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Increase Text Size in Ubuntu Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

Richard
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Richard
Sep 5, 2022 Updated Sep 15, 2026 2 min read
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Increasing text size in Ubuntu Linux makes words on your screen larger to stop eye strain on high-resolution displays. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and newer versions include built-in settings that let you boost font scaling across the entire desktop without needing extra software.

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⚡ Quick Answer

Open Settings , then click Accessibility. Under Seeing, toggle the Large Text switch to On to increase the size of all text. You can also use CTRL + + in many applications to increase text size.

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How to increase font size in Ubuntu Linux

You can increase text size in Ubuntu Linux by opening the Settings app , going to the Accessibility section, and turning on Large Text. This makes everything on your screen easier to read without changing your display resolution or breaking app layouts.

Here’s how to do that.

System tweaks, user accounts, and updates live inside the central System Settings panel.

Ubuntu Linux activities overview for accessibility settings
ubuntu linux activities overview

Another way to access this is by clicking the System menu in the top-right corner of your desktop.

From the System menu, choose Settings, as shown below.

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Ubuntu Linux system menu highlighting settings option
ubuntu linux system menu top bar settings

In the Settings app, click the Accessibility tile to open that section.

⚠️WarningIn the System Settings -> Privacy -> Accessibility settings pane, under Seeing, turn the Large Text switch to On to increase the text size in Ubuntu Linux.
Increasing font size in Ubuntu Linux settings panel
ubuntu increase font size

To return to the default size, move the Large Text switch to Off.

Your Ubuntu fonts and text size should update automatically after these steps. For instance, 'Large Text' will scale the text by 1.2 times its original size.

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💡TipYou can increase the text size anytime within many applications by pressing CTRL + +.

To make the text smaller, press CTRL + -.

How to increase font size in Ubuntu Linux from the command terminal

To increase font size in Ubuntu Linux using the command terminal, open your terminal app and run the gsettings scaling command with your preferred number. This method changes your system text size instantly without requiring you to click through the graphical settings menus.

Increasing the text size in Ubuntu Linux makes the font much larger than the default. Advanced methods exist to change the font size in Ubuntu Linux, but these described steps are sufficient for most users.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

  • Adjusting the font size in Ubuntu Linux is essential for improving readability, especially for users with poor vision or larger displays.
  • By accessing the System Settings panel and toggling the Large Text switch under Accessibility, users can conveniently increase the text size.
  • Alternatively, advanced users can utilize the command line to change the text size by a specific scaling factor.
  • The ability to adjust text size in Ubuntu Linux ensures a more comfortable and customized user experience for all individuals, regardless of their visual requirements or display setups.

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Richard

About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.

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