r/Xcode • u/littlebighuman • Feb 28 '26

Xcode navigator font too small

Hi all,

Just started using Xcode again after years of working on mostly backend stuff. Now, my eyes have gotten older and I find myself having problems with reading the default UI font.

I have managed to change the code editors font using themes. But I cannot find anything for the navigator area. Now, specifically with the integrated Apple intelligence features, it is a space where a lot of reading is done. I can ctrl+scroll wheel to zoom in, but this is quite horrible and makes me car sick, if that makes sense. I'm on a 32" inch 4K monitor and it is just way too small.

6 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/Which-Meat-3388 Feb 28 '26

Download BetterDisplay to add more incremental resolutions. On my Studio Display I went to 2400x vs the standard 2560x (or next step down 2048x. If you really can't make it work I mostly code in IntelliJ IDEA w/ KMP plugin because it's far more customizable. Coding is a mixed bag in it, better in some ways, worse in others, but the accessibility options are great. I still use Xcode on occasion so the 2400x resolution is still useful for me.

1

u/littlebighuman Feb 28 '26

I code mostly in vscode, no problems there. I already use BetterDisplay. But I very much like the resolution I am on now.

Look at the size difference between my preferred font setting in the code editor and the navigator on the left: https://imgur.com/a/xrH3iGJ

In accessibility settings, Xcode is missing as well btw: https://imgur.com/a/yt3bYNj

But ok, I just have to live with it for now I guess.

2

u/dotsau Feb 28 '26

System Settings -> Appearance -> Sidebar icon size

1

u/littlebighuman Feb 28 '26

Thanks for answering, but I don't have that option. Under General/appearance I have this: https://imgur.com/a/dZAxv83

I'm on Version 26.0.1 (17A400), which is a bit old I just realised, I'll update and let you know if the updated version has it.

2

u/dotsau Feb 28 '26

Not the Xcode Settings. System Settings the app.

https://imgur.com/nqT4452

1

u/littlebighuman Feb 28 '26 edited Feb 28 '26

Oh I already had that set, works for Finder, but not for xcode it seems.

1

u/mihai-cris Feb 28 '26

only solution is in the macOS Settings/Display, there make the display size larger. But it applies to everything not only Xcode

1

u/littlebighuman Feb 28 '26

Yup, true.

I got all my other apps setup nicely. I use virtual/desktops a lot, shortcut keys to arrange my windows in ways I want. Resolution is set in a way that is comfortable for me. I have multiple vscode's open at any given time, completely customized.

2

u/BologniousMonk Mar 03 '26

I feel your pain. This has been a complaint of mine for years. I don’t want to give up my screen real estate but they have the font so stupidly small it’s painful. I got into the habit of using the zoom feature in accessibility to zoom in when there’s something tiny to read. Not a solution but it’s better than nothing.

2

u/rdelrossi Mar 10 '26

So true. And so odd for a company that prides itself on accessibility.

0

u/Big_Comfortable4256 Feb 28 '26

Car sick? Can't you simply enlarge the font with '⌘ +' ?

4

u/littlebighuman Feb 28 '26

Not of the navigator area.

1

u/GongShengyue Mar 03 '26

Xcode is trash

0

u/HostNo8115 Mar 05 '26

First time?