How to Zoom Out on Windows
This guide will walk you through the steps to zoom out on your Windows computer. Follow each step carefully to successfully adjust your zoom settings.
Use Keyboard Shortcut – Press Ctrl + Minus (-) to zoom out in most apps like browsers, PDF readers, Word, etc.
Use Mouse Scroll + Ctrl – Hold down Ctrl and scroll your mouse wheel down to zoom out smoothly.
Zoom Out on Desktop – Right-click on desktop → Go to Display Settings → Under Scale and layout, reduce the scale (e.g., from 125% to 100%).
Zoom Out in Web Browsers – In Chrome, Edge, Firefox:
Press Ctrl + -
Or click the three dots menu (top-right) → Use the zoom slider
Zoom Out in File Explorer – Press Ctrl + Scroll Down to reduce icon size and spacing in folders.
Zoom Out in Photos App – Open an image → Press Ctrl + - or use mouse scroll down with Ctrl.
Magnifier Tool (System Zoom):
Press Windows + “–” (minus) to zoom out if Magnifier is active.
To turn off Magnifier: Press Windows + Esc
Done – You’ve successfully zoomed out! Works across browsers, apps, and system interface.
