You can zoom out on an iMac using a variety of methods, including keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, and mouse scrolling.
For the most control, you will need to enable the Accessibility Zoom settings, which allows for powerful magnification features across your entire display.
Method 1: Zooming out in specific applications
For many apps, such as web browsers (Safari, Chrome) and image viewers, you can zoom out of the active window without enabling special accessibility settings.
- Keyboard shortcut: Press Command + - (minus sign).
- Trackpad gesture: Place two fingers together on your trackpad and pinch them inward.
- Reset to normal view: Press Command + 0 to return the window's view to its default size.
Method 2: Enabling the full-screen zoom feature
To zoom your entire screen—including the macOS desktop, menu bar, and all applications—you must first enable the feature in System Settings.
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Choose System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions of macOS).
- Click Accessibility in the sidebar, then select Zoom.
- Check the box next to "Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom".
Once enabled, you can use these system-wide shortcuts for precise control:
- Zoom out: Press Option + Command + - (minus sign).
- Toggle zoom on/off: Press Option + Command + 8 to quickly switch between the normal view and your last-used zoom level.
Method 3: Zooming with a trackpad or mouse scroll
This is a highly convenient method for quick, on-the-fly magnification, but it also needs to be enabled in Accessibility settings.
- Click the Apple menu and go to System Settings.
- Click Accessibility, then choose Zoom.
- Check the box next to "Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom".
- In the dropdown menu, select your preferred modifier key (Control, Option, or Command).
To zoom out, hold down your chosen modifier key and scroll down with your trackpad or mouse wheel.
Method 4: Configuring advanced zoom styles
The macOS zoom feature offers different display styles to fit your workflow. In the same Accessibility > Zoom menu, click the "Zoom style" dropdown menu to choose from these options:
- Full Screen: The entire display is magnified. You can also customize how the zoomed screen moves when you navigate.
- Split Screen: A magnified area appears on a specific side of the screen, leaving the rest of the display at its normal size.
- Picture-in-Picture: A floating window follows your cursor, showing a magnified view of the area underneath it.
For more precise control over any of these styles, click the Advanced button within the Zoom settings.
Method 5: Using Smart Zoom for quick bursts
If you have a Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse, the Smart Zoom feature offers a single-action toggle.
- How it works: Double-tap your Magic Mouse with one finger or your Magic Trackpad with two fingers to zoom in on a webpage or PDF. Double-tapping again will zoom back out.
- Enable Smart Zoom: Go to System Settings > Mouse or System Settings > Trackpad and ensure "Smart zoom" is enabled.
Troubleshooting and extra tips
- Zoom is stuck: If you can't zoom out, the simplest solution is often the quickest: Press Option + Command + 8 to toggle the feature off completely.
- Return to default resolution: Pressing Option + Command + 8 is the fastest way to exit a magnified view and return to your Mac's default resolution.
- Fine-tuning zoom: Within the Advanced settings for your chosen zoom style, you can adjust the maximum and minimum zoom levels to prevent accidental over-magnification.
- Re-enable modifier keys: If your scroll-to-zoom shortcut stops working, double-check that the "Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom" setting is still active in Accessibility > Zoom.
- Keyboard shortcut conflicts: In some applications, a specific app's own shortcut may override the macOS system-wide zoom. If Command + - isn't working, try the Option + Command + - shortcut instead.