How to Change iPhone Display Size

What You’ll Need

An iPhone with iOS 10 or later (the option is available on most models, including iPhone 6 and newer).
Your passcode (you’ll be asked to enter it when applying the change).

Step-by-Step

Open Settings – Tap the gray gear icon on your home screen. If you can’t find it, swipe down from the middle of the screen and type “Settings” in the search bar.
Go to Display & Brightness – Scroll down and tap “Display & Brightness.” On older iOS versions, this may be called “Display & Brightness” or just “Display.”
Tap Display Zoom – Scroll to the bottom of the Display & Brightness menu. You’ll see “Display Zoom” with a small preview of how icons look. Tap it.
Choose Standard or Zoomed – Select “Standard” for the default size (more content fits on screen) or “Zoomed” for larger icons and text (fewer items per row). The preview at the top shows the difference. Tap “Set” in the top-right corner.
Confirm the change – A pop-up will appear saying “Display Zoom will restart your iPhone.” Tap “Use Zoomed” (or “Use Standard”) to confirm. Your iPhone will restart automatically. After it turns back on, enter your passcode to finish.

Common Mistakes

Confusing Display Zoom with Text Size – Display Zoom changes the overall interface scale, not just text. If you only need larger letters, use Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size instead.
Forgetting to tap Set – Selecting Standard or Zoomed without tapping “Set” won’t apply the change. You must tap Set and then confirm.
Expecting a resolution change – Display Zoom doesn’t change the actual pixel resolution; it just scales the UI. Photos and videos will still display at full quality.
Not knowing the restart – Some users think the iPhone is frozen when it restarts. Wait a minute; the Apple logo will appear and then the lock screen.

Tips

If you use Zoomed mode, you’ll see fewer app icons per row (usually 4 instead of 5 on Plus models). This can make tapping easier for people with larger fingers.
You can also adjust text size separately for apps that support Dynamic Type. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size and drag the slider.
For even larger text, enable “Larger Accessibility Sizes” in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.
If you often switch between Standard and Zoomed, note that the restart takes about 30 seconds. Plan to do it when you don’t need your phone urgently.
Display Zoom works on the home screen, system apps, and most third-party apps that follow Apple’s design guidelines. Some apps may not adapt perfectly.

Troubleshooting

The option is grayed out – This can happen if you have an iPhone with a low-power mode enabled? No, that’s not it. Actually, Display Zoom is not available on all models. For example, iPhone SE (1st generation) and iPhone 5s don’t have it. Check Apple’s support page for your model.
I don’t see Display Zoom at all – Make sure your iOS is updated. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If you’re on an older iOS version, the option might be missing.
After restart, the size didn’t change – Go back to Settings > Display & Brightness > Display Zoom and check which option is selected. If it says “Standard” but you chose Zoomed, repeat the steps and make sure you tap “Set” and then “Use Zoomed.”
My iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo – This is rare, but if the restart takes longer than 2 minutes, force restart: press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears again. If it still doesn’t start, connect to a computer and use Finder (or iTunes on older macOS) to restore.
I want to go back to the previous size – Follow the same steps and choose the other option. The restart will happen again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Display Zoom affect battery life?

No, Display Zoom does not change battery consumption because it doesn’t alter the actual resolution or the number of pixels rendered. It only scales the interface.

Will Display Zoom make my photos look bigger?

Photos and videos will display at the same resolution. They may appear slightly larger or smaller on screen depending on the zoom mode, but the quality remains identical.

Can I use Display Zoom with True Tone or Night Shift?

Yes, Display Zoom is independent of True Tone, Night Shift, and other display settings. You can combine them freely.

Does Display Zoom work on all iPhones?

No, it’s available on iPhone 6 and newer, except for the first-generation iPhone SE. Check Apple’s support page for your specific model.

Will third-party apps look weird in Zoomed mode?

Most apps that follow Apple’s layout guidelines adapt well. Some older or poorly designed apps may have slightly cropped elements, but this is rare.

Is Display Zoom the same as changing the resolution?

No, it’s a software scaling feature. The actual resolution stays the same, so there’s no impact on performance or image sharpness.

Sources: Apple Support. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.