Magnify Part of Your Screen, for Presentations

Here are the built-in magnifiers for OS/X, Linux, Windows 10/11.

Note: the magnifier probably won’t show across Zoom (the online meeting/webinar software, since this page also has Zoom a magnifier) or Google Meet or similar software. For that, do a Screenshot of your magnified screen, and paste the screenshot into the meeting chat.

OS/X Zoom

The built-in screen magnifier on macOS is called Zoom, found under System Settings (or System Preferences) > Accessibility > Zoom.  It allows you to magnify the entire screen, a portion of the screen, or a window near the cursor using various input methods. 

Activation and Controls

You can enable and control Zoom through several methods, which must be enabled in the Zoom settings:

• Keyboard Shortcuts: Press Option + Command + 8 to toggle Zoom on/off, Option + Command + = to zoom in, and Option + Command + – to zoom out. 
• Trackpad Gestures: Double-tap with three fingers to start/stop Zoom, or double-tap and drag to adjust magnification. 
• Scroll Gesture: Hold Control and scroll up/down to zoom in/out at the cursor location. 

Zoom Styles

macOS offers three viewing modes for magnification:

• Full Screen: Magnifies the entire display, centered on the cursor. 
• Picture-in-Picture: Displays a magnified box that follows the mouse cursor. 
• Split Screen: Divides the screen, magnifying one side while keeping the other normal. 

Third-Party Alternatives

For more specialized magnification, such as a temporary “loupe” or lens effect without changing the entire view, users often install third-party apps like Screen Magnifier (up to 8x zoom with spotlight mode), Zoom Me (desktop magnifier lens), or Virtual Magnifying Glass.

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Linux Mint Desktop Zoom

On Linux Mint (and most Linux distributions), screen magnification depends heavily on your Desktop Environment (DE).  Since you are using Linux Mint, you likely have Cinnamon, MATE, or XFCE. 

Linux Mint Built-in Options

1. Cinnamon Desktop (Default) Cinnamon includes a native zoom feature integrated into the compositor.

• Activation: Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Zoom.  Toggle Enable Zoom.
• Controls: By default, hold Super (Windows Key) + Scroll Wheel to zoom in/out.  You can customize these shortcuts in System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Universal Access. 
• Modes: Supports full-screen zoom and a “Lens” mode (magnified box following the cursor). 
• Configuration: You can adjust the magnification factor and whether the zoom follows the mouse pointer or keyboard focus. 

2. MATE Desktop MATE’s native support is limited unless you switch the window manager.

• Native: Basic zoom options exist in Control Center > Accessibility, but they are often less smooth. 
• Enhanced (Recommended): For a superior experience similar to macOS/Windows, enable the Compiz window manager.
  • Go to Control Center > Look and Feel > Desktop Settings > Windows and select Compiz.
  • Open CompizConfig Settings Manager (ccsm) (install via sudo apt install compizconfig-settings-manager).
  • Enable the Enhanced Zoom Desktop plugin.  This allows smooth, mouse-centric zooming with customizable key bindings (e.g., Super + Scroll). 

3. XFCE Desktop

• Activation: Settings > Accessibility > Enable Keyboard Shortcuts (for zoom) or use the built-in magnifier if available in your version. 
• Controls: Typically Alt + Scroll Wheel triggers the zoom.

Excellent Alternatives for Other Flavors

If your current setup feels lacking, these are the top-tier magnifiers available across Linux:

GNOME Magnifier (Best for GNOME/Ubuntu/Fedora) Considered the most robust native solution on Linux.

• Features: Supports Full Screen, Split Screen (top/bottom/left/right), and Lens modes. It tracks mouse, keyboard focus, and text caret seamlessly. 
• Activation: Settings > Accessibility > Zoom. 
• Controls: Super + Alt + 8 (toggle), Super + Alt + Scroll (zoom). 
• Why it’s excellent: It integrates deeply with the shell, offering smooth animations and color inversion filters that many other DEs lack.

KMag (KMagnifier) (Best for KDE Plasma) A dedicated application rather than a desktop effect.

• Features: Creates a separate, resizable window that acts as a magnifying glass. It can follow the mouse, focus, or capture a specific region. 
• Unique Feature: Allows you to save screenshots of the magnified area and includes a color picker. 
• Usage: Ideal for detailed inspection work without distorting the entire desktop layout. 

Compiz Enhanced Zoom (Best for Customization) Available on almost any X11 desktop (Cinnamon, MATE, XFCE, Budgie) if you install Compiz.

• Features: Extremely high zoom levels (up to 100x+), smooth panning, and “focus follow” behaviors. 
• Setup: Requires installing compiz and compizconfig-settings-manager. It is heavier on resources but offers the most granular control over zoom behavior and key bindings. 

Virtual Magnifying Glass A standalone, open-source application that works across different desktop environments (X11 and Wayland via XWayland).

• Features: A simple, floating lens that follows the cursor. 
• Use Case: Best for users who want a consistent magnifier experience regardless of their desktop environment or if the native tools are insufficient. 

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Windows 10 and 11 Magnifier

The built-in screen magnifier on Windows 10 and Windows 11 is called Magnifier.  It is accessed via Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier (Windows 11) or Settings > Ease of Access > Magnifier (Windows 10). 

Activation and Controls

Magnifier can be controlled instantly using keyboard shortcuts:

• Toggle On/Off: Press Windows key + Esc to close, and Windows key + Plus (+) to open or zoom in. 
• Zoom Levels: Use Windows key + Plus (+) to zoom in and Windows key + Minus (-) to zoom out. 
• Mouse Scroll: Hold Ctrl + Alt and scroll the mouse wheel to adjust zoom. 
• Settings: Press Windows key + Ctrl + M to open the Magnifier settings panel directly. 

Viewing Modes

Windows offers three distinct viewing modes, switchable via shortcuts or the settings menu:

• Full Screen: Magnifies the entire display, following the mouse cursor or focus point. 
• Docked: Anchors a magnified pane to a specific part of the screen (usually the top), leaving the rest of the desktop at normal size. 
• Lens: Creates a movable magnifying glass that follows the mouse cursor, similar to a physical loupe. 

To switch modes quickly:

• Full Screen: Ctrl + Alt + F
• Docked: Ctrl + Alt + D
• Lens: Ctrl + Alt + L 

Third-Party Alternatives

For advanced features like smoother zooming, annotation, or higher magnification limits, users often utilize third-party tools:

• ZoomText: A comprehensive, paid solution widely used for low vision, offering advanced image enhancement and screen reading. 
• ZoomIt: A lightweight Microsoft Sysinternals tool primarily for presentations, allowing zooming and drawing on the screen. 
• Magnifixer: A free alternative supporting up to 40x zoom and multiple monitors. 
• Glassbrick: A free app available on the Microsoft Store known for smooth zooming and customizable activation keys. 
• Virtual Magnifying Glass: An open-source, customizable magnifier compatible with older and newer Windows versions.