom out shortcut key?
How do I reset zoom to normal?
How do I zoom in Excel with the keyboard?
Use Ctrl and the mouse wheel, or Alt, W, Q to type a percentage.
How do I zoom the whole screen?
Press Win + Plus to open Magnifier.