joe smith 1513

Q: how do you change the size of the font in the menu bar running Maverick?

On Maverick, how do you change the size of the menu bar font?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 24, 2013 2:57 PM

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Q: how do you change the size of the font in the menu bar running Maverick?

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  • by Carolyn Samit,Helpful

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Oct 24, 2013 3:10 PM in response to joe smith 1513
    Level 10 (120,256 points)
    Apple Watch
    Oct 24, 2013 3:10 PM in response to joe smith 1513

    The only way to increase the size is to try a different display resolution.

     

    Open System Preferences > Displays > Display > Scaled

     

     

    And try increasing the contrast in System Preferences > Accessibility > Display

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Oct 24, 2013 3:10 PM in response to joe smith 1513
    Level 9 (55,682 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 24, 2013 3:10 PM in response to joe smith 1513

    Those fonts can't be changed.

  • by ds store,

    ds store ds store Oct 24, 2013 3:16 PM in response to joe smith 1513
    Level 7 (30,395 points)
    Oct 24, 2013 3:16 PM in response to joe smith 1513

    This might help, but it's only for web browsing.

     

    Web browsing for hard of seeing users

     

     

    Also in Accessibility in System Preferences with a scroll wheel mouse, it's possible to set a hot key, like control + mouse wheel will zoom in/out where the pointer is at.

     

    I find this incredibly fast method to zoom in on anything.

  • by rauckr,

    rauckr rauckr Nov 15, 2013 12:59 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 15, 2013 12:59 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    I appreciate your effort to help but asking the customer to degrade the screen resolution in order to fix a font size that is too small is really no solution. Customers pay good money to get large scree iMacs or other similar products with Hi-Res screens and certainly do not want to compromise the resolution just because the font is too small. It is hard to believe that there is no third party application that can do this.

  • by dionysis78749,

    dionysis78749 dionysis78749 Nov 25, 2013 10:37 AM in response to rauckr
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Nov 25, 2013 10:37 AM in response to rauckr

    I agree wholeheartedly.  I shelled out big bucks for my 17" MacBookPro precisely because of my vision difficulties so I'd have a nice big screen.  Now I have to give up resolution on my entire display just so I don't have to try to read horrendously small fonts?  That's not right. I'd call it a definite case of discrimination. Wish I could rally a class-action suit over this, I think it would definitely have merit.

  • by JJsmooth,

    JJsmooth JJsmooth Jan 19, 2014 8:53 PM in response to joe smith 1513
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2014 8:53 PM in response to joe smith 1513

    I agree as well.  Apple need to fix this.  I'm starting to get annoyed with the lack of freedom in Apple's products...

  • by S.I.M.,

    S.I.M. S.I.M. Mar 29, 2014 2:03 PM in response to joe smith 1513
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 29, 2014 2:03 PM in response to joe smith 1513

    Yes.  One of the asinine ways in which subsequent software versions remove the fine control users need.  Os 9 used to have this setting, and I loved it.  Removes eye strain while retaining the high resolution.  After that, I did change resolution, but it's not satisfying.  Now, on Mavericks, I can't even do that.  The menu bar submenu for displays has disappeared, and when I change resolution through the displays menu, it doesn't seem to want to stick.  I am doing various workarounds on each program, which is ridiculous.  And stll can't change the top menu typefast.  Why dumb things down, Apple designers?

  • by Bob Greenspan,

    Bob Greenspan Bob Greenspan Apr 22, 2014 12:15 PM in response to rauckr
    Level 1 (75 points)
    Apr 22, 2014 12:15 PM in response to rauckr

    I agree. I just went from 24 inch Cinema Display to 27 inch Cinema. The Menu fonts are Too Small for me. Changing the Resolution is a Bad Idea because it causes everything to be jagged and out of focus.

     

    Of course we can increase the Font Size in Web Pages by Command + or by doing it in the menu bar under VIEW (I'm using Chrome) but that does not increase Menu Fonts, just the print on the page.

     

    If someone finds a solution for increasing MENU Fonts, please post.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 22, 2014 12:32 PM in response to JJsmooth
    Level 9 (69,981 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 22, 2014 12:32 PM in response to JJsmooth

    Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.


    Feedback

  • by WriterTX,

    WriterTX WriterTX Apr 30, 2014 10:47 AM in response to joe smith 1513
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 30, 2014 10:47 AM in response to joe smith 1513

    This helped...and I share the frustration of those who feel that for the money we've spent, we should be able to read the menu bar!

  • by dkinsbru,

    dkinsbru dkinsbru May 14, 2014 7:22 AM in response to joe smith 1513
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2014 7:22 AM in response to joe smith 1513

    This is unbelievable guys, I purchased a MBPR 13" two months ago after a few weeks reading reviews about it...strange, but never heard about this font issue...otherwise I could choosed another laptop...now I feel I paid a lot of money for a non retina MBP because I had to lower screen resoulution...;-(...APPLE DESIGNERS, ARE YOU PLANNING TO FIX THIS ISSUE?

  • by dkinsbru,

    dkinsbru dkinsbru May 14, 2014 7:27 AM in response to dkinsbru
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2014 7:27 AM in response to dkinsbru

    Sent my feedback already:

    Thank you for your feedback on the MacBook Pro.

    We cannot respond to you personally, but please know that your message has been received and will be reviewed by the MacBook Pro Team. If we need to follow up with you on your ideas for improving the MacBook Pro, we will contact you directly.

    We appreciate your assistance in making the MacBook Pro a great computer.

    MacBook Pro Team
    Apple

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang May 14, 2014 7:36 AM in response to rauckr
    Level 8 (37,696 points)
    May 14, 2014 7:36 AM in response to rauckr

    but asking the customer to degrade the screen resolution in order to fix a font size that is too small is really no solution.

    How much you paid for your computer is of no concern here. The question is if the font size can be increased. Carolyn gave the correct answer as it is currently the only way to do so. She didn't say it was a great, or good way to do it. It's simply the only option users have at this time.

    Wish I could rally a class-action suit over this, I think it would definitely have merit.

    It most definitely would not. You would have to prove some sort of liability, safety concern, or financial loss directly related to the issue. None of those apply to, "I don't like the size of the font."

     

    As has been mentioned, your only recourse (that doesn't involve simply changing the resolution to a lower setting) is to send feedback requesting a feature change.

  • by dkinsbru,

    dkinsbru dkinsbru May 14, 2014 7:59 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 14, 2014 7:59 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    Of course it is a concern if you paid for a high res screen and you can not work with with because the fixed font is incredible small...

     

    Carolyn gave the only possible answer, well done, but it is clearly not enough for Mac users complaining about this issue...

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