Your Mac screen is zoomed in and won't go back

Why it happens

Your Mac has a built-in magnifier called Zoom. It's easy to trigger by accident with a keyboard shortcut, or by holding Control while you scroll. Your files are fine, the whole screen is just magnified, which is why it slides around as you move the pointer.

How to fix it

1. Hold Option and Command and press the minus key several times until the screen is back to normal. Option-Command-8 switches Zoom off completely.

2. If you zoomed in by scrolling, hold Control and scroll the other way with two fingers on the trackpad, or with the mouse wheel.

3. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, click Accessibility, then Zoom. Turn off Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom so the keys can't set it off again.

   Accessibility›Zoom›Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom

4. On the same page, turn off Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom if scrolling started it. Leave it on if you like zooming that way, and just mind the Control key.

   Accessibility›Zoom›Use scroll gesture with modifier keys to zoom

Still not fixed?

1. If everything looks big but the screen doesn't slide around, it isn't Zoom. Your display resolution is set to a larger size. Open Displays and pick a size towards More Space.

   Displays›Resolution

2. If only one app or web page is big, that app is zoomed. Press Command-minus inside it, or Command-0 in Safari and most browsers to reset the size.

3. If a box of accessibility features pops up when you press Option-Command-F5 or triple-press Touch ID, untick Zoom in Accessibility > Shortcut.

   Accessibility›Shortcut

4. If the screen zooms on its own with no keys pressed, check for a stuck Control or Option key, or try another keyboard. If it still happens, contact Apple Support, as the keyboard may need a repair.