Starting with Android 7.0 Nougat, you can make elements on the screen smaller or larger with the “Display size” setting.
There are so many Android devices with different screen resolutions and pixel density that it’s up to manufacturers to set the appropriate density settings (ro.sf.lcd_density). This allows the operating system and apps to scale properly on and display the same amount of content on a small as well as on larger screen.
On Android Nougat, besides the ability to change the font size, users also get a new “Display size” setting that allows them to quickly change the scale of everything on the screen without hacks or workarounds.
The new settings let you make items look on your screen smaller or larger. This is particular useful for users with difficulty seeing things on the screen, as they can easily make items bigger. And it’s a great feature for those users who want to see more content on the screen by changing the scale to “small”.
In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to change display size density on your Android phone or tablet.
How to change display size settings on Android
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Open Settings.
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Select Display.
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Select Display size.
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Use the “-“ or “+” buttons and use the preview to decide which scaling setting is appropriate for you.
How to change font size on Android
Whether you choose to use the scaling settings to “small” or “large”, you can also independently change the font size to best match preferences.
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Open Settings.
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Select Display.
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Select Font size.
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Use the buttons to either make font smaller or larger.
This is a small improvement, but a welcome addition on Nougat, as it’s a very useful feature in a world where we have hundreds (if not thousands) of Android phone, tablets, and phablets with different screen resolutions and pixel density.
The addition of the Display size settings will make easier for users to change the display density without having to resource to “lcd_density” hacks. And best of all, the changes apply very smoothly without needing to reboot your device.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].