How to change font size in Eclipse for Java text editors?

Question

I have just tried to change my font size in Eclipse 3.6.0 in the following way:

General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Java Editor text font

However, the font size only changed in the file I had open. How can I change the font size for all Java files and projects I open in Eclipse?

• jzd: Works fine in 3.5 using those same directions.
• Philip Murphy: FYI, if you want to change all editors at the same time, select General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Basic → Text Font.
• Code-Apprentice: possible duplicate of How to change font size quickly in Eclipse
• RicardoBalda: Other solution Windows -> Preferences -> General -> appareance -> Colors a fonts -> Structured Text Editor -> Edit. this work for me :)
• ROMANIA_engineer: Eclipse Neon (4.6) added Ctrl + + and Ctrl + = for Zoom In and Ctrl + - for Zoom Out. See eclipse.org/eclipse/news/4.6/M4

Answer 1

If you are changing the font size, but it is only working for the currently open file, then I suspect that you are changing the wrong preferences.

• On the Eclipse toolbar, select Window → Preferences
• Set the font size, General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Java → Java Editor Text Font).
• Save the preferences.

Check that you do not have per-project preferences. These will override the top-level preferences.

Eclipse v4.2 (Juno) note

Per comment below, this has moved to the Eclipse Preferences menu (no longer named the Window menu).

Eclipse v4.3 (Kepler) note

The Window menu is live again, that is, menu Window → Preferences.

Eclipse 2021-12 note

Verified that the path described (Window → Preferences, General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Java → Java Editor Text Font) is still correct.

Note Be sure to check out the ChandraBhan Singh's answer, it shows the key bindings to change the font size.

• Bohn: Was searching for the same question tonight and found this...just a quick note: in JUNO they have moved Preferences section under EClise menu...: EClipse->Preferences..... just If I knew Eclipse keeps moving things around so much!
• shareef: tested on Version: Indigo Service Release 2 on 12-12-2012 good answer
• RicardoBalda: Other solution Windows -> Preferences -> General -> appareance -> Colors a fonts -> Structured Text Editor -> Edit. this work for me :)
• Geek Stocks: Checked on MARS on 12/18/2015 and still works just fine. Thanks man!
• DwB: The Window -> Preferences menu is still there in NEON.

Answer 2

For Eclipse Neon

To Increase Ctrl +

To reduce Ctrl -

shortcut for font eclipse

• Daniel Hári: For other languaged keyboards (like Hungarian): CTRL SHIFT (+) CTRL SHIFT (-)
• Pierpaolo Cira: For Mac OsX use CMD key instead of Ctrl
• ks1322: For me Ctrl - to decrease, but Ctrl Shift + to increase.
• Mitja Gustin: Its important not to use keys from numeric part of the keyboard. They do not work.
• David Balažic: As mentioned by @DanielHári, sometimes it is CTRL SHIFT instead of just CTRL. Like on my Slovenian keyboard. CTRL plus/minus folds and unfolds code blocks. Strange, in Prefs it says ctrl++is "Zoom In" (and ctrl+- is Zoom Out). Eclipse version: 2023-03 (4.27.0)

Answer 3

On Mac:

1. Eclipse toolbar Eclipse → Settings OR Command + , (comma)

2. General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Basic → Text Font

3. Apply

• Aman: Edit Eclipse toolbar>Window> @BenniMcBeno.
• amdg: Open the java file and use Command and +/- to increase/decrease the font size

Answer 4

This worked for me:

1. On the Eclipse toolbar, select Window → Preferences.

2. Set the font size (General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Basic → Text Font):

   Enter image description here

3. Save the preferences.

• M. Atif Riaz: Yes this is more applicable as it is global settings

Answer 5

General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Java Editor text font

See the image:

enter image description here

• catch32: @SumitSingh How did you achieve this color shema for eclipse? Can you give some explanation or link?
• Sumit Singh: This is new theme in Luna See: eclipsesource.com/blogs/2014/06/20/…

Answer 6

The Eclipse-Fonts extension will add toolbar buttons and keyboard shortcuts for changing font size. You can then use AutoHotkey to make Ctrl + mousewheel zoom.

