In short: almost everything that makes a Mac easier to use is already built in and free, in System Settings > Accessibility. Make the text bigger, turn on Zoom, enlarge the pointer, let the Mac read text aloud, and write by talking instead of typing. You can turn each one on or off at any time.
Steps are for recent versions of macOS (Tahoe 26). On older versions the names are similar but may sit in a slightly different place. To open settings: click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen, choose System Settings, then click Accessibility in the list on the left.
For your eyes
1. Make the text bigger
Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Display, scroll down to Text and click Text size. Drag the slider to the size you like. This changes the text on the desktop, in sidebars and in apps set to “Use Preferred Reading Size”.
Inside many apps you can also press Command and the plus key (+) to make text bigger, and Command and minus (−) to make it smaller. This works in Mail, Messages and Calendar. In Safari, Command-plus enlarges only the text; Option-Command-plus enlarges everything on the page.
2. Make everything bigger at once
If buttons and menus feel small too, go to System Settings > Displays and choose Larger Text. Everything on the screen gets bigger, though less fits at one time. Try it for a day before deciding.
3. Zoom in on any part of the screen
Go to Accessibility > Zoom and turn on Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom. Then:
- Option-Command-plus (+) zooms in.
- Option-Command-minus (−) zooms out.
- Option-Command-8 switches zoom on and off.
Prefer the mouse? Turn on Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom, choose a key (Control, Option or Command), then hold that key and scroll. With a trackpad, you can turn on the trackpad gesture and double-tap with three fingers.
4. See big text under the pointer
Hover Text (Accessibility > Hover Text) shows a large, clear copy of whatever text is under the pointer while you hold the Command key. It’s handy for small print in menus and forms.
5. Find the pointer easily
In Accessibility > Display > Pointer, drag Pointer size to make the arrow bigger, and turn on Shake mouse pointer to locate: when you lose it, wiggle the mouse and it grows for a moment. You can also change the pointer’s outline and fill colours.
6. Calm the screen down
In Accessibility > Display, Reduce transparency makes see-through areas like the Dock and menu bar solid gray, which can make them easier to read. There’s also an Increase contrast setting there to try. If moving effects bother you, Accessibility > Motion > Reduce motion tones them down.
For your ears
7. Have the Mac read text aloud
Go to Accessibility > Read & Speak and turn on Speak selection. Now select some text, like an email or an article, and press Option-Esc. The Mac reads it to you. Press Option-Esc again to stop. If nothing is selected, it reads the current window.
8. Turn on captions for anything you hear
Live Captions (Accessibility > Live Captions) shows the words being spoken in a video call, a video or any other audio on your Mac, as they’re said. It can also caption speech picked up by the microphone. It runs on the Mac itself. It needs a Mac with Apple silicon, isn’t available in every language or region, and downloads some language data the first time you turn it on. Apple notes it shouldn’t be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations.
For your hands
9. Write by talking instead of typing
Every Mac has free Dictation: you press a key, talk, and your words appear as text in any email, message or document. Turn it on in System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation (step-by-step guide). Our guide to writing an email by voice is a good first try.
If you’d like the “um”s and repeated words removed for you, or messages tidied up, VybeScript is a paid app that does that on your Mac, in English or Spanish. Our honest Apple Dictation vs a dictation app comparison helps you decide whether you need it.
10. Keep a shortcut to all of this
Press Option-Command-F5 (or, on a Mac or keyboard with Touch ID, press Touch ID three times quickly) to open a small panel where you can switch accessibility features on and off. Choose which ones appear in Accessibility > Shortcut.
If stiff or sore hands make the keyboard and mouse hard work, our Mac setup checklist for arthritis covers Sticky Keys, Slow Keys, tap to click and more.
A few habits that help
- Change one thing at a time and live with it for a day. Too many changes at once can make the Mac feel unfamiliar.
- Write down what you changed on a card next to the computer, so you, or a family member, can undo it.
- Be wary of urgent calls asking for money or codes, even from a familiar voice. Read our guide to AI voice-cloning scams.
Settings checked against Apple’s macOS Tahoe 26 guide on 2026-11-04: text size, Zoom, pointer, speak selection, Live Captions.