How to Change Font on Any Website: A Guide for Dyslexic Readers
If you're dyslexic, you've probably noticed that some websites feel impossible to read. The font might be too small, too cramped, or styled in a way that makes letters blur together. The good news is you don't have to struggle through poorly designed websites. There are several practical methods to change font on any website, and we'll walk you through them.
Whether you're a student trying to read course materials, a parent helping your child with homework, or a teacher preparing resources, learning how to adjust fonts can transform your reading experience. Let's explore your options.
Use Your Browser's Built-in Font Settings
The simplest way to change font on any website is through your browser itself. Most modern browsers let you increase text size and adjust font settings without installing anything extra.
In Chrome: Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner, go to Settings, then find "Appearance". You can increase the font size using the slider. Chrome also has a "Zoom" feature that enlarges everything on the page, including images and buttons.
In Firefox: Open the menu (hamburger icon), select Preferences, then Fonts & Colours. You can choose your default font, increase the minimum font size, and select a serif or sans-serif preference. Firefox also lets you override a website's font choices entirely.
In Safari (Mac): Go to Safari menu > Preferences > Appearance. Adjust the default font size. You can also use the zoom feature by pressing Command and the plus sign.
In Edge: Similar to Chrome, click the settings menu and adjust your text size preferences.
The advantage of browser settings is simplicity. You don't need to learn anything complicated. The disadvantage is that you're limited to what the browser offers, and not all sites respect your changes equally.
Install a Font Extension for Complete Control
If browser settings aren't enough, a browser extension gives you much more power to change font on any website. Extensions can override the site's original font choices and apply your preferred typeface globally.
Dyslexly is a free Chrome extension that does exactly this, plus much more. It includes OpenDyslexic, a font specifically designed for dyslexic readers, with heavier letter bottoms and increased spacing that reduces letter reversals and improves tracking. Beyond fonts, Dyslexly offers colour overlays to reduce visual stress, text-to-speech to hear content aloud, line focus to highlight one line at a time, and word simplification to replace complex terms with easier alternatives.
Other popular font extensions include:
Font Changer: Lets you select from a library of fonts and apply them to any website.
Stylus: An advanced extension that lets you write custom CSS rules to change fonts, colours, and layouts on specific sites.
Mercury Reader: Strips away distracting elements and applies a clean, readable design to articles.
To install an extension, open your browser's extension store (Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, etc.), search for your chosen tool, and click Add or Install. Most are free.
Use Operating System Accessibility Settings
You can change font on any website by adjusting your computer's accessibility settings. These changes apply system-wide, affecting not just websites but all text on your device.
On Windows: Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Display. You'll find options to increase text size, change contrast, and make text bold. These settings apply across most applications.
On Mac: Open System Preferences > Accessibility > Display. You can increase contrast, enable larger cursor, and adjust font sizes.
On iPad or iPhone: Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. You can increase text size, bold text, increase contrast, and enable larger accessibility sizes.
The benefit of OS-level changes is consistency. Every website, app, and document will respect these settings. The downside is you can't customise per-website, so you're locked into one setup.
Try Reader Modes and Distraction-Free Views
Most modern browsers include a "Reader Mode" that extracts article text and displays it in a clean, readable format with a font the browser has chosen specifically for legibility.
In Chrome and Edge: Reader mode isn't built-in, but you can use extensions like Mercury Reader or Dyslexly to achieve similar effects.
In Firefox: Click the small book icon that appears in the address bar when you're on an article. Firefox will strip away ads, sidebars, and navigation, leaving just the text in a readable layout with a serif font. You can then change the font, text size, and colour within Reader Mode.
In Safari: Click the Show Reader button (it looks like lines of text) in the address bar on compatible pages.
Reader modes aren't available on every page, but when they are, they're incredibly effective. You can change font on any website's article content within these modes, though they work best on long-form content like news articles and blog posts.
Combine Settings for Your Ideal Setup
The most effective approach is often combining multiple methods. For example, you might:
Use your browser's zoom feature to increase overall size, then install Dyslexly to access OpenDyslexic font and colour overlays for additional visual support. Layer in text-to-speech to multitask while reading. Enable your OS accessibility settings to increase system-wide contrast. Add a Reader Mode extension for article-heavy sites.
Start with one change and test it for a few days. If it helps, keep it. If you need more, add another. Everyone's needs differ, and some combinations work better for some people than others.
Make These Changes Stick
Once you've found settings that work, save them:
For browser extensions: Most settings are automatic once installed. Check the extension's options menu (usually accessible by right-clicking the extension icon) and save your preferred font, size, and colour choices.
For browser settings: These typically save automatically, but sync them across devices if your browser supports it (Chrome and Firefox do).
For OS settings: Changes usually apply immediately and persist until you change them again.
If you're using a school or work computer where you can't install extensions, focus on browser and OS settings instead. These almost always work on any device.
Conclusion
Learning how to change font on any website is one of the most practical skills for improving your reading experience. Whether you use browser settings, accessibility features, extensions, or a combination of all three, you have genuine control over what you read and how you read it. You shouldn't have to struggle with poorly designed websites. Take 10 minutes today to implement at least one of these methods, and you'll likely find reading online significantly easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing font settings affect my school or work accounts? No. Browser extensions and OS accessibility settings are personal to your device. Websites won't know you've changed fonts on your end. However, if you're using a work or school device, check your organisation's policy before installing extensions, as some IT departments restrict what can be added.
Can I change font on mobile phones and tablets? Yes. Both iOS and Android have built-in accessibility settings that increase text size and adjust font properties system-wide. Browser apps like Chrome and Safari also have zoom and text-size features in their settings. Extensions like Dyslexly currently work on desktop Chrome, but mobile accessibility tools are improving rapidly.
What's the best font for dyslexic readers? OpenDyslexic is specifically designed with dyslexia in mind. It has heavy, weighted bottoms on letters to prevent flipping, increased letter spacing, and distinct character shapes. Sans-serif fonts like Arial and Verdana also tend to work well. Avoid fancy or script fonts, which are harder to distinguish.
If I change font settings, will websites load slower? No. Changing fonts or using basic extensions has negligible impact on page speed. Your browser still loads the page normally; it just displays the text differently. Some advanced extensions that rewrite entire page layouts might add a tiny delay, but it's rarely noticeable.
Do teachers and parents need separate tools, or can they use the same settings as students? Both can use the same tools. If you're helping a student, apply these settings to their device. Teachers can enable accessibility features on school computers and recommend extensions to students. Some schools now recommend Dyslexly to all students with dyslexia as part of their support provision.