Chromebook is zoomed in

If everything on the Chromebook screen suddenly looks way too big, it’s usually caused by an accidental zoom shortcut or an accessibility setting being turned on. Here’s how to get things back to normal.

1️⃣ Try the Keyboard Shortcut (Most Common Fix)

Chromebooks have built-in zoom shortcuts that students often hit by accident.

To zoom out, press:
Ctrl + Minus (–)

To reset to normal zoom, press:
Ctrl + 0

To zoom in, press:
Ctrl + Plus (+) (just in case)

💬 Pro Tip: If only the browser looks zoomed in, this shortcut will fix it immediately.

2️⃣ Check the System-Wide Zoom (Display Size)

If the entire Chromebook interface (taskbar, apps, settings) looks big — not just Chrome — the Display Size may have been changed.

Click the clock in the bottom-right corner.
Select the gear icon to open Settings.
Go to Device → Displays.
Look for Display size and move the slider toward Smaller.

This changes the size of everything on the screen, not just websites.

3️⃣ Check Accessibility Settings (Full-Screen or Docked Magnifier)

Sometimes the screen magnifier gets turned on accidentally.

A. Turn Off Full-Screen Magnifier

If the entire screen is zoomed and you can pan around with the mouse:

Press Ctrl + Search + M to toggle the magnifier.

B. Turn Off Docked Magnifier

If the top half of the screen is zoomed in and the bottom half looks normal:

Press Ctrl + Search + D to disable it.

4️⃣ Restart the Chromebook

If you’ve tried the steps above and the zoom is still stuck:

Hold Refresh (⟳) + Power
Release, wait a few seconds
The Chromebook will reboot and reset display settings

💬 Pro Tip: Keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + Plus/Minus/0 and Ctrl + Search + M are the most common triggers — a quick class reminder often prevents repeat issues.

💬 Pro Tip: Touchscreen models can trigger zoom gestures with pinch motions. Clean the screen and ensure there are no stuck touches.

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