The File Explorer in Windows 10 is fairly customizable. You can change folder icons, drive icons, add or remove folders from Favorites, show or hide the ribbon, and do much more.
Up until now, one of the issues with File Explorer and Windows 10 was that there was no way to change the font size of File Explorer and other areas of the operating system. The only workaround was to change the scaling, but it has its own issues.
Fortunately, starting with Windows 10 Redstone 5, there is a built-in option in Windows 10 to change the text size of all areas, including the File Explorer.
The only downside of this new option is that it doesn’t allow you to change the font size of only the File Explorer. In short, when you increase or reduce the text size of File Explorer, the new text size is applied to other areas of the operating system as well.
If you find the default font size used in File Explorer and other areas of Windows 10 is a little smaller than what you like, you can change it. Here is how to do that.
Change Windows 10 File Explorer text size
As mentioned before, you must be running version 1809 (Redstone 5) or later versions of Windows 10 in order to change the File Explorer font size. To check the version number, type Winver.exe in the search box and then hit the Enter key.
Step 1: Open the Settings app and navigate to Ease of Access > Display.
Step 2: Under the Make text bigger section, move the slider towards the right side of the screen edge to increase the text size.
The “Sample text” box located just above the slider displays the live preview of the new text size. If you are happy with the new text size, click the Apply button.
The good thing is that you don’t need to log out to apply the change. The new font size will be applied in a few seconds after you click the Apply button.
How to change the default font in Windows 10 guide might also interest you.
Mark says
Remember how back in the Windows 3.1 days and maybe the windows 95 days, you could change a variety of font sizes.
Being visually impaired, I got a 4k monitor, but some fonts just don’t change no matter what you do, filemanager menus for example or the time at the bottom right. I have my scaling set to 175% and have that font slider about in the middle. Parts of windows are still microscopic, and some programs such as Quickbooks desktop continue to be microscopic.
Microsoft has gone backwards in their Windows implementation.
SAM says
Works great. Thanks!
ClancyCat says
Even WITH the slider, it does not work. Nothing, nothing changes the text size in Windows Explorer, and it’s making me insane. The magnifying glass function is literally horrible, that’s out.
URGH, how could MSFT overlook something so obvious, so basic?
Christopher Chandler says
Complete waste of time… again… this WILL NOT change the font size INSIDE windows explorer….
James Vormelker says
It performed exactly as promised. I am pleased.
michael lee says
too bad it doesnt actually work.
you can change that setting all you want and the explorer window will still show the tiny default font
Kosh Vasudeva says
Nice with this information I manage my work and increase size of font in windows explore and icons.
Greg Laden says
This does not seem to change the size of font in the explorer itself, though it does for other parts of the interface.
Nico says
This changes font fro ALL windows, including desktop.
I only need a bigger font size for in the explorer window.
Is that also possible?
Roman says
I have just chaged the font size and font family for File Explorer using Winaero Tweaker (Windows 10, ver. 20H2).
Goto [Apearence Setting] -> [Icons] section of navigation panel.
Michael G E says
Settings – Display – Scale and layout – “Change the size of text, apps and other items” –
(Custom) Advanced scaling settings
Debbie Berkley says
Winaero Tweaker no longer changes the size of the system font. Just the font. The size still stays tiny for File Explorer. I need a way to make that font bigger. It’s way too small for my older-person eyes.
Your Mom says
> winareo tweaker will set your fonts anywhere in windows just like you want them
No, actually, it won’t.
You can set various fonts, but you can’t do anything about the File Explorer font.
You also can’t change the Icon font for the desktop.
D says
I’m with Katie, on Windows 10 Home edition, the slider is there (it was removed previously I think, but you can now just search for “text size” in the start menu then press enter). However, the fonts sizing isn’t applied to File Explorer. Other UI elements change nicely but not File Explorer.
Katie says
The font size in File Explorer is tiny and does not seem to be controlled by the Slider/instructions above. Is there any way to change my File Explorer font size? and/or get it to follow the default size in the instructions above?
ReallyafterAlltheseYears says
Im on Windows 10 Enterprise Developm./Insider build (current MAY 2019)
I was waiting for this feature for decades and i didnt even notice they added it, because MS emphasizes to advertise features noone asked for and needs :)
It works instantly across all apps it increases the UI elements as well as the fonts and it is NOT that crap scaling feature we had to endure for so long.
Finally a windows file explorer and a STEAM interface that is displayed in 4k 32″ at a size and proportion that is correct and crisp. Im at 40% size increase at a 150% scaling . The fonts look awesome, theres no Antialiasing problem. The changes worked without any flaw while i was in chrome watching a video.
Wonderful!
Dave says
No slider exists on the latest Windows 10.
Microsoft couldn’t care less about disabled access. The font adjustment is gone and there’s a known bug that manifests when you set the overall zoom higher than 100%. Here the cursor you’ve chosen changes to the tiny old white one whenever you move it over certain things on the screen. This hasn’t been fixed (but has been open for well over a year), despite it limiting access for disabled users. Linux is completely free and is infinitely more accessible
Susan Berry says
I don’t have that slider for changing text size in my version of Windows 10! Yeesh.
Al Jamison says
winareo tweaker will set your fonts anywhere in windows just like you want them
Olufemi Ogunnaike says
How about changing the typeface.