Tip: Quickly Zoom Your Web Browser In and Out

Sometimes, you just need to take a closer look at the Internet. For this article, we are not referring to a search engine; instead, we're talking about literally taking a closer look by using your Web browser's zoom feature, and it's as easy as giving your mouse click wheel a spin.

The most common reason you would employ your Web browser's zoom feature is to enlarge small text when trying to read an article. This can be a freeing revelation for those of us who feel the need to pull out our bifocals to check e-mail.

Instead of reaching for your spectacles, here's an easier way to zoom in. With your Web browser open, it doesn't matter which browser you use, navigate to a page that you want enlarged, and then position your mouse anywhere in the browser window. Now, hold down the Ctrl button on your keyboard and move the click wheel forward on your mouse. You will see your browser zoom in 10% for every mouse wheel click forward.

To return your view back to normal and zoom out, hold down the Ctrl button and roll your mouse click wheel back towards you. For a psychedelic web browsing experience, hold the Ctrl key down and then rapidly move your mouse click wheel forward and backward. This fun zoom exercise isn't recommended for people that are susceptible to motion sickness.

Your browser's zoom feature can be more helpful than just making words bigger; it can also cut out distractions. Most websites are designed in such a way that the content you want to see is in the middle column of the page. To the right and left of your desired content is where you will find the advertisements. Many of these advertisements employ attention-grabbing methods, like scantily clad models or flashing graphics. By using your mouse click wheel to zoom in on your article, the annoying ads will be moved off-screen, cutting down on the distractions. This will also make it so that your co-workers won't mistake an inappropriate advertisement for inappropriate web browsing.

One advantage that comes with using the zoom feature on your Web browser is that your zoom settings will only be applied to the website you zoom in on, which means that the next website you visit will be displayed at 100%. Your Web browser will also save your zoom settings on the page you used it on, which means that when you return to that website, it will automatically display your previous zoom setting.

This Ctrl + click wheel zoom in and out feature is not limited to Web browsing. Microsoft has this feature built into all of its Office applications, and you may be surprised to see how many other programs are designed to take advantage of this quick zoom in and out feature.

The next time you need to take a closer look at what's on your screen, try this zoom-in click wheel feature. Let us know in the comments if this simple solution is the miracle cure for having to wear bifocals!