How to Change Font on iPhone (2026 Guide)

Having difficulty reading on your iPhone's display due to the small font size? Or do you feel that the text is taking up a lot of space on the screen? Either way, while iOS does not let you change the default font style on your device, there are multiple ways to change your iPhone's default text size according to your preference. And we have outlined all the different methods on how to change font on iPhone in this read. 

What Is the iPhone's Default Font Size?

When you set up any Apple iPhone, iOS lets you pick between nine different options as your preferred text size. You can choose to make the text smaller or larger by dragging across the slider. But by default, it is set to the middle setting, which works for most people out of the box.

This font size is applied across the entire iOS system as well as apps, including Settings, Messages, Mail, Safari, and any app that supports Apple's Dynamic Type feature.

However, apps that use custom fonts, such as some games or third-party tools, may not follow this setting. That said, if your iPhone's default text size feels too small to read or is uncomfortably big, then here are some ways to change the font on iOS. 

How to Change Font on iPhone

Now, to make sure that we cover all the possible ways to change font on the iPhone, I checked Reddit threads as well as Apple Forums. Based on all the information I gathered from there, here are all the working methods to change the text size on your iPhone. 

Adjust iPhone Default Text Size 

This is the quickest and most straightforward way to adjust the iPhone's default text size across the entire system. It works on all iPhone models, from older ones to the latest iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro. 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on Display & Brightness.
2. Here, select Text Size.

3. Drag the slider leftwards to make text smaller or rightwards to make it larger.

The text size across the system will now implement the newly chosen setting. 

Increase Text Size Using Accessibility Settings

If you need text even larger than what the standard slider offers, you can do so via the Accessibility settings on your iPhone. 

1. Open the Settings app and head over to Accessibility > Display and Text Size.

2. Here, tap on Larger Text and turn on the Larger Accessibility Sizes toggle at the top.
3. Now, drag the bottom slider to set your preferred size.

Change Font Size for a Specific App 

In case you want to change the font size in just one or two apps without affecting the text size on the rest of the iPhone, then that is also possible through the Accessibility settings. This is only available on iOS 15-supported devices, like the iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone 11 and newer. 

1. Open the Settings app and head over to Accessibility > Per-App Settings.

2. Here, tap on Add App under "App Customisation" and select the app you want to adjust.
3. Once added, tap on the app to apply a custom text size.
4. Now, under "Display & Text Size", select Larger Text.
5. Use the slider to set a custom size for that app only.

Apply Bold Font Style on iPhone 

If you still find it hard to read the text, turning on Bold Text can make a noticeable difference. It thickens the font weight across the system, making everything from Settings to Messages easier to read.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and select Display and Brightness.
2. Here, turn on the Bold Text toggle.

Get Bold Font Style for a Specific App 

Similar to how we increased the text size for a particular app on the iPhone, we can do the same to get a bold font style for a single app. This will not affect other apps on the device, except for the selected one. 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Accessibility > Per-App Settings.

2. Here, tap on Add App under "App Customisation" and select the app whose font you want to change.
3. Once added, tap on the app to apply bold text.
4. Under the "Display & Text Size" section, tap on Bold Text and select On.

Having Issues Changing Your iPhone's Default Text Size? Try out These Fixes

If your text size changes are not applying properly or something feels off, then try out these tips to see if it helps solve the issue. 

• Text size changes are not applying: This usually means the app does not support Apple's Dynamic Type. Check if the app has its own font size setting, as some apps like Reddit and Twitter handle this independently.
• Text size keeps changing back: If the text size keeps changing back to the default, then go to Settings > Accessibility > Per-App Settings and check if that app has a custom size overriding your system setting. Remove it and set the size again from the Display & Brightness menu.
• Try restarting your iPhone: If you have just applied the new text size, and yet you cannot see any difference, then restart your iPhone. This usually cleans up any software issues or glitches.
• Text looks too small/large after an iOS update: iOS updates can occasionally reset accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size and readjust the slider to your preferred size.
• Per-App font size settings are missing: This feature requires iOS 15 or later. If you are on an older version, update your iPhone under Settings > General > Software Update.

Changing the font and text size on your iPhone is easier than most people expect once you know where to look. For most users, adjusting the iPhone default text size from Display and Brightness and toggling on Bold Text is more than enough. If you need more granular control, Per-App Settings and third-party tools like iFont give you plenty to work with.