Under menu Help → Install New Software... in the menu, paste the update URL (http://eclipse-fonts.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/FontsUpdate/) into the Works with: text box and press Enter. Expand the tree and select FontsFeature as in the following image:

Eclipse extension installation screen capture

Complete the installation and restart Eclipse. Then you should see the A toolbar buttons (circled in red in the following image) and be able to use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + - and Ctrl + = to zoom (although you may have to unbind those keys from Eclipse first).

Eclipse screen capture with the font size toolbar buttons circled

To get Ctrl + mouse wheel zooming, you can use AutoHotkey with the following script:

; Ctrl + mouse wheel zooming in Eclipse.
; Requires Eclipse-Fonts (https://code.google.com/p/eclipse-fonts/).
; Thank you for the unique window class, SWT/Eclipse.
;
#IfWinActive ahk_class SWT_Window0
 ^WheelUp:: Send ^{=}
 ^WheelDown:: Send ^-
#IfWinActive

• Strinder: Project is not active anymore.

Answer 7

If you are using Windows then to increase font size try with

CtrlShift+

and for decreasing font size you can use

CtrlShift-

Answer 8

Press ctrl + - to decrease, and ctrl + + to increase the Font Size.

It's working for me in Eclipse Oxygen.

Answer 9

Enter image description here

Menu Window → Preferences. General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Basic → Text Font

• Mathieu K.: Appears to be the same answer as 4539511.

Answer 10

On the Eclipse toolbar, select Window → Preferences, set the font size (General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Basic → Text Font).

Save the preferences.

• Peter Mortensen: How are preferences saved? Pressing button OK?
• Mathieu K.: If we're talking about the menu bar, this is the same answer as 4539511.

Answer 11

You can have a look at Eclipse color theme, also which has a hell of a lot of options for customizing font, background color, etc.

Answer 12

1. On the menu bar, select Window → Preferences
2. Set the font size (General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Structured Text Editors → Structured Text Editor Text Font (set to default: Text Font) → Edit...).
3. Save the preferences.

• Peter Mortensen: After Colors and Fonts, isn't it something like Java → Editor → Java Editor Text Font (set to default: Text Font) (two more levels interjected)? (Seen in Eclipse v4.6 (Neon), but for C/C++).
• Mathieu K.: Does not work for me in Neon.2, at least on the Java file I'm looking at.

Answer 13

Running Eclipse v4.3 (Kepler), the steps outlined by AlvaroCachoperro do the trick for the Java text editor and console window text.

Many of the text font options, including the Java Editor Text Font note, are "set to default: Text Font". The 'default' can be found and configured as follows:

On the Eclipse toolbar, select Window → Preferences. Drill down to: (General → Appearance → Colors and Fonts → Basic → Text Font) (at the bottom)

• Click Edit and select the font, style and size
• Click OK in the Font dialog
• Click Apply in the Preferences dialog to check it
• Click OK in the Preferences dialog to save it

Eclipse will remember your settings for your current workspace.

I teach programming and use the larger font for the students in the back.

Answer 14

I tend to use menu Windows → Preferences → General → Appearances → Colors and Fonts → Java Text Editors → Change → Apply.

Answer 15

You can use

ctrl and + or - key

• NaN: Works for me. Tested with Oxygen on Linux
• steve: For me it's Ctrl+Shift++ to increase and Ctrl+- for decrease

Answer 16

I Found the best way to increase Font Size in Eclipse:

Follow this path : Eclipse-Folder\plugins\org.eclipse.ui.themes_1.2.100.v20180514-1547\css

--There are a bunch of Files here and it depends on user system which file to change.

* {
 font-size:13;
 font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
 font-weight: normal;
} 

you can even change Font Family if you like.

1. For Windows Users add the following piece of css at BOTTOM of these files: File Names: e4_default_gtk.css & e4_default_win.css

2. For Mac Users: e4_default_mac.css

Answer 17

Try the tarlog plugin. You can change the font through Ctrl++ and Ctrl-- commands with it. A very convenient thing.

https://code.google.com/archive/p/tarlog-plugins/downloads

Answer 18

If you are using STS, then goto STS/Contents/Eclipse directory and open the STS.ini file.

From the STS.ini file, remove the flooring line:

-Dorg.eclipse.swt.internal.carbon.smallFonts

And restart the STS.