Gnome

• Click on the ‘ Applications ‘ menu and then click on ‘ Preferences ‘ or press ‘ Alt ‘ + ‘ F1 ‘ and then use the ‘ down ‘ arrow key to highlight ‘ Preferences ‘ .
• Click on or hover the mouse over ‘Accessibility’ and then click on ‘Assistive Technology support’ or use the ‘ right’ arrow key to highlight ‘Accessibility’ and then the ‘ right ‘ arrow key again to bring up the ‘ Accessibility ‘ sub menu and then press the ‘ down ‘ arrow until ‘Assistive Technology support’ is selected and then press ‘ Enter ‘.

This will open the ‘ Assistive Technology Preferences ‘ property box

• If is not already checked, click on the checkbox next to ‘ Enable assistive technologies’ or press ‘ Tab’ until it is highlighted and press the ‘ Spacebar’ to check it.
• Click on the ‘ Magnifier ‘ checkbox or press ‘ Tab’ until it is highlighted and press the ‘ Spacebar’ to check it.
• Click ”Close’ or press ‘ Enter’ to return to the Gnome desktop.
• You will need to logout and then log-in again for the magnifier to start.

For Gnome versions 2.1 or newer

• Click on the ‘ System’ menu and then click on ‘ Preferences ‘ or press ‘ Alt ‘ + ‘ F1? to access the application menu and then press the ‘ right ‘ arrow until ‘ System’ menu is highlighted and then press the ‘ down ‘ arrow until ‘ Preferences ‘ is highlighted.
• Click on ‘Assistive Technology support’ or press the ‘ right ‘ arrow key (and if necessary the ‘ down ‘ arrow key) to highlight ‘ ‘ Assistive Technology support’ and then press ‘ Enter ‘.
• This will open the ‘ Assistive Technology Preferences ‘ property box.
• If is not already checked, click on the checkbox next to ‘ Enable assistive technologies’ or press ‘ Tab’ until it is highlighted and press the ‘ Spacebar’ to check it.
• Click on the ‘ Magnifier ‘ checkbox or press ‘ Tab’ until it is highlighted and press the ‘ Spacebar’ to check it.
• Click ‘ Close’ or press ‘ Enter’ to return to the Gnome desktop.
• You will need to ‘ logoff ‘ and then ‘ log-in’ again for the magnifier to start.

Switch magnifier ‘on’ or ‘off’ from the menu

• Once you have set up the magnifier as detailed in the previous section you can now switch the magnifier on or off everytime you log-in.
• When you log-in a menu window should appear. Click on ’1 Start Up Mode’ or use ‘ Tab’ to highlight ‘ 1 Start Up Mode ‘ and then press ‘ Enter’ to select it.
• if you want the magnifier to start make sure the ‘ Magnifier ‘ checkbox it is checked by clicking on the checkbox or press ‘ Tab’ until the ‘ Magnifier’ checkbox is highlighted and press the’ Spacebar’ to check it.
• If you do not want the magnifier to start click on the checkbox to uncheck the box or press ‘ Tab’ until the ‘ Magnifier’ checkbox is highlighted and press the’ Spacebar’ to uncheck it
• Click the ‘ Apply ‘ button or press ‘ Alt ‘ + ‘ A ‘ to confirm.
• Click ‘ OK’ or press ‘ Enter’ to continue with your log-in.

Find out how to magnify your screen in these other operating systems:

Mac, Windows.

Back to Accessibility.