Big Sur Screen fonts are terrible

Change the text font and size in Messages preferences and you'll get a more readable message:

Also, using Dark Mode with Increase Contrast and Reduce Transparency enabled greatly improves readability throughout.

You can increase contrast both in the light and dark mode by going to the System/Accessibility/Display group and checking the "Increase Contrast" and "Decrease Transparency" checkboxes. I prefer the Dark Mode as it's easier on my eyes.

I also use the Dark Reader extension in Safari to give me this:



There is another thread looking at system font and what I have found is that you can change the screen resolution : System Preferences, Display and Scaled. You lose very little in terms of resolution (at least on 27inch iMac) and gain a lot on system fonts. See if that helps. I would feedback to Apple about this issue both in feedback and accessibility. I am even a bit older than 50 something and yes as we get older, the fonts need to be readable.

Amir-Ali ADLE wrote:

As for the menu bar, now we have to "choose" a background image that does not dissolve the menu bar!

Not necessarily. Try playing with the "Reduce Transparency" and "Increase Contrast" checkboxes in the System/Accessability/Display preference pane.

In Light Mode:

In Dark Mode:

I did not like it with my 50 something eyes either. Things like toolbars were too white not enough contrast and fonts tended to look more grey than black. I went back to Catalina because everything was easier on my eyes. I suppose using Accessibility features or Dark mode might help but I tried several options and gave up. I worked with Big Sur for a couple weeks and couldn't get used to the changes.

Dreeeeeee wrote: "APPLE should READ this stuff."

Apple will read your feedback here:

macOS Feedback

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I have some problems with Fonts and contrast, but you can chose in a small alternatives the difference color themes

I use some personal Fonts and I don't have access to the fonts screen or carpet to add those fonts.

I have the problem when I highlight a part of text to edit, It is hard to see the highlight no matter normal or dark mode

Looks like when Microsoft engineers thing for the users when they made changes on their products reducing the user options or changing the way to do the things

Also you have to check the printer, it has problems like no longer option to print in black only, among other minor issues.

I agree my 50 something eyes noticed the slightly smaller text on a lot of UI items. Safari history and Favorites as well have reduced text size. I have gone back to using Chrome more because it seems to be easier for my eyes. Yeah the Menu Bar has also shrank a bit and the transparency is a problem with certain backgrounds too.

Finally upgraded today and I feel like all this grey text on white is giving me a headache, like I'm trying to see through fog. I can't adjust the contrast in Accessibility because I work with Photoshop, Final Cut, After Effects etc. and need to see images accurately displayed. How about an option to just make system text darker?

I agree and it is across the board. everything has become smaller and more hard to read. In safari for example the bookmark bar titles are Dimmed !!! As for the menu bar, now we have to "choose" a background image that does not dissolve the menu bar!

Thank you for the support, yes accessibility work to some extent (beside the fact that it add a white line around the dock for example), but every time I open safari its like getting a camera flash in my eyes !!! everything is soooo "white". I don't want to be liken old sentimental goose but this is when you notice Steve jobs is not around anymore. I bet they did a lots of Focus group with barely millennials !!!!

Stan in London Said:

“I must say that I find systems fonts far too small. I tried increasing menu size, I cannot spot the difference. The bookmarks on safari are too small. For me this is a real problem, not sure I can really use this if not fixed. I have sent feedback but that is not satisfying.”

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👍

Giving Feedback does it’s Part:

Though submitting feedback may be not a satisfying way to go about solving something, it will get the word out, most certainly.

Hogni Said:

"Big Sur Screen fonts are terrible: The desing in Big Sur is terrible. The icons in Mail are barely visible and the folders in the general system are ugly. This is the worst design since I started to use Mac in 1988."

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Provide your Feedback to Apple.

Yes, we have tried this as well but the overall result is disappointing on powerbooks. Again, it is not only the fonts, in safari for example it is more difficult to move the window because you do not know where to "grab" the window to move it. for example try to grab the window by pointing the mouse on top of the one of the icons (share, new tab, previous page etc ...). This even applies to some of icons on the desktop (a movie icon with play arrow for example) you have to drag them by their title. The whole user interface is also so BRIGHT and WHITE. The icons overall have become "clinical and cold" (agreed its a matter of taste).

regards