Microsoft Word allows you to zoom in and out of your document easily, which can be useful for editing or reading purposes. Whether you want to see the fine details up close or fit more text on your screen, adjusting the zoom is quick and simple.
View Zoom Options on the Status Bar
The easiest way to zoom in and out is to use the Zoom slider on the status bar at the bottom of the Word window.
Zoom slider on status bar
To enable the zoom slider if you don’t see it:
- Click the File tab > Options > Advanced
- Under Display check the box for Show zoom slider on status bar
- Click OK
Now you will always see the zoom slider for quick access.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts to Zoom
For even faster zooming, use these handy keyboard shortcuts:
- Zoom In: Ctrl + Plus Sign
- Zoom Out: Ctrl + Minus Sign
If you don’t have a minus sign key, you can use the regular hyphen key instead.
These shortcuts allow you to precisely zoom in and out without moving your hands from the keyboard.
Zoom with the Mouse Wheel
You can also zoom in and out by holding the Ctrl key and scrolling your mouse wheel up or down.
- Scroll up to zoom in
- Scroll down to zoom out
This method is great if you don’t have a plus/minus sign on your keyboard.
Set a Default Zoom Level
If you find yourself zooming in or out to the same levels frequently, you can set a default zoom percentage so your document always opens at your preferred size:
- Click the View tab
- Click Zoom and select your ideal percentage or Fit Selection to focus on specific content
- Click Set As Default Zoom
Now whenever you open the document, it will show text at your custom default zoom level.
Quickly Zoom to 100% Size
To return back to 100% zoom level at any time:
- Double click the zoom percentage on the status bar
- Or press Ctrl + 0 (zero)
This resets the zoom and shows your document at its actual size.
Conclusion
Learning how to quickly zoom in and out in Word can optimize your editing and reading workflow. Whether using the status bar slider, keyboard shortcuts, mouse wheel, or view options, you can easily control text size for your needs. Setting a custom default zoom also ensures your documents open at your ideal magnification every time.
