Increasing text size on android

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gzt

10862 posts

Uber Geek

# 177016 19-Jul-2015 02:08

A relative asked me to increase the text size on her android device (most likely a 5.0.1)

So I'm wondering if anyone here has experienced that process, and if there were any gotchas or unexpected outcomes along the way.

jonathan18

3948 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

# 1347063 19-Jul-2015 07:14

Yep, I've adjusted the text size to the largest on both of my parents' mobiles (Voda Smart Primes running 5.x), given they're in their 80s. They seem to work perfectly - I've used them a decent amount since and face no issues, nor have my parents complained. I could imagine on a small screen it could be frustrating, but with a 5" screen it's fine.

This compares to their iPad Air 2 - increasing the text size there is just a mess, as it stuffed up the line spacing in the iOS email app, with lines ending up on top of each other making it really difficult to read.

Dingbatt

3954 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 1347066 19-Jul-2015 07:36

Are you asking how to increase the font size?
Settings->display->font->size.
You can toggle between each to see the effect. My experience is it's only the immature apps that can't cope with different font sizes. And ultimately if you show your relative how to change the size they can experiment themselves. You may also wish to look at different font pack apps to see if one more suitable than the standard roboto is better for them.

Please excuse me if you weren't looking for a how-to guide.

Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

mudguard

780 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 1347093 19-Jul-2015 10:05

On a few Samsung phones you can press the volume up and down keys when looking at a text to increase or decrease the text size

gzt

10862 posts

Uber Geek

# 1347159 19-Jul-2015 12:52

Good info thanks everyone.

gzt

10862 posts

Uber Geek

# 1347345 19-Jul-2015 20:29

Hmm. It's a 4.5" screen and already set 'huge' and not particularly large on that screen.

The solution will be a new phone with a larger screen at some point, but I will look for an app to bridge the gap.

1eStar

1524 posts

Uber Geek

# 1347354 19-Jul-2015 20:52

gzt: Hmm. It's a 4.5" screen and already set 'huge' and not particularly large on that screen.

The solution will be a new phone with a larger screen at some point, but I will look for an app to bridge the gap.

If you are feeling brave you could try changing the DPI of the screen which apparently can be done via ADB and doesn't require root.

Read it up here .

Usually people do it to fit more on a screen, they reduce the DPI. So my guess would be try increasing it slightly.

Edit: @utocorrect

gzt

10862 posts

Uber Geek

# 1347356 19-Jul-2015 20:58

Tried the most popular font increasing app:

Big font: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.a0soft.gphone.bfont&hl=en

Results are not great above the system supported size range. Text overlay problems where standard apps not designed to handle it etc.

It was worth a try.

gzt

10862 posts

Uber Geek

# 1347358 19-Jul-2015 21:00

1eStar:
gzt: Hmm. It's a 4.5" screen and already set 'huge' and not particularly large on that screen.

The solution will be a new phone with a larger screen at some point, but I will look for an app to bridge the gap.

If you are feeling brave you could try changing the DPI of the screen which apparently can be done via ADB and doesn't require root.

Read it up here .

Usually people do it to fit more on a screen, they reduce the DPI. So my guess would be try increasing it slightly.

Edit: @utocorrect

Execellent I might look into that.