// DYSLEXIA-FRIENDLY COMPUTER SETTINGS
Dyslexia-friendly fonts and settings
Try fonts, sizes, spacing and background colours in the reading box until text feels easier, then set the same things on your Windows PC, along with read aloud, Immersive Reader and voice typing. Everything here is free and already on your computer. Rated 4.9 on Google.
- ● Try it before you change anything
- ● British Dyslexia Association advice
- ● Free, built into Windows
/01 — TRY IT
Find the settings that suit you
Change the font, size, spacing and background below until the paragraph is comfortable to read. Paste in your own text if you like. When it feels right, note down what you chose, shown under the box.
A font that isn’t on your device shows in a similar one. Nothing you type is sent anywhere; your choices are remembered on this device only.
At a glance
| Fonts | Plain, sans serif fonts such as Arial, Verdana, Calibri or Comic Sans, as the British Dyslexia Association suggests. |
|---|---|
| Size | 12 to 14 point (about 16 to 19 pixels on screen) or bigger. |
| Background | Cream or a soft pastel rather than bright white; everyone’s best colour is different. |
| Emphasis | Bold rather than underline or italics, and text lined up on the left. |
| Have it read to you | Microsoft Edge’s Read aloud (Ctrl + Shift + U) and Immersive Reader (F9). |
| Write by speaking | Voice typing: Windows + H. |
/02 — WHAT HELPS
What the British Dyslexia Association recommends
The British Dyslexia Association’s style guide suggests:
- Sans serif fonts, such as Arial and Comic Sans, or Verdana, Tahoma, Century Gothic, Trebuchet, Calibri and Open Sans: the letters look less crowded.
- 12 to 14 point (16 to 19 pixels on screen), or bigger if you prefer.
- Bold for emphasis, not underlining or italics, which can make words run together.
- Cream or a soft pastel background rather than white, which can look too dazzling, with dark text.
- Text lined up on the left, not spread out to both edges.
Everyone is different, which is why the box above lets you try. Special dyslexia fonts such as OpenDyslexic are free to download, and some people like them; the style guide recommends ordinary sans serif fonts, so try both and keep what works.
/03 — SET IT UP ON WINDOWS
Set it up on your Windows PC
- Bigger text everywhere: Settings, Accessibility, Text size. Drag the slider and press Apply.
- Web pages your way, in Microsoft Edge: press F9 (or the book icon in the address bar) for Immersive Reader. Its Text preferences change the text size, spacing and page colour, Line focus shows one, three or five lines at a time, and Picture dictionary shows a picture of a word.
- Have it read to you: in Edge, press Ctrl + Shift + U to read the page aloud. In Word, use Read Aloud on the Review tab.
- Word documents your way: on the View tab, Immersive Reader changes the column width, page colour, line focus and text spacing, and can split words into syllables.
- Your favourite font in every new Word document: on the Home tab, click the small arrow in the Font group, choose the font and size, then Set As Default and All documents.
- Write by speaking: press Windows + H and talk; your words appear as text.
- Spelling help: Settings, Time & language, Typing: switch on Autocorrect misspelled words and Highlight misspelled words.
- Find where you’re typing: Settings, Accessibility, Text cursor makes the cursor thicker and easier to see.
More built-in help is in our Windows accessibility guide.
/04 — PHONES AND TABLETS
On an Android phone or tablet
Settings, Accessibility has Font size and Display size, and Select to Speak, which reads out whatever you tap. Google’s free Reading mode app shows articles in your choice of font, size and colour, and can read them aloud. Menus vary a little between makes of phone.
/05 — WANT A HAND?
We can set it up for you
We can set all of this up on a Windows PC, remotely while you watch, and show you how to use it. Ring 01202 775566 or text 07520 615332, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. See also our accessible IT support.
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// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
What font is best for dyslexia?
The British Dyslexia Association suggests plain sans serif fonts such as Arial, Verdana, Calibri, Tahoma, Century Gothic, Trebuchet or Comic Sans. Everyone is different, so try a few in the reading box on this page.
Is OpenDyslexic better?
Some people find it helps and it’s free to download. The British Dyslexia Association’s style guide recommends ordinary sans serif fonts, so try both and keep what works for you.
What background colour is best for dyslexia?
Cream or a soft pastel rather than bright white is the usual advice, with dark text. The best colour is personal, so try them in the reading box.
How do I get my computer to read text aloud?
In Microsoft Edge, press Ctrl, Shift and U to read a web page aloud. In Word, use Read Aloud on the Review tab. Narrator (Windows, Ctrl and Enter) reads everything on the screen.
How do I change the default font in Word?
On the Home tab, click the small arrow in the Font group, choose the font and size, then click Set As Default and choose All documents.
Can you set this up for me?
Yes. With your permission we connect to your Windows PC, set it all up while you watch, and show you how to use it.
Want it all set up for you?
We can set up a Windows PC so reading and writing are easier, from fonts and colours to read aloud and voice typing. Call 01202 775566 or text 07520 615332.
01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM