Adjust text size within dialogue boxes on Word, specifically the Find/Replace function

Question

I have been supporting a partner who has visual issue, which require the text on screen to be larger.

The partner is trying to use Word, however has found that the text within dialogue boxes, specifically the Find/Replace function, is far too small and does not react to text changes within settings.

Is there a way to increase this, as you used to be able to perform this task with older versions of Windows?

The partner would like me to raise this on her behalf as feel this is a blind spot in the accessibility functions within Office.

Thank you for your time and advice.

Answer 1

Dear @Peter Daniel, 

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.   

I understand how inconvenient it can be when the text in Word dialog boxes, such as Find and Replace, appears too small to read comfortably. 

Currently, Microsoft Word does not offer a built‑in setting that allows the text inside individual dialog boxes to be enlarged. This text is controlled by the Windows interface rather than Word itself, so changes inside Word do not adjust the size of these UI elements. 

Even though the application cannot directly enlarge this text, there are a few practical options that may help improve readability: 

Option 1: Increase through Windows settings 

Please note that these steps work more effectively when using Word on the web, as the desktop version does not increase the size of the Find and Replace dialog box.

Word desktop:

Word on the web:

1/ Adjust Text size: 

Right click the Start button > Go to Settings > Select Accessibility > Choose Text size > Move the slider to your partner’s preferred level and select Apply. 

2/ Adjust overall Display scale: 

Right click the Start button > Go to Settings > Select System > Choose Display. 

Under Scale and layout, change the Scale setting to a larger value (example: 150%, 175%, 200%). 

If these settings were adjusted before, I recommend trying both together to see if a balanced combination helps. 

Option 2: Increase readability by lowering screen resolution 

Reducing the resolution makes all items on screen appear larger. 

Open Settings > Go to System > Select Display > Choose Display resolution. 

Select a lower resolution, such as moving from 1600 × 900 to 1280 × 720.

Option 3: Use Windows Magnifier for specific areas 

If your partner prefers not to change system‑wide scaling, Magnifier can help enlarge only the small areas they are reading. 

Press the “Windows” key and “+” : to zoom in. 

Press the “Windows” key and “−” : to zoom out. 

Press the “Windows” key and “Esc” to turn Magnifier off. 

To switch views, press Control, Alt, and M. 

Your partner can adjust how Magnifier behaves in its settings menu. 

This tool is also recommended in Microsoft’s accessibility guidance for users who need focused enlargement. 

Option 4: If multiple monitors are being used 

When displays use different scaling levels, apps such as Word may appear too small or too large on certain monitors. If more than one monitor is connected, it can help to adjust a setting within Word. 

Open Word > Go to File > Select Options > Choose General. 

Under When using multiple displays, select Optimize for compatibility. 

Restart Word. 

Additional information is available in the following resources: 

Change the size of text in Windows - Microsoft Support 

Make text and apps bigger - Microsoft Support 

Use Magnifier to make things on the screen easier to see - Microsoft Support 

Magnifier keyboard shortcuts and touch gestures - Microsoft Support 

I completely understand how important visual comfort is. It is not just about aesthetics; these differences can genuinely affect how smoothly your partner works and navigates the day. 

As a forum moderator, I hope you understand that I don’t have the ability to modify or escalate product issues directly. However, I strongly recommend submitting your feedback through the Word · Community. This is the most effective way to ensure your partner's voice reaches the product team and can be considered for future improvements.  

Once you've submitted your feedback, feel free to share the link here in the comments. I’ll be happy to upvote it to help bring more visibility. If you prefer, I can also submit this great idea on your behalf. Just let me know, and I’ll post it for you and share the link once it’s published. I’m here to help ensure your feedback gets the attention it deserves. 

Additionally, as other users have raised similar concerns and may not be aware of where to share their feedback, I hope this response helps clarify the situation and suggests a potential next step. Highlighting this information can make it more visible to others in the community who may be facing the same issue, making it easier for them to find guidance and contribute their feedback as well. 

Thank you again for your time and for raising this important usability concern. 

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Answer 2

To adjust text size within dialog boxes in Word, including the Find/Replace function, you can try the following steps:

1. Check Windows Display Settings: Go to Settings > System > Display and adjust the Scale and layout settings. This can affect the size of text and other items in applications, including Word.
2. Use Magnifier Tool: Windows has a built-in Magnifier tool that can help enlarge the area of the screen you are working on. You can activate it by pressing Windows key + + (plus key) to zoom in.
3. Adjust Text Size in Ease of Access: Navigate to Settings > Ease of Access > Display. Here, you can adjust the Make text bigger setting, which can help increase the text size across applications.

Unfortunately, specific dialog boxes in Word may not respond to these settings as expected, and there may be limitations in how much you can adjust text size in certain areas. If these options do not provide a satisfactory solution, it may be beneficial to provide feedback to Microsoft regarding accessibility features in Office applications.

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References:

• Accessible text requirements
• How do you fix zoom disabled in Word - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 3

Workaround:

A very practical way to do this is with styles.

The size of text in a particular style can be changed by modifying the style.

Often, simply modifying the normal style would be sufficient.

This could be done through a couple of macros.

https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/stylesImportance.htm

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This is a user-to-user support forum.

Microsoft is not hearing about your problems from what you post here. You are discussing a problem with your fellow users here. We can give good advice about how to work with Word as it is and give suggestions for making it work properly.

Designers and their supervisors do see feedback. (You will almost certainly not get a direct response to that feedback but they do see it.)

Here is more about that:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/giving-feedback-on-microsoft-word-or-other/8df81a9b-84aa-46ef-bf88-24fb7fec96ba

I suggest using the public feedback portal so other users can see your feedback, comment and vote. If you want, you can post the URL of your feedback with your question here to lead others with the same problem to your feedback. Be the “squeaky wheel” that gets fixed!