How do I make my default system font larger on my 2024 Mac Mini M4

Your best choice, if available, is probably to select an option saying HiDPI.

This will render text at a larger size, and use all the underlying pixels for full resolution images, as well as more detailed text rendering.

For example, a 1920x1080 HiDPI (if available), will show the interface as if 1920x1080 but render all images and video using the underlying full resolution of 3840x2160 (thus, it would be able to display pixel per pixel, a full HD video inside the Final Cut Pro interface, for example).

dialabrain wrote:

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

Your best choice, if available, is probably to select an option saying HiDPI.

Morning Luis. I just have a quick question about your reply. I don't have a Mini or any external monitors. Is "HiDPI" exclusive to Macs without a built in screen? The reason I ask is because the only optional resolutions I have on my Macs are marked "Low Resolution". I would have thought all default resolutions are "HiDPI".

As far as I can tell, the option being present or not depends not on the Mac but on what sort of external display is used. Alas, I only have an old 24" monitor that is only 1080p, not 4K, capable, so I don't see any HiDPI options.

As I understand it, if one has a display which is capable of very high resolution in dpi - i.e. actual resolution and not pixel count (thus this might be the case, say, with a 24" 4K monitor, but probably not the case with a 55" tv with the same 4K pixels), then one should have these HiDPI options.

Again, I can't try it for lack of anything higher than 1920x1080 (with the exception of the gorgeous internal screen of my 14" MBP :-))

There's no method to globally change the text size separate from the resolution.

RVen4Ever wrote:

I am literally a few days old on my first Mac System so if this is an easy fix please don't flame me to bad. I have tried and searched for a few hours and have a few more grey hairs added as a result.

Running Sequoia 15.5 and when using higher resolutions on a LG C4 TV. I literally have to walk up to the screen to read it. I have tried increasing font size for default programs (Accessibility/Text/Text Size) but this is not really a solution that works for everything so I have so txt that I can sorta read at high rez and default system font that is microscopic unless I run 1920 x 1080 which is a complete and total waste when I have upgraded my system peripherals to handle up to 3840 x 2160 . I know my old windows was easy as pie to scale up the txt size to run on more advanced resolutions. Is there anything I can do to increase default txt size for all programs/default system windows and menu bars

I see this is a common issue with past Mac OS's from comments I have read both here and in other forums. Have they fixed it with Sequoia or is it a secret lol ?

The default system font in macOS is SF Pro, according to Apple's developer documentation. It is a neutral, flexible, sans-serif typeface that provides optimal legibility across different sizes and weights. 

SF Pro is used as the system font for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. 

Prior to macOS El Capitan, the system font was Helvetica Neue, and before that, Lucida Grande was used. San Francisco, also known as SF, was introduced with OS X El Capitan and has been the default system font ever since. 

I believe the font size is 12 points by default

Apart from what has been already provided

This is no " Fix " per se

Respectfully

Apple does what Apple believes is best for Apple

They have worked that way for decades

There is no reason to believe this will change any time soon

Being a older person with definite sight issues, in part due to age and other factors

Yes, there are times where I need to get my Trifocals reassessed for better viewing

Have even purchased a pair of Computer Centric glasses

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

Your best choice, if available, is probably to select an option saying HiDPI.

Morning Luis. I just have a quick question about your reply. I don't have a Mini or any external monitors. Is "HiDPI" exclusive to Macs without a built in screen? The reason I ask is because the only optional resolutions I have on my Macs are marked "Low Resolution". I would have thought all default resolutions are "HiDPI".

I forgot to add: the default resolution on the internal display IS HiDPI - i.e., the size is like 1512x982 (thus large-ish text) but the rendering of text and images uses all the physical 3024x1964 pixels for smooth subpixel text and images are displayed with physical, not virtual, pixels.

That's what I thought. It seems the only solutions are computer glasses or perhaps binoculars. 🤔

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

I forgot to add: the default resolution on the internal display IS HiDPI

Thanks. That's what I thought. Apparently the HiDPI setting is only available with external monitors.