Accessibility Help Home | Internet Explorer 7 or 8


Change text size in Internet Explorer 7 or 8

This version of Internet Explorer has a zoom feature, which allows you to enlarge the entire browser window

To do this press 'Ctrl' + '+' to increase the zoom and 'Ctrl' + '-' to decrease the zoom.

You can also change the text size. The way to do this does depend on how the site has been built. For many sites you only need to do the following:
  • Open the 'Page' menu with the mouse or by pressing 'Alt' + 'P'.
  • Select the 'Text Size' option with the mouse or by pressing 'X'.
  • Choose your preferred text size by clicking on it or by using the up and down arrow keys to select it and then press 'Enter'.
  • The text on the website should now have changed to reflect your choice.
However some websites have fixed the size of their text ('hard-coded') and as a result these websites will not show the change you have just made. If you would like to use larger text on these sites follow the following steps:
  • Click on the 'Tools' menu with the mouse or press 'Alt' + 'O'.
  • Click on 'Internet Options' option with the mouse or press 'O'. You should now see the 'Internet Options' box.
  • Click on the 'Accessibility' button. This should bring up the 'Accessibility' dialog box.
  • Select the 'Ignore font sizes specified on webpages' checkbox or press 'Alt' + 'Z'.
  • Click the 'OK' button to return to the Internet Options box.
  • Click on the 'OK' button, or press 'Tab' until 'OK' is selected and then press 'Enter' to return to Internet Explorer.

Change Text and Background Colors in Internet Explorer

  • Open the 'Tools' menu with the mouse or by pressing 'Alt' + 'T'.
  • Select the 'Internet Options' option with the mouse or by pressing 'O'.
  • Select the 'Accessibility' button with the mouse or by pressing 'Alt' + 'E'
  • Check the 'Ignore colors specified on web page' checkbox with the mouse or by pressing 'Alt'+ 'C'
  • Click the 'OK' button with the mouse or press 'Enter' to return to 'Internet Options'.
At this point it might appear than little has happened, but what has changed is the website is now using the color scheme you have on your computer. If you are happy with the colors you do not need to take any further steps, just click 'OK' or press 'Enter' to return to the browser. If however you still need to change the text or background colors on the web page take the following steps:
  • With the 'Internet Options' box still open click on the 'Colors' button or press 'Alt' + 'O'.
  • The default setting is to have the 'Use Windows colors' option selected, to use your own colors click the box to remove the tick with the mouse or press 'Alt' + 'W'.
  • Select either the 'Text' button with the mouse or by pressing 'Alt' + 'T', or the 'Background' button with the mouse, or by pressing 'Alt' + 'B'.
  • Select the color of your choice with the mouse or by using the arrow keys to highlight it and then pressing 'Spacebar' to select.
  • Click the 'OK' button with the mouse or press 'Enter'.
  • Repeat the process of selecting a color for visited 'Alt' + 'I' and unvisited 'Alt' + 'N' links if needed.
  • When you have changed all the colors you want click 'OK' or press 'Enter' to return to the 'Internet Options' box.
  • Click the 'OK' button with the mouse or press 'Tab' until it is selected and press 'Enter' once which will return you to Internet Explorer.

Requesting Assistance

General Assistance

By calling 1-800-772-1213, you can use our automated telephone services to get recorded information and conduct some business 24 hours a day. If you cannot handle your business through our automated services, you can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Generally, you'll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. See Automated Services for more details.

Web Accessibility Problems

Please report website accessibility problems to the Social Security webmaster, webmaster@ssa.gov. In your message, include the website address or URL and the specific problems you have encountered.