CarPlay tiny fonts in map apps in iOS 26 - a solution

[buddha34]

Just wanted to share in case others with older, tired eyes found the same problem.

in iOS 26, there is a “feature” called smart zoom- it is ironically named as it seems to shrink the fonts and text boxes in Google Maps and Waze to miniscule size (I imagine some will like this as it shows more map, but the font became a struggle for me to see).

This can be turned off in the settings (on CarPlay) in the display section.

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[tbrumleve]

I appreciate the added real estate. I wear glasses normally, so not an issue.

 

[Teslaeata]

I’m old-ish, tired eyes but really like the smaller, neater format.

 

[cswebster]

Just wanted to share in case others with older, tired eyes found the same problem.

in iOS 26, there is a “feature” called smart zoom- it is ironically named as it seems to shrink the fonts and text boxes in Google Maps and Waze to miniscule size (I imagine some will like this as it shows more map, but the font became a struggle for me to see).

This can be turned off in the settings (on CarPlay) in the display section.

Downloading iOS 26 as we speak. My tired eyes will appreciate it! Thanks!

 

[BlueWhale]

Yep, I turned smart zoom off because it shrank the app icons at the bottom so much that I found it more difficult to go from one app to another.

 

[cswebster]

Yep, I turned smart zoom off because it shrank the app icons at the bottom so much that I found it more difficult to go from one app to another.

iOS 26 is trippy man! I’m a 24 year retired Apple vet, so I always jump in at the newest OS point. It’s still pretty cool!

 

[SSnc]

I like the additional screen real estate of smart zoom but had trouble with the font size as well. I ended up keeping smart zoom on and adjusting the font size to 110% under Accessibility, and that combo was a good balance for me. Any bigger than 110% resulted in not enough text being in the various widgets for me.

 

[Ravensfan1996]

Yeah smart zoom off makes it huge, almost too big. You also loose the ability to show many apps on one screen. There is also another setting to change the text size 110%, 120% and 135% but that only effects some screens and apps.

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