How to Magnify Text on Hover in macOS 13

macOS 13 Ventura includes an accessibility feature called Hover Text, which displays a high-resolution, magnified view of any text beneath your cursor. This guide outlines how to enable Hover Text, use the activation key to magnify on-screen items instantly, and customize settings such as text size, font, and background colors to suit your visual preferences.

How to Turn On Hover Text

  1. Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of the screen and select System Settings.
  2. In the left sidebar, click Accessibility.
  3. Under the Vision section on the right, click Hover Text.
  4. Toggle the switch next to Hover Text to the On position.

How to Use Hover Text

  1. Move your mouse pointer over any text on the screen (such as web pages, documents, app menus, or system dialogs).
  2. Press and hold the Command (⌘) key.
  3. A floating window will appear showing a large, magnified version of the text beneath the pointer.
  4. Release the Command key to dismiss the magnified text box.

How to Customize Hover Text

You can adjust how the magnified text appears and which key triggers the feature:

  1. Return to System Settings > Accessibility > Hover Text.
  2. Click the Info (i) button next to the Hover Text toggle.
  3. Adjust the available settings:
    • Text size: Move the slider to increase or decrease the magnification size.
    • Text font: Choose a preferred font from the drop-down menu.
    • Text display location: Set where the magnified text box appears relative to the cursor (e.g., docked or following the cursor).
    • Activation modifier: Change the trigger key from Command to Option, Control, or another key if preferred.
    • Colors: Customize the text color, background color, and border color for optimal contrast.
  4. Click Done to save your preferences.