Change Hover Text settings for accessibility on Mac

On your Mac, use Hover Text settings to turn on Hover Text or Hover Typing, customise their appearance and more.

To change these settings, choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Hover Text. (You may need to scroll down.)

Open Hover Text settings for me

Option	Description
Hover Text	View a large, high-resolution version of text you’re reading, as well as other onscreen items like app icons. See Show a larger version of text when you move the pointer over it. To customise Hover Text, click , then set any of the following options: Text size and Text font: Choose the size and font for text shown in the Hover Text window. By default, the font is the same as your system font. Activation modifier: Choose the modifier key to press to activate Hover Text. Triple-press modifier to set activation lock: Keep Hover Text active for a period of time — for example, when filling in a form — without needing to press the modifier key every time you move the pointer over text. Quickly press the modifier key three times to turn the activation lock on or off. Colours: Choose the colour of the text in the Hover Text window or the colours for the window itself. You can also choose a colour to outline the text or item you’re hovering over.
Hover Typing	Display a larger, editable version of text as you type it. See Show a larger version of text you’re typing. To customise Hover Typing, click , then set any of the following options: Text size and Text font: Choose the size and font for text shown in the Hover Typing window. By default, the font is the same as your system font. Text entry location: Choose the position of the Hover Typing window — for example, you can position it near the line where you’re entering text or at the bottom left of the screen. To set your own position, choose Custom, then drag the window to where you want it shown. Colours: Choose the colour of the text in the Hover Typing window, the colour of the insertion point, or the colours of the Hover Typing window. You can also choose a colour to outline the text entry field you’re hovering over.

Option

Description

Hover Text

View a large, high-resolution version of text you’re reading, as well as other onscreen items like app icons. See Show a larger version of text when you move the pointer over it.

To customise Hover Text, click , then set any of the following options:

Text size and Text font: Choose the size and font for text shown in the Hover Text window. By default, the font is the same as your system font.
Activation modifier: Choose the modifier key to press to activate Hover Text.
Triple-press modifier to set activation lock: Keep Hover Text active for a period of time — for example, when filling in a form — without needing to press the modifier key every time you move the pointer over text. Quickly press the modifier key three times to turn the activation lock on or off.
Colours: Choose the colour of the text in the Hover Text window or the colours for the window itself. You can also choose a colour to outline the text or item you’re hovering over.

Hover Typing

Display a larger, editable version of text as you type it. See Show a larger version of text you’re typing.

To customise Hover Typing, click , then set any of the following options:

Text size and Text font: Choose the size and font for text shown in the Hover Typing window. By default, the font is the same as your system font.
Text entry location: Choose the position of the Hover Typing window — for example, you can position it near the line where you’re entering text or at the bottom left of the screen.
To set your own position, choose Custom, then drag the window to where you want it shown.
Colours: Choose the colour of the text in the Hover Typing window, the colour of the insertion point, or the colours of the Hover Typing window. You can also choose a colour to outline the text entry field you’re hovering over.

Helpful?

Mac User Guide

Change Hover Text settings for accessibility on Mac